[MD] Hippies (and Humour) in the Middle East

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

[Arlo previously]
I would rather hear this "battle cry" coming from the Middle East than what we
are hearing today. Wouldn't you?

[Platt]
Sure. I'd "rather" a lot of things.

[Arlo]
Then we are in agreement that the world needs more hippies, not less. The Middle
East needs more "contrarians" (more bohemians and hippies). Maybe in hindsight,
it was these groups we should have supported, rather than big oil autocracies
and Mujahideens. 

[Platt]
Yes. I'd "rather" everyone be just like me.

[Arlo]
Which is NOT the same as wishing there were more "contrarians". But thanks for
being honest.

[Platt]
So  we are to blame for a bunch of people who would just as soon cut your 
throat as look at you?

[Arlo]
The situation is obviously more complicated than that, but our historical
involvement has certainly had impact. But, of course, to say this one has to
believe that America the Great is capable of making mistakes.

Try to imagine for one second you are typical Iranian citizen. America has
invaded countries the left and to the right. We have a long policy of
interferring with the political processes in all your neighboring countries,
even setting up puppet dictators in your own. You have seen America displace a
large number of people who have lived on a tract on land for generations,
removed and placed in refugee camps to make way for a new "country" where
citizenship is denied to them, by virtue of their religion. Recently, in
America's war with your neighbors, you have personally seen refugees, citizens,
women and children burned by napalming campaigns. Now, ask youself, do you
really think you'd not favor the creation of arms to defend your country?

And, if you believe that the typical Iranian or Arab is blinded by unquestioning
obedience to his/her Nation-State, you better realize that you do the same.

My fear, though, is that the situation has deteriorated to the point where armed
conflict may be inevitable, since so many on both sides seem to desire this.
And both sides will proclaim they are wholly righteous, and both sides will be
wrong, and the lives of many innocent people will be taken so that each side
can try to win a pissing contest, and blame everything on the other.

[Platt]
When the nation is threatened by a bunch of biological brigands armed with 
WMD's, you bet!

[Arlo]
Which is exactly the way the Iranians feel. Thanks, you've just justified their
present course.

Arlo