07-23-2003, 09:06 PM
... in trying to start the clock anywhere. The British dominated the area before the Israelis, and their (and the general western) acceptance of wiping Israel ON TO the map certainly has a whole lot to do with this mess. As does French imperialism in the surrounding area. And Ottoman imperialism in the preceding centuries, lasting far longer than it should have, and supressing the development of progressive nationalism even as it swept the rest of the world. And before that, Islamic imperialism, and Persian imperialism, and Roman imperialism, and Egyptian imperialism...
It's dangerous being a Middle Eastern leader. I've found, citing the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Middle Africa and South America as examples, that protracted imperialism leaves terrible governments in its wake, regardless of whose side they support. Democracy and citizen involvement are either minimal or irrelevant, and corruption is a way of life, assassiantion a common end of a political career (India and Gandhi? The examples flow over). This is sadly true of the Arab states. Israel, of course, takes the blowback for centuries of colonialism; it would have been a much wiser course for them to stick to a humbler course of action. Nothing says imperialism to the Arabs quite like permanent occupation, even if it was their own stupidity that got them into the mess. The easiest way to jeopardize Israel's long term survival is to maintain the perception, in the eyes of the Arabs, that they're just the latest colonial power come to keep them under the imperial boot.
Jester
It's dangerous being a Middle Eastern leader. I've found, citing the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Middle Africa and South America as examples, that protracted imperialism leaves terrible governments in its wake, regardless of whose side they support. Democracy and citizen involvement are either minimal or irrelevant, and corruption is a way of life, assassiantion a common end of a political career (India and Gandhi? The examples flow over). This is sadly true of the Arab states. Israel, of course, takes the blowback for centuries of colonialism; it would have been a much wiser course for them to stick to a humbler course of action. Nothing says imperialism to the Arabs quite like permanent occupation, even if it was their own stupidity that got them into the mess. The easiest way to jeopardize Israel's long term survival is to maintain the perception, in the eyes of the Arabs, that they're just the latest colonial power come to keep them under the imperial boot.
Jester