The Middle East a Summary

Xenophile

The Middle East - a summary

Are you confused by what is going on in the Middle East?

Let me explain.We support the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIS.

We don’t like ISIS, but ISIS is supported by Saudi Arabia who we do like.
We don’t like Assad in Syria. We support the fight against him, but ISIS is also fighting against him.

We don’t like Iran, but Iran supports the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS.So some of our friends support our enemies, some enemies are now our friends,and some of our enemies are fighting against our other enemies, who we want to lose,but we don’t want our enemies who are fighting our enemies to win.

If the people we want to defeat are defeated, they could be replaced by people we like even less.And all this was started by us invading a country to drive out terrorists who were not actually there until we went in to drive them out.It's quite simple, really.

Do you understand now?

xupe 6048 essy

What's all this 'we' business?

Sunnyisland

We dident start the fire...

Badly Drunk Boy

Xenophile wrote: »

And all this was started by us invading a country to drive out terrorists who were not actually there until we went in to drive them out.It's quite simple, really.

I invaded nobody lately.

No body.

md23040

The sooner a viable alternative to oil can be found the better, and let these tribes bitch fight amomgst themselves without external intervention.

md23040

The sooner a viable alternative to oil can be found the better, and let these tribes bitch fight amomgst themselves without external intervention.

bilston

Xenophile wrote: »

The Middle East - a summary

Are you confused by what is going on in the Middle East?

Let me explain.We support the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIS.

We don’t like ISIS, but ISIS is supported by Saudi Arabia who we do like.
We don’t like Assad in Syria. We support the fight against him, but ISIS is also fighting against him.

We don’t like Iran, but Iran supports the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS.So some of our friends support our enemies, some enemies are now our friends,and some of our enemies are fighting against our other enemies, who we want to lose,but we don’t want our enemies who are fighting our enemies to win.

If the people we want to defeat are defeated, they could be replaced by people we like even less.And all this was started by us invading a country to drive out terrorists who were not actually there until we went in to drive them out.It's quite simple, really.

Do you understand now?

At this point I find it hard to imagine that anyone likes ISIS.

iDave

We like Saudi Arabia? When did this happen?
Last I checked it was a backwards theocracy.

Banjo String

I just don't understand why the shops in Saudi Arabia don't sell flintstones T-Shirts but the ones in Abu Dhabi do.

Pablodreamsofnew

What does it all mean ted...

mad muffin

iDave wrote: »

We like Saudi Arabia? When did this happen?
Last I checked it was a backwards theocracy.

Exactly. I definitely don't like Saudi Arabia. Their treatment of women and foreign workers is deplorable. And god forbid you do anything "non Muslim" outside of the foreign compounds.

Also I thought ISIS were fighting with Assad? They are definitely fighting against the rebels.

MrsYelnekoff wrote: »

What does it all mean ted...

We'll you see…

*picks up a figurine of a sheep…*

The Backwards Man

Anyone that can summarise the Middle East in less than 100,000 words is talking balls.

wazky

Who's this we, Tonto?

corner of hells

Xenophile wrote: »

The Middle East - a summary

Are you confused by what is going on in the Middle East?

Let me explain.We support the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIS.

We don’t like ISIS, but ISIS is supported by Saudi Arabia who we do like.
We don’t like Assad in Syria. We support the fight against him, but ISIS is also fighting against him.

We don’t like Iran, but Iran supports the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS.So some of our friends support our enemies, some enemies are now our friends,and some of our enemies are fighting against our other enemies, who we want to lose,but we don’t want our enemies who are fighting our enemies to win.

If the people we want to defeat are defeated, they could be replaced by people we like even less.And all this was started by us invading a country to drive out terrorists who were not actually there until we went in to drive them out.It's quite simple, really.

Do you understand now?

We wants it , we needs it .Must have the precious.

Pablodreamsofnew

Xenophile wrote: »

The Middle East - a summary

Are you confused by what is going on in the Middle East?

Let me explain.We support the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIS.

We don’t like ISIS, but ISIS is supported by Saudi Arabia who we do like.
We don’t like Assad in Syria. We support the fight against him, but ISIS is also fighting against him.

