By Fareed Zakaria
There is a kind of bipartisan arrogance that is often at work in Washington, where both sides believe that everything happening in the world is a consequence of American power and policy. If only we had made a different speech or implemented a different policy, or sent out a different tweet. But the truth is, what is happening in the Arab world is not about us – it is really about them.
Watch the video for Fareed's take on the reasons for the unrest in the Arab world. Fareed Zakaria GPS airs on Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET.
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Bring back the McRib!
Confidence has been destroyed.
Bring back Pepsi Clear!
Troll
I'll give you the McRib, but Crystal Pepsi sucked.
Fareed, if that is the case (and I strongly believe it is), then we need to get out of the way and let the mideast find their own 'democracy'. It does not seem fair that they want US aid and help, but do not want to extend friendship and respect on equitable terms. We are not going become something else, just so they are more comfortable. Thus far, the mideast version of democracy is used only to lash criticism for the US or other non-muslim nations (with no recognition for the inordinate support they get from these nations), but free expression from others is met with insecurity, need to hide behind Islam, and an unacceptable degree of violence.
So yes, it IS about them, not us, shouldn't we get out of the way until they are ready for us?
Ah, the plagarisng propogander mouthpiece for Obama once again trying to take any blame off of the Dictator Obama.
So, how is Obama to blame?
How is Obama a dictator, please tell me...I'll wait.
Kalo: And how was Bush even remotely like Adolf Hitler? I clearly remember the comparisons and burning effigies from protests right here in the United Staes during his administration. Things like that would have made my grandfathers vomit after risking their lives for years beating the Nazis back from Normandy. Yet the images were seen here on CNN and elsewhere. I'm still waiting for any remotely feasible explanation for that obtuse and unenlightened juxtaposition years later....
And no, I am not a repubican.
Obama is a dictator in the sense that when he doesn't get his way, he does things through executive order. He threatened veto of the NDAA unless it had the indefinite detention provisions, and then said he would do it by executive order if necessary. He also stated ON-AIR that he was happy to have the power to assasinate American citizens. When the Senate would not ratify the UN treaty on small arms, he said he would ratify it through executive order. He, through is SECDEF, told congress that he gets his authority and permission to go to war from the UN, and that he would "inform" congress if he wanted to. Sounds pretty much like a dictator to me.
Paul, you're a joke. The Executive Order has been used by every sitting President numerous times. So by your assertion, the US doesn't have a President but a Dictator. That premise is idiotic.
Small minds breed shallow thoughts.
Paul: are you taking your meds?
True, and this is the same man who on these very pages called for us to get rid of our Congress and go to a Parliamentarian system.
@Brian: Obama has over 120 executive orders in less than 4 years. In compariison, Bush had 43 during eight years. You do not see a problem there? Guess who the pole is?
Paul said: "He also stated ON-AIR that he was happy to have the power to assasinate [sic] American citizens"
Presumably you mean those Americans who are traitors to our country by embracing terrorism and the death of innocent men, women, and children. So do we infer from your statement that you support terrrorists and traitors? I thought, according to you neocon chickenhawks, that that was what Obama did.
Good story, as usual you add insight to issues and we appreciate your work FZ.
Bush had 291 Executive Orders. The Executive Orders started in the Federal Record at E.O. 13198 and ran to E.O. 13488
So, when it's on Bush's watch, CNN asks "What did we do to make them hate us?", but when it's on Obama's watch, it's about them not us? Double standard much?
@ John, its really not difficult to understand the difference if you actually think objectively and not just blindly believe that Americans are always good and others are always bad. Yes actions such as war and support of dictators or occupation makes them hate us and it should make us hate us as well. What the Republicans are pointing it is Obama reachig out to the muslim world makes them act this way. Which doesn't make sense to anyone with a functioning brain.
I concur, except we don't need to get involved at all. Let them handle their business. When they deal with us, we deal with them.
Neha,
I believe you are an Indian who is settled in the US or may be just a typical Hindu from India who like to rub his/her nose in any topic/event that has a direct or indirect connection with Islam. I partially agree with your statement, however, I would like to clarify following few basic facts which are very cleverly and conveniently kept hidden from the general public for a long time.
