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May 3, 2010
Aftermath
"Starting with Iraq, the American military has militarized large parts of the Middle East and Central Asia in the name of pacification. And now America is engaged in a grand strategic withdrawal from responsibility in the region, leaving behind men with weapons and excellent reason to use them.... Like Alice in Wonderland, the US administration is trying to play croquet with flamingos and hedgehogs. If only the hedgehog would hold still, Gates complains, Washington could hit it with a flamingo." -- SpenglerPosted by Vanderleun at May 3, 2010 8:42 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Not a happy understanding, and that recommends its truthfulness. But this article is as much about Israel and its changing relationship to America.
Netanyahu has worked for twenty-five years to re-make Israel from a socialist society into a successful capitalist society, independent of America. They have arrived, and opinion has not caught up to that. Israel sees it in their interest to let Obama be seen to be the one to make a break which in fact has already been made. This is what pisses Obama so greatly about Israel: he knows that they have maneuvered him into a corner, which is what the Obama expects to do to others. Those damn Jews afain.
Perhaps this new relationship will allow us to see our role in the mid-east differently.
Posted by: james wilson at May 3, 2010 9:24 AM
Much as I love Spengler, I think he is off beam on this one.
Posted by: Fat Man at May 3, 2010 2:57 PM
The Middle East has been militarized for a long, long time (Babylon, anyone?). And blame can be spread far and wide. And that blame ought to include the residents who are also responsible actors and not just toys that make no move without the United States acting first.
Posted by: Mikey NTH at May 3, 2010 3:02 PM
I admire David Goldman's (aka Spengler) observations on foreign policy and economics. Only this time I think he's dead wrong. A strong case can be made the the Middle East has been "militarized" since the 7th century. After all, it is the Arabs god-given mission to conquer the world in the name of Allah. And, frankly, history shows that they have often resorted to weapons of war more often than not. To bring the argument up to date, the CIA Factbook contains an analysis of military spending as a ratio of GDP for 170+ countries. Guess in which region the top 7 ranked "militarized" countries are located? You're right! BTW, if memory serves, the U.S. is ranked number 28. If Spengler actually means the U.S. has raised the stakes by bringing in more sophisticate equipment, I find it hard to believe we are leaving the really good stuff behind.
Posted by: boqueronman at May 3, 2010 3:32 PM