Change in the Middle East?

Syria Forum

I guess this isn't a real popular subject here, but does anybody think perhaps that what is happening with these two nations might be a sign of drastic change within the Middle East? It seems to me that Lebanon is trying desperately to have a more open and free democracy. They are taking the power back and making their voices heard. A fairly new idea for that region. It is also ironic that all of this is taking place shortly after the Iraqi elections. I think the winds of change are blowing through the Arabic world and things will continue to improve. Despite Iran's interest in nuclear proliferation (which is nothing new), even they are seeming more likely to try and work more within the diplomatic community. Disclosing their abilities to have purchased information as well as talks with France and Germany to give up its nuclear aspirations in exchange for aide and possible membership in the WTO. They are even seeming more willing to work with the US government. Anybody have their own thoughts and predictions on any of this?

Ordinary people want all kinds of things but rarely get what they want.

What happens in Syria depends on who benefits, who has the power, who is pulling the strings, who's pushing for what, and who wants what to happen.

They are taking the power back and making their voices heard. A fairly new idea for that region.

This is not a new idea in any country or region and certainly not in the Middle East. It has just been beneficial to control the peoples of the region for the ruling elites there and our need in the West for a cheap reliable supply of oil. This is just one of the reasons why radical Islam has become so popular to so many people.

I think the winds of change are blowing through the Arabic world and things will continue to improve.

You are presuming that Arabs countries can do as they please. This is yet to be seen because the US - obviously the power in the region - is doing all it can to get rid of a DEMOCRATIC government in other parts of the world, ie Venezuala. This highlights the mistaken idea that ANY democracy is okay (to the West that is).

The poeple in the middle-east countries are tired of being oppressed by their govenments. They are tired of being murdered for opinions and religion. They are tired of watching a few become rich at their expense. They are tired of watching the world evolve around them.
There is a new mindset coming to pruition in the middle-east. The governements that appose the people will fail in the end. Democracy and freedom will prevail in the end.

Venezuela has a psychopath for a president and their people know it too. it's no the govenment in Venezuela that has to go. It's Chavez that has to go. I think he's smoking too much crack down there.

OK...first off, I realize that the US has done some extremely shady things in South America that I for one am ashamed of. I also realize that there was probably allot of covert involvement in the situation with Lebanon...its like a CIA textbook operation. However, to say that the USA is completely manipulative with all affairs in the Middle East needs to again look to Iraq. The two main contenders for the presidency are hardly staunch American supporters. One of the candidates have close ties to Iran. The elections held there were, contrary to what you might think, legitimate as far as I could tell...I was there. Yes, the United States holds interests in the Middle East...name a developed country that doesn't. Heck, I was and am opposed to how the US has been handling the situation recently. I think that things are changing though and we should all be happy that countries like Lebanon are starting to take a greater interest in human rights and other freedoms denied to them for a long time by oppressive theocracies

USA1: The poeple in the middle-east countries are tired of being oppressed by their govenments. They are tired of being murdered for opinions and religion. They are tired of watching a few become rich at their expense. They are tired of watching the world evolve around them.

They are also tired of Western governments propping up and supporting these oppressive governments.

We can't just presume to know what anyone wants in the Middle East, as if the people of the Middle East are one mind. There's differerent religions, cultures, tribes, political persuasions, and then there's the ambitions of the rich and powerful and connected, who have far more say than the ordinary man. Like I said, ordinary people rarely get what they want, and rarely want what they get.

Venezuela has a psychopath for a president and their people know it too. it's no the govenment in Venezuela that has to go. It's Chavez that has to go. I think he's smoking too much crack down there.

The Venezuelan people voted Chavez into power twice, and saved him from a coup that the US helped bring about. I don't get how you can go on about democracy and freedom but then when a country vote someone in who isn't friendly towards US interests you want him thrown out.

For some reason, you think everyone is ignorant about the middle-east. That is ignorant in itself. You think there are no Arab consultants? The middle-east didn't just appear after 9/11. We've been dealing with these barbarians for the last 75 years. It's time to move middle earth into the 21st century before they nuke each other or us out of existance. It's time for them to face reality about human rights and other religions.

I'm not gonna use language as strong as USA1...I think barbaric is a little hard. No one can say that anyones culture is WRONG, however it is quite archaic. They are starting to adopt more modern views of the world and it is in conflict with the old way in which things had previously been done. I certainly hope that they do not fully adopt western ways, I think that America has replaced culture with consumerism, but they do need to become more moderate and contemporary when it comes to things like democracy, and basic human rights, ie. the treatment of women, laws, and right to dissent.

USA1: For some reason, you think everyone is ignorant about the middle-east. That is ignorant in itself. You think there are no Arab consultants? The middle-east didn't just appear after 9/11. We've been dealing with these barbarians for the last 75 years. It's time to move middle earth into the 21st century before they nuke each other or us out of existance. It's time for them to face reality about human rights and other religions.

That's good - "we've been dealing with these barbarians for 75 years. Funny stuff. So according to you, apart from the odd Arab consultant (are consutants the epitome of modern western life?) we've been struggling to help these savages towards a more enlightened way of life. That's what you believe we've been doing for the last 75 years? I certainly don't think everyone is ignorant about the Middle East. But I don't need to accuse you.

ftbs_vic: but they do need to become more moderate and contemporary when it comes to things like democracy, and basic human rights, ie. the treatment of women, laws, and right to dissent.

I can't disagree with that. But is that the really important issue regarding our interest in the Middle East? When did we start becoming so altruistic? If it isn't the real motivation then what's going on right now could go very easily go badly wrong. It could anyway but that's another story.

We have after all only done business with the Middle East for one reason - the oil. We've allowed and supported the regimes because they protected that supply for us. We continue to do so with Saudi Arabia. Would we be willing to allow democracy if it endagered our supply?

Yes...our main interest in the Middle East is oil. Nobody can say otherwise with a straight face (unless your a politician or capitalist). I do not like our raping of other countries resources either but in this case it seems to be a situation on mutual gain. I do not like my countries dependency on oil and I do not like the corruption and underhanded dealings in our current administration. Thats the nature of the beast though. Politicians are crooked, always have been, always will be. But if we can in some way help other countries in the process than I am happy that at least some good can come out of it. Perhaps these countries will learn from South America and not get done over. I hope so. What good is coming out from a religious oppression only to find yourself under the subjection of another? I'm with you on that one h@ts

Wait a minute. Don't the Arabs want to sell us their oil? The last time I looked, they couldn't live with out our 25% consumption rate. Nobody is raping their environment. If anything it is they who are screwing it up. Their technology has been stifled for so many years, it all has to be replaced. They took the oil money and lined their own pockets while the infrustructure and citizens are paralized.
Saddam himself created an enviromental catastrophy in 1991 because of his barbaric beliefs and greed.

Tolerance for human rights is needed in the middle-east. Trible divides and Islamic fundimental beliefs need to change.

It is amazing what a little political and media pressure can do. See link below.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050526..._mi_ea/un_syria