Superpowers do not get involved in other country’s affaires unless:
1)They foresee, and have a plan, for extracting lucrative benefits from such involvement, e.g. exploitation of oil and mineral rich countries in the world is a perfect example.
2) If extracting tangible benefits from the target country is not the criteria then their involvement is based upon purely strategic reasons, such as, geographic location of the country that could be used for deploying automatic defense mechanism such as missile shield system or for initiating pre-emptive strikes against enemies, etc.
3) Last but not the least, for controlling and safeguarding their trade routs.
And the list goes on and on…..…..
It seems so naive when you implied "they need our help in billions of dollars but in return they don’t give us anything “, what a pure innocent statement!
Get real, when someone spends billions on something it is obviously not for any angelic reason, go and do some real research and then provide your comment.
It does seem we are not getting any tangible assets for the money we have spent.
Syed,
What you display is typical cynicism Muslims demonstrate about anything coming from a non-Muslim. That is the root frustration for most non-Muslims. What you project is also very typical of societies that consider themselves the victim. They start looking for cynical motives and see conspiracy theories. That is a pity.
This is a globalized world. While, yes, there are business interests and strategic goals, there is a bigger, palpable fear that the middle east could continue to harm themselves and badly enough to impact other regions.
Unfortunately, the Muslim world is constantly obsessed with issues in a rather self centered way. Typical highlights of world view through the Islamic prism are :
1. The world is out to get us – WRONG.
2. Islam needs to be protected, often by use of force – WRONG.
3. If someone says we will helps you, they always have a lurking motive to destroy us – WRONG.
If the outlook could be changed to :
1. The world is good/bad but it is what it is, what can I/WE do to improve it without involving religion?
2. I have a growing population, how can I ensure it's betterment without resorting to abuse of religion?
You will see a difference in your own approach to the interaction.
- A Hindu who likes to observe the world and possibly contribute.
You are right, America has never gone anywhere for humanitarian reasons. At times it has been a by product.
As we watch the Pro-American dictatorships fall it will be interesting to see what happens. If Religion is one of the driving forces it will be bloody, long and disastrous in the end.
@Ram Sekhar – You have a very naive view of the world. It is a fact that there is a hidden world of politics and economics that the general public doesn't see. It is a fact that the US has supported dictators in return for economic or strategic interests. It is a fact that the US has worked against popularly supported persons which want to develop their nations, such in Iran's history, in order to support dictators (the Shah).
I like my society. I dont know why it has to be slandered so much for the sake of other country's society.
Plagiarism, Plagiarism, Plagiarism....hahahahhaha.....
Poverty from poor government, leadership and religion has brought civil wars and rioting to the Middle East. The US is only a scapegoat by way of misaligned accusations from religious extremist in an attempt to take over Islam and the Middle East. Further deterioration from the world economic collapse added fueled to the fire. Much of this would not have been possible if it were not for the worldwide web and smart phone capabilities that provides world news, information and communication.
Should we not be using these same tools to pound out our message of freedom and all the benefits of a government democratically elected by the people.
Yes, we should let them a method of government on their own. But, we should keep the door open to communication and cooperation, as an act of good faith. We should always maintain a position of being ready to assist a new democratic Allie in the Middle East and North Africa.
Yep. Extremists use US policies in the Middle East as a wedge play to spread their message. Sounds eerily familiar to a certain political party currently in US politics.
Bob, you are an extremists as well. You think democracy is right for all governments. You want to force our belief of democracy on that nation, and yet hate it when they force theirs on us. How about America not try to be pushy and force its beliefs on other coutnries, and let those countries do as they choose.
We did that in Egypt. The People elected new officials. And they are choosing to not like us. Same thing in Lybia, Jordan, Syria, Iran and Russia.
