America's worst nightmare, the rise of Middle East democracies. (Canada, Obama, March)

[HappyTexan]

Our worst nightmare would be if Saudi starts to have problems.
Say goodbye to the dollar reserve.

[lifelongMOgal]

I truly believe the OP has a false premise that these will be Middle Eastern democracies when the chances are better that they will quickly become Islamic theocracies ruled by radical Islamofacists.

[HappyTexan]

They won't be democracies; religion is held higher than politics over there.

[oz in SC]

Their nations,their business.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

Their nations,their business.

As long as they don't try to nuke us or blow up our planes..I could care less as well.

[J746NEW]

Originally Posted by sanrene

No, just the reality on the ground. If SA were to fall into the hands of radical haters of the West, how long to you think the other oil-rich countries would last? There is no getting around what would happen to the world's energy supply if that were to happen.

When Lebanon, Syria, Eqypt, Jordan and other nations that surround Israel, backed by Iran, decide it's now a good time to try and make good on their promise to annihilate Israel, do you think the US is just going to stand by and do nothing?

For years, decades, we have supported the lesser of evils when it comes to middle eastern nations, having to support oppressive, murderous regimes for the sake of protecting US vital interests (yes, oil IS a vital security interest for the US).

I'm all for these democracy protests and regime change, IF that means the radicals and terrorist don't get a hold and opening to do harm to the US and it's allies.

Just think how scary Pakistan would be for the US and the region if the government fell into radical hands with terrorist ties (although, some would say that is happening now), but we still have a government that is somewhat friendly to the US, although with elements that are clearly anti-US.

I used to frequent Islamic forums shortly after 911, in order to get their opinions and version of how they see things.

I can tell you it was not because they hated our freedoms lol.

No, almost 100 percent said that the reason they hate the west is because were meddling in their affairs all the time and supporting dictators

Its a catch 22

Kind of like holding a tiger by the head so he does not bite you, when the whole reason he wants to bite you is because you have a stranglehold on him.

[HappyTexan]

So they hate us because we are financially backing their countries oppressive regimes.

Well who wouldn't hate the country that props up a dictatorship and lets the people fall into poverty.

[oz in SC]

There was a time when propping up dictatorships had a reason,and that time was before 1989.

Now,there is no reason the USA should be providing any aid to such nations.

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by oz in SC

There was a time when propping up dictatorships had a reason,and that time was before 1989.

Now,there is no reason the USA should be providing any aid to such nations.

oil
oil
oil

not to mention infiltrating western consumer values into WIDE OPEN MARKETS

and oil

20yrsinBranson

[oz in SC]

Most of our oil comes from elsewhere,not the middle east.