The Middle Eastern question

[David Horn]

(01-17-2019, 07:56 AM)Bill the Piper Wrote: Assad has won, ISIS and liberals have lost. In general, the secular Arab nationalists are winning, despite being hated by both Islamists and liberals. They are backed by Russia and China, so they will grow only more powerful

Egypt. The coup restored the Mubarak regime only with a younger leader.
Lybia. It's an "anocracy", but Haftar is the most powerful warlord. His son's name is Saddam. I think it speaks for itself.

Which begs the question: can some enlightened but active Middle East involvement by the West create positive change?  Personally, I think not.  The Brits and French screwed the pooch after WWI, and 100 years doesn't seem to have made things less dire.  That only leaves the issue of humanitarian involvement, and we don't seem to do that very well either.  We may be the wrong tool for the job -- at least for now.  How long 'now' will last is the real question.

A lot of the discontent is due to the intransigence of the Israelis.  Perhaps it's their turn.