The common theme in foreign policy punditry
"The United States of America MUST DO SOMETHING"
We must stop funding the military of X because you know they must do what we say, they shouldn't oppress their own people, they must bring back democracy.
This might make some nice noise at home but rings hollow once you leave the bubble of the US of A.
You have to look at the history of this crap since World War I to realize just how our nuts our foreign policy in the Middle East has been.
Which military dictators have we supported, which royal families have we reinstalled, who have we invaded for no damn good reason?
We did this all for the people!
Nothing to do with domino theory and cold war stuff, just ignore that.
Yeah, sure we did, cuz you know; Imperialism just makes sense.
We only supported different regimes and royalty so that the people could be free.
Of course we do.
We hate oppression!
Of course we do, the Palestinians will back me up on this one.
Women across the region will sagely nod their heads in agreement.
Now so many pundits across the board are wailing.
President Obama must do something! Otherwise we look weak!
We must change our policies on funding the military/dictators/royal houses that we have supported for decades because now that funding just doesn't make sense.
Cuz you know
Democracy!
But which ones to stop supporting.
Hmmm.
OMFG someone is talking about Israel!
We're going to veto that shit now!
It is no bloody wonder that the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Muslim Brotherhood, GIA [The Armed Islamic Group], Hezbollah, and so many others have found followers.
Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran. Oh sorry, just reliving the Republican response to all our problems.
Just avoid talking about the elephant in the room.
The West's history in the area which has more recently this has been concentrated to the role of the good ole US of A in the region.
Either President Obama waves his magic wand and installs peace and democracy overnight
Or
We actually start behaving consistently and that the people of the region actually matter and this means a total rethink of how we have behaved in the past and who we support in the present.
Historically what we have tried so far has not been to benefit the people in the region but have been expressly designed to sate our own greed/perceived security.
Until we are consistent in our foreign policy, even when we change who runs DC then the bloodshed, oppression and extremism will continue unabated.
OMG what am I saying.
Who the hell would we sell our military equipment to now.
Who would we play war games with now?
Our corporations profit margins would be harmed!
On no, no, no we cant be having any of that.
Damn.
Carry on
Just listen to the fucking pundits, they know the solution to this shit.
We didn't listen to so many political historians in the past that our actions would have a price.
Just as long as we don't have to pay it.
Right?
The future will be determined in part by happenings that it is impossible to foresee; it will also be influenced by trends that are now existent and observable.
Emily Greene Balch