Among the most pressing issues facing America is current US foreign policy in the Middle East. For centuries, this region seems to be fraught with peril. Certainly, the fact that much of the world's oil comes from this part of the world explains part why this is the case. Domestic politics in the United States complicates finding long term solutions to the problems plaguing this part of the world.
What makes this region so difficult to solve are the number and the variety of problems. There is no single cause. The problems are religious, cultural, geographic, and demographic. This is not a recent phenomena either. The conflicts in this part of world have been happening for over a thousand years. The importance of Israel to Christians and Jews have made this a powerful political issue for American domestic politics too.
One of the main sources of conflict is the century old differences between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam. The riff between these two branches can be compared to the struggle between the Catholic church and Protestants. The actual problem is political and cultural differences not religious dogma.
The struggle between Israel and the Palestinian people has been going on since Israel became a Jewish state in 1948. There are powerful political interest groups in the United States that are pro Israel. Both Jewish and Evangelical Christian voting blocks have exerted influence on politicians to support Israel in this long and bitter struggle. Only limited progress has been made to long lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States has been fighting a war on terrorism around the globe. The attacks of 9/11 have had a powerful effect on American international policies. While the United States has destroyed the leadership of al-Qaeda, there are still threats from radical Islamic revolutionary forces. The governments of Egypt and Libya have been overthrown. Islamic extremists can potentially replace governments that, even though authoritarian and corrupt, were friendly to the United States.
The controversial invasion of Iraq created consequences that are still reverberating throughout the region. Many critics believe this was an unnecessary war based on lies and deceit. History will tell us more, but the war did tip the balance of power to Iran. Since Iran is not a friendly country with the United States, the net effect of the Iraq war may be negative in the final analysis.
The civil war in Syria is an example of the dilemma facing American foreign policy. While the current Syrian government has murdered thousands of its citizens, the revolutionary forces are Islamic extremists who are confessed enemies of the United States. Russia supports the current Syrian government. The war in Syria has the potential to restart the cold war and may become a proxy war between the U. S. And Russia.
One thing everyone, without regard to their political persuasion, can agree on is that current US foreign policy in the Middle East has never been more complex and dangerous. It seems that there are no clear answers to the problems in this region. It is a situation where none of our choices are good. We have to choose the least dangerous option.
What makes this region so difficult to solve are the number and the variety of problems. There is no single cause. The problems are religious, cultural, geographic, and demographic. This is not a recent phenomena either. The conflicts in this part of world have been happening for over a thousand years. The importance of Israel to Christians and Jews have made this a powerful political issue for American domestic politics too.
One of the main sources of conflict is the century old differences between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam. The riff between these two branches can be compared to the struggle between the Catholic church and Protestants. The actual problem is political and cultural differences not religious dogma.
The struggle between Israel and the Palestinian people has been going on since Israel became a Jewish state in 1948. There are powerful political interest groups in the United States that are pro Israel. Both Jewish and Evangelical Christian voting blocks have exerted influence on politicians to support Israel in this long and bitter struggle. Only limited progress has been made to long lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States has been fighting a war on terrorism around the globe. The attacks of 9/11 have had a powerful effect on American international policies. While the United States has destroyed the leadership of al-Qaeda, there are still threats from radical Islamic revolutionary forces. The governments of Egypt and Libya have been overthrown. Islamic extremists can potentially replace governments that, even though authoritarian and corrupt, were friendly to the United States.
The controversial invasion of Iraq created consequences that are still reverberating throughout the region. Many critics believe this was an unnecessary war based on lies and deceit. History will tell us more, but the war did tip the balance of power to Iran. Since Iran is not a friendly country with the United States, the net effect of the Iraq war may be negative in the final analysis.
The civil war in Syria is an example of the dilemma facing American foreign policy. While the current Syrian government has murdered thousands of its citizens, the revolutionary forces are Islamic extremists who are confessed enemies of the United States. Russia supports the current Syrian government. The war in Syria has the potential to restart the cold war and may become a proxy war between the U. S. And Russia.
One thing everyone, without regard to their political persuasion, can agree on is that current US foreign policy in the Middle East has never been more complex and dangerous. It seems that there are no clear answers to the problems in this region. It is a situation where none of our choices are good. We have to choose the least dangerous option.
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