rickair7777

SayAlt is generally correct at least as far the persian gulf region is concerned. There has been a decades-long systematic campaign in many countries there to narrowly focus "education" on religion and whatever politics the totalitarian leaders want the people to hear.

In many places it's hard to get what we would consider a liberal education...you get the ultra-conservative Madrasa treatment or nothing at all (for women, it's nothing of course). This has created a generation of young men with limited economic options and some very strong opinions.

This all due to a bizarre confluence of fifth-century cultural values and oil money, aggravated by western imperial meddling in the region during the 20th century.

rickair7777

Yes, this is true. But so what? It doesn't change the facts today. Lesson learned, move on. Berating ourselves over stuff our grandparents did doesn't accomplish anything.

We really don't want Iran to possess nuclear weapons because they have an entire branch of their military service devoted to radicals, some of whom are likely straight-up wingnuts. Oh yeah and their religion specifies that Armageddon starts with massive conflict on earth followed by a second-coming of sorts (12th Imam). There are those who believe that starting a nuclear war with the US and/or Israel would precipitate that, and they'd all go straight to heaven. Seriously. Even the loon in N. Korea doesn't think he can actually nuke somebody and survive longer than an hour or so.

And to make matters worse, Israel CANNOT take even one nuclear hit so they are in the position of likely having to conduct a first strike if Iran develops a nuclear + delivery capability, or gets too close to it.

rickair7777

It's more complicated than that. Worldwide, Sunnis in general are more stable (and numerous). Shia's in general are a bit crazy from our perspective, and Iran is center of gravity for radical Shia islam. Wahhabi Sunni's are on the far right of the crazy spectrum.

There are also numerous other subsects with widely variable attitudes.

And most of them hate each other.

As for Saudis vs. Iran, the Saudis have more oil (even counting undeveloped reserves). If we abandon them, conflict would ensue, possibly or even likely interrupting the oil flow on a short-term or long-term basis. Global economic catastrophe would ensue.

Once we wean a lot of our energy needs off of oil and the supply exceeds the demand then we can look at making big changes to our involvement in the region.

Also the Saudis are OK with Israel (they won't say so in public of course). The Iranians are not OK with Israel and that's not something we're ever going to come to terms with them on. Unless we move Israel to the Australian outback.

MartinBishop

You must not be up to speed:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...War_proxy_wars




(Rumsfeld meets Saddam)

SayAlt

lulz

That must be why Saddam's AF was comprised of mostly Soviet warplanes, because he was chummy with Rummy. It makes so much sense now!

rofl

DYNASTY HVY

How did that Arab spring or better yet OVERTHROW escapade work out in the end ?FUBAR comes to mind due to U.S meddling in other countries affairs .