tecoyah

Looking at what has been happening in the Middle East for the last few decades, I have tried to figure out why we, as the combined "western world" are even there in the first place. My conclusions leave three possible reasons, none of which work for me.

1) We hope to create stability through democracy in the region.
While I personally see this the most acceptable reason I will list, it is also unrealistic and flawed. The region has no interest for the most part in Democratic rule it would seem, and any attempt to force it will be met with opposition. The very act of trying to subdue a people to create democracy is counter to the Ideal.

2) Isreal.
The act of creating the Isreali state does not, in my opinion, create the responsibility to keep it alive. Obviously this action destabalized the region to the point of collapse in many ways. By continuing to protect a thing that most in the region have never fully accepted we alienate ourselves from accomplishing anything close to goals set out in item #1.

3) Oil
This is the obvious choice for underlying reasoning for interference in the region. The western world relies on a steady supply of energy to fuel economic growth and individual prosperity. By maintaining a presence within the oil producing areas we not only remind others of our desire to maintain the flow of oil, we keep the veiled threat of military might within plain sight.


Likely we deal with a very complex combination of the above factors. But none of them in any way meets my personal criteria, let alone justifies the incredible death and destruction brought about by western meddling.