With the tragic killing of James Foley, it’s more apparent that the Middle East (and beyond) is getting more complex and convoluted. “You’re either with us or against us,” has become all the more laughable now that the United States is on the same side as Iran when it comes to Iraq, and on the same side as Assad when it comes to ISIS. (But we used to be on the same side as ISIS and against Assad, before ISIS became even more nasty.) That’s just the beginning.
It just came out that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were bombing Libya, against the wishes of the United States. (Stay tuned for massive Libyan mayhem.) Never mind that both Egypt and the UAE are chock full of U.S weaponry, courtesy of you and me. And let’s not forget that while Israel was lobbing US-made tank shells at Gaza, the United States has been funding schools and other programs in the Palestinian areas that were being attacked.
To complete the circle, we’re now bombing our own military hardware that was used to build up the Iraqi Security Forces. Once things fall into the hands of ISIS, all bets are off. Without getting into the tactical or moral merits of these various bombings and attacks right now, it sure seems like we’re a split-personality superpower, condemned to wander the earth for all eternity fighting our other selves. Be sure to check out the news behind this cartoon, and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
From the budgets of the Pentagon
To the shores of Tripoli,
We stock the world's battles
In the air, on land and sea.
It's a little mixed up now
Everywhere, quite smoky and unclear.
We supply the gear and weaponry,
From Egypt to the Emir.
Our bombs and bucks go far and wide
And blast them all sky high.
Then we pay to build it up again,
Brings a tear right to your eye.
In the desert of the Northern Lands
We are bombing our own stuff.
The North went South the up went down,
We must not 'a bombed enough.
So here's to thugs who kill and maim,
Bedfellows who make us squirm.
We bomb the bad guys but not the bad guy,
Alliances take a turn.
If we blast things enough and blow it all up,
The battles may be won.
If there's any left over when we are done,
We'll send it to Ferguson.