Mintball wrote:
The West getting involved in Persia, as was, created a whole set of problems. Letting Israel get away with its behaviour has also caused problems.
Indeed. But would those problems have been created anyway? Or other problems like possible war between Iran & Iraq? Or further crackdowns on Kurds or on Shia populations?
Don't get me wrong I'm not defending the war in Iraq, especially the way it was conducted, but there is a tendency amongst some on the left and in some media outlets to pretend that if only we just left alone everything would be alright.
I'm very much of the persuasion that we have a duty to help those less fortunate than ourselves at all levels, from contributing to a decent welfare state, to giving to charities, to helping people in other countries either through aid or even militarily when necessary. We're one of the most powerful and one of the richest nations on earth and I find it difficult to just sit back and watch people kill each other when we have the capability to do something about it.
I'm not ascribing any of that to you or anyone else on here by the way, merely a frustration at the sometimes short-sighted views like those who say "get our boys out of Afghanistan". We should stay until the job is done or not have gone in the first place if we didnt have the balls to see it through.
On Israel, I agree entirely. Israel is the single biggest cause of anti-western sentiment by a country mile. And sadly this generally leads to both religious and political extremism in the region.
If the Israel problem could be overcome I'm convinced moderate views and eventual democracy would come to the region.