Agree Mark. We need to step out of the way and let the Arabs decide for themselves about what kind of government they want without insinuating ourselves into their lives and culture. They are not ready for our culture at this point. Many Arabs are parochial or primative and illiterate and others are just ignorant of our culture. They cannot know who we are because they cannot conceptualize it. This is their struggle with each other. Why do we keep trying to make it about us? (I do know the theories about oil and such, but it's not about oil for them) Agree with Fareed that it is not about us. That does not mean I don't care about their struggles.
The current MidEast uprising could match very well with the past Century of the year--, the cost of lives, materials and developments.
These are happening in the middle of 'war on Terrorism'.
It could soften the relationships between the West and Islamic nations.
But, what do they accomplished by waging violences? They are totally confused.
Their formula is:-
VIOLENCE = regime change
VIOLENCE = religious uprising
So, their Mind-Sets are changing things through violences. Their Government Offices and meeting halls are not any more in use. They choose to change things on/from the Streets only.
I never say sorry in My life, but now I could say, I feel sorry for those non-violent peace loving people, who are living these violences. Even Animals seen living together, peacefully. But,
...these?! (No words to explain their dirty work).
They must blame themselves.
No one touched them.
They started it, let them finished it.
.....probably, the better way to bring peace in MidEast is, to sort them out.
Let violence people live and work in some specific Regions and peaceful people in another Regions.
Violence people are like communicable airborne diseases.
Better, to get far away from them.
Let them cure themselves, before they.....
...true!
Let them be sorted out.
You know, someone who planned to earn a good wages and to serve his/her people and Country, must not live with Drug dealers and violence neighbourhood.
or terrorists!
Fareed, what you said is partly true. There's a saying that everyone is the artisan of his own fortune. But we see an equality of life – chances and distributions – in some parts of the world. What should we do? There are countries who practise the maxime of no interference in other countries' domestic affairs. Should we help or should we mind our business? Whatever we do will never please everybody. Yet our world is so interconnected that whatever happens affects us all.
Yes, it is all about Them. They need a Reformation within Islam. They need to build a proper society. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be moving in that direction. For hundreds of years Africa blamed its lot on the Colonial powers, but the truth is that they were better off when they were ruled from Europe. The Arab world needs to get its house in order, or we will be forced to do it for them. And it won't be pretty.
HONESTLY, this guy Mr. FAREED ZAKARIA must be the GREATEST TURNCOAT, PLAGIARIST JOURNALIST of all time !!!.
The more I read from my former countryman, the more I see his DISHONESTY and BLATANT desire to say anything as long as that helps him CLIMB THE LADDER.......
Now he's busy BURNISHING HIS CREDENTIALS to land the job of the next US. SEC. OF STATE (by Hook or Crook!) which President is supposedly contemplating.
And why did I say that he was a TURNCOAT journalist.
Here's what he had ASTOUNDINGLY said only last year; I quote:
"The Danger comes from us (the US) and NOT them (Al-Qaeda & Muslim radicals). Ref: Reflections on 9/11 and its Aftermath” CNN-GPS Sept 9th, 2011.
GOD SAVE AMERICA if this man were to become the next Us. Sec. of State!
Couldn't agree more, FZ definitely has some hidden and not so hidden agenda. But then again so does Barry O. They both openly hate the USA, as does Barry O's wife Michelle. Which amazes me, they have all benefited so much from the American system, how can they just trash it so badly.
Yeah, Obama hates the US. That's why he's basically dedicated most of his life serving it as a politician. You are a coward. Instead of saying Obama and his wife both hate the US, just come out of the closet and admit you're a bigot. Because that's the excuse most bigots use but are too cowardly to admit in public.
I see the tinfoil hat brigade is making itself heard.
No kidding.
Just admit that you don't like having a BLACK man in the WHITE House. You're not fooling anyone and neither are your Tea Bagger, birther buddies.
Our understanding of History evolves over time. It is not written in stone. What we know to be true today may not be true tomorrow. I agree with Fareed in the sense that America should not get involved with Arab internal issues. It has never worked in our favor. Examples: Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and still counting. Let them settle their disputes themselves and decide how they want to live. Sooner or later they will have to turn to America. Then we could negotiate on our terms instead of just reacting to them.
The next Sec. of State is John Kerry.