We don’t like Iran, but Iran supports the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS.So some of our friends support our enemies, some enemies are now our friends,and some of our enemies are fighting against our other enemies, who we want to lose,but we don’t want our enemies who are fighting our enemies to win.

If the people we want to defeat are defeated, they could be replaced by people we like even less.And all this was started by us invading a country to drive out terrorists who were not actually there until we went in to drive them out.It's quite simple, really.

Do you understand now?

I see that you left out lots of details..that's how WAR starts..

Spunge

iDave wrote: »

We like Saudi Arabia? When did this happen?
Last I checked it was a backwards theocracy.

since oil

Harry Palmr

This is why the Yanks have been so big on fraking gas and oil, they will no longer need to import a drop from the Arabian gulf. How long that'll be the case is another matter, but they could use the period to re-configure their entire energy policy - but they almost certainly won't.

snubbleste

But surely the Middle East is India, Burma etc.
If the Far East is China & Japan, where is the Near East?

Spunge

snubbleste wrote: »

But surely the Middle East is India, Burma etc.
If the Far East is China & Japan, where is the Near East?

sandymount

Harry Palmr

snubbleste wrote: »

But surely the Middle East is India, Burma etc.
If the Far East is China & Japan, where is the Near East?

History has made these vague definitions a bit mad, not to mention geography - if you are are in New York the very concept of middle east makes no sense at all. If you are in Montana you might think its Detroit.

The near east, middle east, far east nomenclature was born out of a period when the Paris/London axis ruled international diplomacy.

Near east first was the used to be Caucasus/Black Sea, Turkey, then changed to become much of what is now defined as the middle east.

KungPao

Why don't we like Iran?

tritium

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Anyone that can summarise the Middle East in less than 100,000 words is talking balls.

Fcuking bonkers

See, easy!

discus

That OP was the ****test attempt at explaining the situation over there.

renegademaster

xupe 6048 essy wrote: »

What's all this 'we' business?

just because you keep your head down doesn't mean you're off the hook for what your government and it's partners get up to, on our behalf lol

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

I invaded nobody lately.

No body.

see above

md23040 wrote: »

The sooner a viable alternative to oil can be found the better, and let these tribes bitch fight amomgst themselves without external intervention.

there are plenty of alternatives but then again they'll only be used when the last drop of oil has been exploited

bilston wrote: »

At this point I find it hard to imagine that anyone likes ISIS.

america and it's partners absolutely love ISIS. tehy created the "new" terror groups and now have reason to stay in Iraq meaning more profits for the neo cons

iDave wrote: »

We like Saudi Arabia? When did this happen?
Last I checked it was a backwards theocracy.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/enda-courts-controversy-by-lauding-human-rights-approach-29893669.html

Chattastrophe!

I, for one, would actually appreciate if someone could give a brief, neutral, factual summary of exactly what is happening. (I'm not sure that the above summary is neutral or factual.) I know that ISIS are the baddies, but I don't know much else!

renegademaster

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

I, for one, would actually appreciate if someone could give a brief, neutral, factual summary of exactly what is happening. (I'm not sure that the above summary is neutral or factual.) I know that ISIS are the baddies, but I don't know much else!

at this present moment ISIS are the baddies that are enabling the americans to continue their "war on terror" in Iraq, even though the CIA trained it's leader and others connected to this group

Tail Docker

renegademaster wrote: »

at this present moment ISIS are the baddies that are enabling the americans to continue their "war on terror" in Iraq, even though the CIA trained it's leader and others connected to this group

Al and his Qaeda's was starting to lose their impact - people stopped caring/fearing. So Al qaeda 2 had to be created -ISIS - the baddies from hell on a one way collision course with you.. Raaar! Be afraid, hide, we'll bomb them for you, don't ye worry....

smurfjed

I think that Saudi Arabia is smart enough to realise that once ISIS achieve their goals in Syria/Iraq, they will head south. So it certainly isn't in their interest to support them.

biko

Who is this "we" that likes Saudi Arabia?
SA's state religion is wahabism, possibly one of the worst flavours of Islam.

