This site perfectly encapsulates American stupidity towards the ME:
Apparently, the function of knowing anything about the Middle East is to protect ‘American interests’ there, which seem to hinge largely on controlling terror threats, countries that brandish autonomy and resent American meddling, and don’t like being colonized. (Jerks)
The Middle East Forum, a think tank, seeks to define and promote American interests in the Middle East. It defines U.S. interests to include fighting radical Islam, whether terroristic or lawful; working for Palestinian acceptance of Israel; improving the management of U.S. democracy efforts; reducing energy dependence on the Middle East; more robustly asserting U.S. interests vis-Ã -vis Saudi Arabia; and countering the Iranian threat. The Forum also works to improve Middle East studies in North America.
The Middle East, like any area of the world, has its problems. And there are many groups who do resent America(n interference). But even a cursory review of history shows us how many times and ways we usurped, undermind, overthrew, colonized, sucked dry, manipulated and otherwise did not make friends with the people of that region. That’s not to be an apologist for terrorists (of any nation) but to point out that understanding why people feel the way they do is more important in the long run than lambasting them for not liking us. Of course we have to protect ourselves, etc. But overzealous nationalism and expansionist imperialism have gotten us into this mess, and they’re not likely to get us out. I mean how many people do we have to kill to make people stop hating us? Ummm…
