06-17-2014, 07:17 PM
A lot of your points make sense to me, crash.
Greed, fear, power, concern...all powerful motivators for mankind. I wouldn't attempt to rank them, but they're especially powerful when all exist in large parts and are combined. I think that's the case when it comes to the US's and the west's actions and positions in regards to the Middle East. The same motivators exist between the conflicting/warring factions of the Middle East as well.
Sometimes I think the "war on terror" has about as much chance for success as the "war on drugs". Hard to quash a problem by attacking the symptom rather than the cause/root.
Anyway, I don't think there are any easy or clear answers as to what's the right or wrong course of action to take when there are so many cultures, pros/cons, multi-national domino effects, etc...to consider. I believe that many of the jihadist groups sincerely see the west as the "bad guys" who threw the first punches and view themselves as the "good guys" fighting for survival, empowerment, and revenge.
Overall, I don't view them as victims of the west, nor do I view the the governments of countries who've acquired a good deal of their wealth from exporting oil and other natural resources as victims. Overall, I don't consider the US a country of victims either. But,there are certainly victims of specific attacks and corrupt governments against their own people.
IDK. IMO,there's plenty of bullshit, deception and selfishly motivated deals to go around, from all sides, across the globe. Some great stuff, too, but that's another topic.
Greed, fear, power, concern...all powerful motivators for mankind. I wouldn't attempt to rank them, but they're especially powerful when all exist in large parts and are combined. I think that's the case when it comes to the US's and the west's actions and positions in regards to the Middle East. The same motivators exist between the conflicting/warring factions of the Middle East as well.
Sometimes I think the "war on terror" has about as much chance for success as the "war on drugs". Hard to quash a problem by attacking the symptom rather than the cause/root.
Anyway, I don't think there are any easy or clear answers as to what's the right or wrong course of action to take when there are so many cultures, pros/cons, multi-national domino effects, etc...to consider. I believe that many of the jihadist groups sincerely see the west as the "bad guys" who threw the first punches and view themselves as the "good guys" fighting for survival, empowerment, and revenge.
Overall, I don't view them as victims of the west, nor do I view the the governments of countries who've acquired a good deal of their wealth from exporting oil and other natural resources as victims. Overall, I don't consider the US a country of victims either. But,there are certainly victims of specific attacks and corrupt governments against their own people.
IDK. IMO,there's plenty of bullshit, deception and selfishly motivated deals to go around, from all sides, across the globe. Some great stuff, too, but that's another topic.