06-17-2014, 05:55 PM
(06-17-2014, 05:03 PM)crash Wrote:(06-17-2014, 01:41 PM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: ..huge consequences to the balance of power in the Middle East, and major impacts on the US's foreign relations and pull in the region if that were to happen.
And why is that so important to the US?
I didn't say it was so important to the US.
In any case, I can't answer for the whole of the US population because, of course, there are a lot of different opinions and perceptions amongst Americans regarding its level of importance (and regarding most everything else, just like in most developed countries where freedom of thought and expression are encouraged).
If you meant why is important to the US government, my guess would be for the same reasons it's important to the British government and probably the Australian government as well (but you would be more qualified to provide the Australian view point, if you decided to weigh in on that sometime).
Anyway, to answer your question from my perspective only: the US leadership likely considers what's going down in the ME to be highly important for these reasons: 1) money/oil, 2) avoiding the death and destruction of another World War if the Islamic fundamentalists gain a lot of power and continue to drive for more across traditional geographical borders, 3) the spread of extremist and fundamentalist philosophies/tactics being brought home by western citizens engaging in the ME conflicts/wars and being trained in rebel/terrorist tactics, 4) pride / wanting to maintain a perceived degree of control and domination over others, etc...
How about you, crash? What are your thoughts on why what's happening in Iraq is or isn't important? Do you have an opinion on how it should be handled (or not) in the west and the official position that you'd like to see Australia take in the matter?