Gummy Panda

All this blood shed for some guy called Ally Snackbar

Rough Sleeper

Have to say that the Irish-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were one of the darker moments in our country's history.

smurfjed

Biko, have you ever visited Saudi Arabia and spoken to the people? You might be extremely surprised at the outcome.

moxin

If the West had supported the FSA in Syria, ISIS would probably not have emerged to fill the void. The West along with Iraq's PM who has discriminated against Sunni's is responsible for this crisis. For the learners, ISIS is actually a small force(maybe 10,000 strong), the various alienated Sunni tribes in both countries(Syria and Iraq) have allowed them to advance so much with local agreements. Bring the tribes back on board and watch ISIS (who are considered too hardline for Al Qaeda!) hopefully collapse.

Chickentown

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

I, for one, would actually appreciate if someone could give a brief, neutral, factual summary of exactly what is happening. (I'm not sure that the above summary is neutral or factual.) I know that ISIS are the baddies, but I don't know much else!

You know ISIS are the baddies because thats what your told by the people you listen too. Just like some Joe Soap Islamic fundamentalist, sitting in a cave, right this second, somewhere in Northern Afganistan knows your the baddie, because someone he listens too is telling him.

Not many really understand both sides of the situation well enough to make an informed decision on what is right or wrong. It is all relative to what side of the fence you are looking in from. And for those who really want to evaulate every situation in its purest form; they will soon realise that there are infinately many perspectives from which any situation can be viewed, therefore, the only way to approach a truely informed decision/opinion is to start eliminating every possible 'influential layer',such as greed, previous misfortune or bad blood, any indirect influences, in the end revealing just the facts for which a truely unbiased decision can be made ( or opinion formed), unfortunately this is nigh on impossible, you could try and become a monk or some sh1t but there would be no gaurentee you could ever teach this 'higher plane' if you will.

My cop out is this, I dont mind America being the worlds only superpower because it seems that purely due to our animalistic nature someone has to be top dog. Now off I go to get hammered, yet again...

Have s good one!!!

Xenophile

Xenophile wrote: »

The Middle East - a summary

Are you confused by what is going on in the Middle East?

Let me explain.We support the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIS.

We don’t like ISIS, but ISIS is supported by Saudi Arabia who we do like.

Eh? I doubt many people particularly like Saudi Arabia tbh. Oil rich kingdom built by slave labour and run by misogynistic, homophobic, backwards bastards. :mad: You can add UAE and Qatar to that list too.

We don’t like Assad in Syria. We support the fight against him, but ISIS is also fighting against him.

Assad's a dick but compared to ISIS he's probably the lesser of two evils. I can sort of understand how the Iraqi military has failed to control ISIS but Syria's army is stronger and I don't think ISIS will overrun them completely any time soon. It looks like Assad has been waiting for ISIS to get stronger so that the West will realise that his regime is a preferable alternative:

"Dictators can play the devil’s gambit: winning international sympathy by deliberately radicalizing regime opponents, so that these adversaries look like latter-day Hitlers. This approach is cynical, bloody, and potentially effective. “It’s obvious that Bashar al-Assad’s strategy is to present us with a choice of ISIS or him so that eventually we will choose him,” Senator John McCain has observed."

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/07/assad-and-the-art-of-the-devils-gambit/374501/

We don’t like Iran, but Iran supports the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS.So some of our friends support our enemies, some enemies are now our friends,and some of our enemies are fighting against our other enemies, who we want to lose,but we don’t want our enemies who are fighting our enemies to win.

I've heard people comment on how there's supposedly a big disconnect between the ordinary people of Iran and the ruling elite, that the regular folk there are more liberally minded and pro-Western. Sadly there probably isn't much chance for progression while the Ayatollah is the supreme leader.

Jordan is seemingly the most laid back and "normal" country in the Middle East; it's definitely the one that I'd most like to visit some day. I met an American couple when I was in China who'd been backpacking through Asia and they said that Jordan was by far their favourite country that they'd been to. They also had been in Israel and said that while they went there being very pro-Israel initially (as most Americans tend to be), they felt very uncomfortable there and left with a much less favourable impression.

humanji

There's a thread on Israel, a thread on Isis and a thread on Iraq. That's more than enough for After Hours. Best to post about this in the Politics forum.