There is no need to reply to any comments because I see all of the CAPS LOCK statements and replies. You are angry, angry. Have you ever asked yourself why you are so angry–maybe almost as angry as the Arabs? Are you also undervalued by people around you? Not meant to be accusatory, but an observation. (Not a psychologist, just an observer.)
Did Zakaria actually write this diatribe he spoke, or did he steal it from someone and not give them no credit.
Farred couldn't wipe his own behind if you gave him directions and a mirror.
It's a really great achievement if a person who can't wipe his behind, as you say, still manages to snag a lot of honorary degrees and several awards for journalism... how many have you won by the way?
CNN, I don't want to see a plagiarist working for you anymore. Have some journalism ethics and standards, will you?
Everybody makes mistakes. To err is human. To forgive is divine.
Fool me once – shame on you.
Fool me twice – shame on me.
He didn't plagiarize... he was cleared of those charges. His only offense was the following – both he and another author borrowed ideas from a third source. Fareed clearly referenced the original source. He forgot to also attribute the second author – this is a gray area, not really plagiarism, and the ONLY instance in his pretty voluminous body of work, so he gets the benefit of the doubt.
Stop lying, F admitted he did it.
Get with the program CNN and give us a "LIKE" button as FaceBook does (or especially a "DISLIKE" button). I don't feel like writing an essay at 9:00 at night, but I want this guy to know that I like his comment. Can we do that?
What a PROFOUND lack of historical perspective! EVERYTHING in the Arab world has to do with western influence! Ever since Europeans believed that everything in the world belonged to them, the Arab world has been plundered. Virtually every dictator in the Arab world was installed by western powers. The only ones that WEREN'T are anti-west.
yeah, yeah, yeah, the muslims never do anything wrong.
In your little pea brain, it is always someone elses fault when something goes wrong in the muslim world.
When is islame going to take responsibility for 1.2 billion mistakes?
Good posting, Paul. How so very true your statement rings! Just ignore these uneducated right-wing lemmings here like this Gene above! This Fareed Zakaria has it all wrong, too!
And apparantly, YOU have intellect?
okay then!
Pfft. Everything in the world did belong to them for quite some time, and you talk of others not understanding history?
This is the first post this guy had made sense. Let them figgure out what is best for themselves using their own resources.
Sometimes I feel the US is Janitor who has to clean up what they think is a mess all the time.( even if it is not a mess).
If the US was a business, they would be looking for a way to eliminate wasteful spending. the problem is, they are a business and its business owners( the voters) keep plugging the cash(tax money) into the company what is wasting it. In fact they are so comfortable with wasteful spending, they even spend the next 2+ generations worth of money on the idea. Its not a Rep or Dem thing- its not even a previous administrations fault- its mine and yours and we own it compeltely
You are only thinking he makes sense take your meds huh! glad to help.
As someone that was a paid consultant for the Obama administration ........... you're creditability isn't very high, Fareed.
Amen brother!
Of course our obscene intervention in the Arab world is about us. Why did we invade Iraq? and why do we still have troops in Afghanistan? Iraq has the third largest oil deposits in the world and Afghanistan has well over $1B worth of underground mineral resources! Don't let these right-wing politicians tell you different!
Don't be a liberal zombie puppet either because we don't get that much oil from Iraq and don't let anyone tell you different!
Cheney decided to invade Iraq so as to enrich himself and his Halliburton cronies. What? You thoght W actually ran things?
I think it's time that we stop all intervention in the Middle East, have enough troops in the area to protect our interests locally (i.e. oil facilities, embassies, etc.), and just let them kill themselves off. Same goes for Israel. Once (if) they realize how much they actually need us, they'll change their tune. If not – oh well. This should also work as a cattle prod to get us realistically focused on energy independence and alternative energies. Once that happens we won't need the Middle East at all.
I think there is credence to what he says. What's happened over the past few weeks is a prime example. Alot of Muslims got very upset over a low budget film, wondering why our government didn't do something about it. They continue to realize that we have this freedom of speech. It's literally a "foreign concept" to them. So again, it's on them to understand our culture and what US democracy is all about. By the same token, the US should continue to push for democracy throughout the Middle East, but it doesn't necessarily need to be US democracy. That should be for the host country to decide...and we as a culture need to accept whatever form of democracy they choose. These issues are cultural more than they are political.
