Conflict Polarizes the Mideast, Leaving Little Middle Ground (bunched panties alert)

NY Times ^ | 8/8/09 | NEIL MacFARQUHAR

[pissant]

DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug. 8 — Moderate reformers across the Arab world say American support for Israel’s battle with Hezbollah has put them on the defensive, tarring them by association and boosting Islamist parties.

The very people whom the United States wanted to encourage to promote democracy from Bahrain to Casablanca instead feel trapped by a policy that they now ridicule more or less as “destroying the region in order to save it.”

Indeed, many of those reformers who have been working for change in their own societies — often isolated, harassed by state security, or marginalized to begin with — say American policy either strangles nascent reform movements or props up repressive governments that remain Washington’s best allies in the region.

“We are really afraid of this ‘new Middle East,’ ” said Ali Abdulemam, a 28-year-old computer engineer who founded the most popular political Web site in Bahrain. He was referring to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s statement last month that the situation in Lebanon represented the birth pangs of a “new Middle East.”

“They talk about how they will reorganize the region in a different way, but they never talk about the people,” Mr. Abdulemam said. “They never mention what the people want. They are just giving more power to the systems that exist already.”

[pissant]

Well Mr. MacFARQUHAR (is that a Scottish-Arabian surname?), tough shiite.

[Steely Tom]

The very people whom the United States wanted to encourage to promote democracy from Bahrain to Casablanca instead feel trapped by a policy that they now ridicule more or less as “destroying the region in order to save it.”

Mr. MacFUBAR succeeded in getting one of the precious elements of the Viet Nam era mantra sutra into his story. I'm sure Pinch makes sure he gets a tote bag with lubricant pack for accomplishing this.

[GSlob]

FTB. "T" stands for "the" or "them".

[claptrap]

Who cares what muslims think, instead America should be crushing them under military boots not allowing them any
escape this touchy feely kum-bah-yah crap isnt working.

[pissant]

ROFL. Not a pretty picture.

[pissant]

I hear ya.

[pissant]

I'd hardly call what we've done in the past 4 years kum-bah ya. Terrorists have been stacked like cordwood.

[RichInOC]

The Islamic nutters want to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Israel, understandably enough, doesn't want that. Exactly what "middle ground" is there, or should there be, between those two camps?

[samadams2000]

heehhaahh...good....

[pissant]

None. They may all want israel gone, but only the hardcore terror scum are willing to fight (granted, while hiding behind skirts). The US and allies have been systematically dismantling them.

that is why the Hezzies attacked Israel, to see if they could bring about a muslim-Israel "mother of all battles". Unfortunately for the hezzies, they are getting wiped out and no arab armies are going to join them, at least publicly.

[ClaireSolt]

this never has worked: reformers who have been working for change in their own societies

[Shermy]

"The very people whom the United States wanted to encourage to promote democracy from Bahrain to Casablanca instead feel trapped by a policy that they now ridicule more or less as “destroying the region in order to save it.”"

This mantra is about 30 years old.

[Dreagon]

The only difference between the "moderates" in Islam and the terrorists is that the terrorists use planes and bombs for their threats..... while the moderates use the terrorists for theirs.

[pissant]

600 Taliban killed in bloodiest month for 5 years - July 25, 2006

http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1830229,00.html?gusrc=rss

Nato patrols escape bomb attacks, 25 Taliban killed in Afghan clashes August 7, 2006

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=100935&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23

Four insurgents killed, 32 others arrested by Multi-National Force in Iraq - Aug 4, 2006

http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=893535

Update: IDF Kills 14 Hezbollah Terrorists - Aug 8, 2006

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004456032

Iraq, U.S. Forces Raid Sadr City to Calm Baghdad

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ajU7iB.UPimE&refer=worldwide_news

Security Forces Kill Seven Terrorists in Afghanistan - Aug 8, 2006

http://www.nysun.com/article/37543

Yep, our guys just been kicking back doin nuttin.

[pissant]

Oh, I'm sure it has happened a time or two, but not in an islamic society.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

Moderate reformers across the Arab world say American support for Israel’s battle with Hezbollah has put them on the defensive, tarring them by association and boosting Islamist parties. "

That is a bad situation but we can't and won't throw Israel under the bus.

[pissant]

It's also a grossly exaggerated problem, by a media firmly on the enemy's side.

[Cinnamon]

bunched panties:

[pissant]

Is that a dead rodent in there?

[ccmay]

Yeah, heaven forbid we make those crazy Arabs mad. They might kill some of us.

-ccm