There is no more pressing issue for America than current US foreign policy in the Middle East. This part of the world has been a source of conflict for centuries. The issues are complex and difficult. Unlike domestic policy issues, there are no clear partisan divisions. However, the fear of terrorism is sometimes used as a political wedge issue.
If there was just one single cause of all this trouble, it might be easy to find solutions. Instead, there are many causes that fuels the eternal conflicts in the mid-east. Some experts speculate that if the giant petroleum reserves did not exist, this region would be ignored by history. For some reason, with oil or without oil, the mid-east just seems to attract trouble.
A primary source of the battles is the long conflict between the Shia and Sunni offshoots of the Islamic religion. The battle between the two major branches of Islam is similar to the historic conflict between the Catholic religion and Protestant branches of Christianity. While on the surface it may appear that this is a religious conflict, in reality the cause of the conflict is cultural and political.
Since 1948, when Israel became a Jewish state, there has been an entrenched battle between the Palestinian people and Israel. Little progress has been made toward a long lasting resolution. Evangelical Christians and American Jews have formed a powerful lobbying interest group that yields influence on Congress.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States has been fighting a war on terrorism around the globe. The attacks of 9/11 have had a powerful effect on American international policies. While the United States has destroyed the leadership of al-Qaeda, there are still threats from radical Islamic revolutionary forces. The governments of Egypt and Libya have been overthrown. Islamic extremists can potentially replace governments that, even though authoritarian and corrupt, were friendly to the United States.
The American invasion of Iraq is a very controversial decision. To many analysts and historians, the invasion did not make any sense. The war itself was poorly planned. While the initial take down of the Iraqi government was not difficult, the later administration of the Iraq, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, was a disaster according to the opinions of many experts.
The civil war currently taking place in Syria is a prime example of the dilemma policy makers face. Syria is ruled by a brutal leader who has used poison gas on its citizens. The rebels, however, are Islamic extremists who want to attack American. If we arm the rebels, they may use the weapons we give them to attack us. The Russians, who are our rivals, support the current Syrian government. Some experts are saying the best course of action is for the United States to simply stay out of this war.
Current US foreign policy in the Middle East is among the most important issues facing the nation. If these problems were simple, they would have been solved long ago. Unfortunately, the problems are extremely complex. The history is a long one, going back centuries, and involving religious, cultural, and political issues. The solution to these problems are made more complicated when domestic politics enters the picture.
If there was just one single cause of all this trouble, it might be easy to find solutions. Instead, there are many causes that fuels the eternal conflicts in the mid-east. Some experts speculate that if the giant petroleum reserves did not exist, this region would be ignored by history. For some reason, with oil or without oil, the mid-east just seems to attract trouble.
A primary source of the battles is the long conflict between the Shia and Sunni offshoots of the Islamic religion. The battle between the two major branches of Islam is similar to the historic conflict between the Catholic religion and Protestant branches of Christianity. While on the surface it may appear that this is a religious conflict, in reality the cause of the conflict is cultural and political.
Since 1948, when Israel became a Jewish state, there has been an entrenched battle between the Palestinian people and Israel. Little progress has been made toward a long lasting resolution. Evangelical Christians and American Jews have formed a powerful lobbying interest group that yields influence on Congress.
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States has been fighting a war on terrorism around the globe. The attacks of 9/11 have had a powerful effect on American international policies. While the United States has destroyed the leadership of al-Qaeda, there are still threats from radical Islamic revolutionary forces. The governments of Egypt and Libya have been overthrown. Islamic extremists can potentially replace governments that, even though authoritarian and corrupt, were friendly to the United States.
The American invasion of Iraq is a very controversial decision. To many analysts and historians, the invasion did not make any sense. The war itself was poorly planned. While the initial take down of the Iraqi government was not difficult, the later administration of the Iraq, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, was a disaster according to the opinions of many experts.
The civil war currently taking place in Syria is a prime example of the dilemma policy makers face. Syria is ruled by a brutal leader who has used poison gas on its citizens. The rebels, however, are Islamic extremists who want to attack American. If we arm the rebels, they may use the weapons we give them to attack us. The Russians, who are our rivals, support the current Syrian government. Some experts are saying the best course of action is for the United States to simply stay out of this war.
Current US foreign policy in the Middle East is among the most important issues facing the nation. If these problems were simple, they would have been solved long ago. Unfortunately, the problems are extremely complex. The history is a long one, going back centuries, and involving religious, cultural, and political issues. The solution to these problems are made more complicated when domestic politics enters the picture.
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