It must be absolute hell to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and realize you're Sarah Palin. It it were me, I'd drive over to the nearest hardware store and swallow copious amounts of Drano.
You really should think about getting professional help. That can't be healthy.
I am a mental health professional. Perhaps you'd like to make an appointment?
palintwit, a straight-jacket is not the same thing as a physician's coat. It means you are a mental health patient, not a professional.
You mean your a mental case...
US foreign policy should be about US interests and values. If the Middle Eastern nations have other interests they should pursue them. That's the role of their governments. The role of ours is to promote the interests of the United States.
what about if there is a clash of interests? So times the thing that is in your interest is not in the interest of other states. that's what the world is facing now.
If there's a clash of interests... We've got the bigger guns.
The bigger guns argument works against opposing governments. However, when your conflict is with a people rather than a government, then the bigger guns argument doesn't always work. That's when you need to occupy countries to force their people to do your bidding on a day-to-day basis. That's when conventional warfare ends and guerrilla warfare begins. In guerrilla warfare, it's not about who has the biggest guns. That's a lesson that many people in our country seem to continually forget.
Exactly! We need to stop sticking our political nose where it doesn't belong, protect what is ours, and let them fight it out among themselves. We need to stop backing our false-friend Israel and let the Middle East decide what is best for the Middle east. Of course, none of this is truly feasible while we are not energy independent or focused on alternative fuels.
U.S. interests are securing enough oil to keep the country running.
The Plan For A New American Century (PNAC)
written by several NEOCONS including Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld
has stated that the most pressing security problem that
The United States faces is oil.
We must have it, find it or control it anyway
that is possible if the United States
is going to continue to be the only "superpower".
Right out of the mouths of Republican warmongers.
Read it, its fascinating.
Just because they're evil (and I truly believe that there is a special place in Hell reserved for Rumsfeld and Cheney) doesn't mean that they're wrong.
The world is already screwed up and it is going to be more screwed up in the future. I become unable to understand what is happening logically. We are living in a world where everything is interconnected till it becomes impossible to tell who is the guilty one. In point of view, the humanity is bound up to die. The world can not be fixed. the innocent is held guilty and the guilty is held innocent. THE WORLD IS NOT FAIR; IT A FACT. IT IS BETTER TO LET WHAT WE ARE AFRAID OF TO HAPPEN SO THAT IT CAN FIX ITSELF BY ITSELF.
Amricans inetrests are waging the wars. These interests will soon bring US down to the level of S. America.Sir Adolf Hitler also suffered the same problem.
It is all Obamas fault.
Judging by yor name I wonder if not long ago you were a camel Jockey!! what do you know about South America? they may be moe advance of what you are aware off..
Well said.
Camel jockey? Really? It's people like you that give us Americans a bad reputation around the world, you worthless bigot.
Once again Fareed is the only common sense journalist. Dictatorial repression and decades of anti-western brainwashing have made the arabs both ultra-sensetive and irrational towards the West. It doesn't matter if its Obama, or Mitt, or Bush, or anyone in office. These people will look for the littlest of reasons to go nuts and act violently towards America. It's not even a religious issue. You don't see muslims going crazy in America. You only see the middle easterners and north africans going crazy. This is a regional issue, and decades of oppression and anti-western propaganda from the dictators have caused this.
Keep up the good work Fareed. Hopefully CNN drops Piers and gives you the Larry King seat as you are by leaps and bounds the best interviewer on CNN for politics and world affairs.
LOL!...Zakaria is a fool and so are you...
Gee whiz AmericanPeasant, talk about brainwashing just what do you think that the right-wing news media does to the American public? Just look at all these anti-Muslim and anti-Russian posts here! They tell the true story as these people keep on displaying their ignorance through their own posts here. The majority of the American people need to learn to think for themselves for a change!
It is about us...
