Only their chains to lose
Arab League criticizes Hezbollah for attacks. It's a good article.
I could be wrong, but I'm more hopeful this week than I have been in 6 long years. I think the Muslim Arab world is waking up to the fact that Iran is not their ally, and would like to conquer them. One day, the Arab States might even, maybe-perhaps, ally themselves with Israel against their common foe - Iran. I know, that sounds unlikely, but hey - politics and freedom make for strange bedfellows, and there's no uniter like a mutual threat.
And The Arab Majority may not stay silent
If his "majority" estimate is true, it's possible that the Arab Muslim world is realizing they're oppressed by a cabal of wealthy right-wing-fascist fundamentalist-religious dictators who could stand a good overthrowing.
Jason
I could be wrong, but I'm more hopeful this week than I have been in 6 long years. I think the Muslim Arab world is waking up to the fact that Iran is not their ally, and would like to conquer them. One day, the Arab States might even, maybe-perhaps, ally themselves with Israel against their common foe - Iran. I know, that sounds unlikely, but hey - politics and freedom make for strange bedfellows, and there's no uniter like a mutual threat.
And The Arab Majority may not stay silent
If his "majority" estimate is true, it's possible that the Arab Muslim world is realizing they're oppressed by a cabal of wealthy right-wing-fascist fundamentalist-religious dictators who could stand a good overthrowing.
Jason
posted by Jacques Beau Vert at 9:18 PM
9 Comments:
Two very good articles on the current situation.
First thing that sticks out here for me is that there's a lot of concern about Iran as the regional power, and all the other states in the region are starting to form a balance against the so-called "Shi'ite Crescent." They're seeing things in more in terms of power and structure instead of the traditional bandwagoning that occurs when conflict with Israel is involved. This is considered a "normal" development in IR theory (I've been writing the past couple of days about balances of power and structures, and this is one of the things I've been discussing...really interesting stuff), but it's still surprising to see given the course of history
Second, the clash within a civilization lives. The second article really sticks that point home, and hopefully this "silent majority" will become increasingly vocal, not only against Iran & the terrorist networks that it supports and claim to fight in their name, but against their own regimes that deny them the freedoms that all are entitled to and deserve to enjoy.
Third, this is the type of thing that scares the hell out of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Their traditional support base is leaving them as their ideology becomes increasingly exposed to be based on a lie.
That's all for now, but if you'd like to discuss this I'd be more than happy to do so. :)
Richard, you're a lot more knowledgable than I am, so I'm always very interested in your thoughts - thanks.
This is considered a "normal" development in IR theory
It's funny - I know nothing at all about IR theory, but I do know quite a bit about schoolyards, apartment buildings, and neighbourhoods - and on those scales, it's a very "normal" development, too.
this is the type of thing that scares the hell out of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.
I don't have your background, but I agree very much.
Honestly, this is the best I've felt in 5 years and 10 months - I feel hopeful.
Thanks so much for your thoughts, Richard, always appreciate hearing them.
Jason,
Always a pleasure to shoot the breeze on this type of topic. There's a lot of room for hope yet, it can just get hard to see when there's a veil of darkness always looming.
Thanks for these great posts, very interesting reading. I have also appreciated your comments on several blogs, your common sense is a breath of fresh air (espcially for the Liberal blogs)!
Cheers,
Charley
jason,
awesome links. i also think you're a lot of fun everywhere you drop comments. (cherniak - oooooo.)
Well thanks Charley - I aim to be fun while I'm trying to learn. :)
Chucker, I'm a pale, pale imitation of you, good buddy.
Hey Cherniak's Evil Twin!
I don't know, this whole site is about me learning, really - now, I'm not sure I follow your thoughtline correctly, and hey, I could be way off, but what you say is, I think, key: Iraq is increasingly under the influence of Iran, and no longer it's sworn nemesis - now Iran is stronger, with Iraq at it's side, making a more fearful foe out of Iran for everyone else in the region.
I think.
Here are some links that I believe will be interested
Interesting site. Useful information. Bookmarked.
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