And who is Zakaria? "Them or Us?"
You know you're a teabagger when you use your "Don't Tread on Me" flag as a bath towel.
This was Mr. Zakaria's tune until Y'day:
"ULTIMATELY, IT's ALL AMERICA’s FAULT!!!"
And, this is his tune now!!!!!
"IT's ALL ABOUT THEM and NOT US"
If anyone wants to understand the Islamic concept of TAQIYYA which in short means saying & doing anything as long as it serves the cause of Islam, probably the greatest example for that is none other than Mr. Zakaria.
How is Mr. Zakaria serving the cause of Islamists by criticizing them..........that's ONLY A PLOY to cover up his true ISLAMIC STRIPES and make himself appear FAIR & BALANCED and prep. himself for the position of the US SEC. OF STATE from where he can carry forward his true JIHADIST agenda.
Jihadist!!! what do you mean? that is the most stupid thing I have ever heard!! keep you ignorance up. the world needs people like you to destroy it!!
Fareed is actually consistent in his views last year and this year - he is saying that America should quit over-estimating its role and overplaying its hand globally - such activities are not received well [that's the point of his last year's work] and it's not effective as it's not about us anyway [that's the point of this year's work]. I don't see any contradiction!
It is clear that you don't read this column often.
Um...Duh?
Here are some fine examples of Mr.Zakaria’s biased writings:
1)Where he squarely blames the west, Russia and his native India for Muslim hatred, holding these nations “squarely responsible” for NOT merely Muslim discontentment but also “Muslim Terror”, and CONCLUDING that the danger is from us and NOT from them!
a) “Why do they hate us”-Newsweek Aug 22nd 2007 –
b) “Reflections on 9-11 & Aftermath” Sept 11th 2011
c) “Why America Overreacted to 9-11” – Newsweek Sep 4th-2010
d) “How Russia created its own Islamic Terrorism Problem” Time Jan 27th 2011
e) “Don't Overreact to Terrorism – Newsweek Jan 09th 2010
f) “India Occupying Kashmir” – Rediff June 25th 2001. In a ceremony while receiving India’s third highest civilian award from the Indian Ambassador to the US Mr. Zakaria condemned India for its role in Kashmir terming it “Martial Rule” and castigated India for its perceived illtreatment of Muslims.
f) “India Please Stand up” CNN GPS Mar 26th 2012
2) Where he tries to showcase Muslim radicalism as a direct result of their backwardness & poverty & NOT their radical religious IDEOLOGY (disregarding far more poverty ridden places such as Haiti, Nepal, much of Sub-Saharan Africa), URGING already HARD HIT Americans & Europeans to CONTRIBUTE more, w/o ever mentioning the oil rich Sheikdoms or their own rich people (for e.g. ONLY 1% of Pakistanis pay income taxes-many of whom are far more affluent than average Americans or Europeans who toil more than 3 months a year JUST to pay their taxes!).
a) “What People Will Die For – Newsweek Jan 5th 2008
b) “Put Pakistan (Govt. & Miltary) on Notice” but keep pumping money! – CNN GPS May 13th 2011
c) Plus all of the articles under (1) above.
3) Where he deliberately DOWNPLAYS the threat of radical Islam in the west.
a) “Jihad against the Jihadis- How Moderates WON against extremists” – Newsweek Feb 12th 2010
b) “Learning to Live with Radical Islam” – Newsweek Feb 28th 2009
c) “Congressional Hearings on threats from radical Islam” ABCNews.com Feb 11th 2011
d) “When Terror Loses its Grip-Time May 20th 2011
Analyzing a situation doesn't make you bias..
OMG! Do you not realize that you are obsessed? You need to get a balance.
CNN does not have credibility to comment on big issues of the day when it employs a jouralist like Fareed who recent have been found guilty of Plagiarism. CNN fix your house first.
Missing a quote is not the end of the world, but avoiding taxes... oh my..!!! Hiding money in Swiss banks oh now we are talking.. Getting caught.. Definitely stupid..
He was cleared of those charges... stop making libelous accusations.
4) Where he PRETENDS to be concerned about America while CONSTANTLY highlighting the fact that America’s best days are over, and talks about the emergence of other powers. While that may be somewhat true, you can see a definite bias in the coverage, almost WISHING TO SEE OUR DOWNFALL, just as most Muslims the world over want!
a) “Are America’s Best Days Over” Time March 3rd 2011
b) “Beyond Bush” June 11th 2007
c) “The Future of American Power” Foreign Affairs May-June 2008
Vice President Dick Cheney, as we wrote in a 2008 editorial, took “the bizarre view that the lesson of Watergate was that Congress was too powerful and the president not powerful enough.” After the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush/Cheney team saw an opening to free the presidency from checks and balances. They exploited the fear and insecurity that were pervasive at the time to claim emergency powers, creating offshore detention centers where prisoners were held without charge and eavesdropping on Americans without a warrant.
Mr. Bush’s signing statements not only amounted to a significant usurpation of power, but they came at a time when Congress was giving him everything he wanted. Congress passed the deeply flawed Patriot Act and authorized the invasion of Iraq. It even gave its retroactive approval to warrantless wiretapping. Mr. Bush also achieved many of his domestic policy goals, including tax breaks that mostly benefited the richest Americans.
The reality is, is that islam has failed and entire swath of humanity. They cant and wont admit it. I can see why they feel humiliated. Theyve destroyed their own lives around false religion and they need someone to blame.
Let's be honest here, all religions are false.
George Bush used executive power – good.
Obama uses executive power – Bad.
George Bush makes speech at UN – good.
Obama makes speech at UN – bad.
George Bush plays golf – good.
Obama plays golf – bad.
George Bush kisses saudi king and holds his hand – good.
Obama bows to Saudi king (sign of respect) – bad.
George Bush failed protecting America 911 – good.
Obama has 4 people dead in Libya – bad.
George Bush gives up looking for Bin Laden – good.
Obama kills Bin Laden – Republicans give credit to Bush.
Bush stumps for re-election – good.
Obama stumps for re-election – bad.
You Republicans are a pathetic bunch.
Yes, but is it about the US in the Arab world. Our misguided arrogance is a huge issue. We saw this in the collapse of the USSR- Reagan took credit for it when in fact it was the local activists on the ground that fomented change. The difference between the Soviet collapse and the Arab Spring is the US treats Arabs as fodder for the armaments industry. Can you imagine Reagan using drones in the Soviet Republics c. 1988?
What is Romney's stance on drones? The Obama Administration has killed over one hundred children using drones. Why isn't this on CNN? Killing children is worse than enslaving them.
According to the UK's Guardian website: "...between 2,562 and 3,325 people have been killed in Pakistan between June 2004 and mid-September this year – of whom between 474 and 881 were civilians, including 176 children. The figures have been assembled by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism..."
In 2016 the USA will attempt to use drones domestically. Companies are already marketing demand to local police departments as well as US Dept of Immigration. They are already being assembled in California in which former members of the National Guard get paid by companies that are engaged to assemble them.
And you are worried about goat herders with antiquated equipment in Afghanistan???
The drones are coming, the drones are coming!
Also, take a few sentences to explain Bin Laden hiding in the West Point of Pakistan, a muslim country, puhleaase? Explain Islamic countries regularly hiding terrorists instead of bringing them to justice, again puhleaase?
Uh, yeah, thanks, Fareed. I think.
When their own leaders would rather denounce this ridiculous film then violence, then it is indeed their problem. Many of the problems in Arab nations, and the Middle east, has much to do with explosive population growth and lack of education. Plus a history of leaders who are corrupt and incompetent. We can say just "get out of the way" but the world is to connected and resources to scarce to realistically dissapear. In Afghanistan, for instance, we did pull away and left that nation to itself, and ultimately, to other influences (in this case Pakistan). In the end we had 2K dead New Yorkers. It just is not that simple.
You know you're a teabagger when you bring a loaded assault weapon and a bible to a political rally.
@dirge14
Wanna know how Bush is like Adolph Hitler? Prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the entire world protested against an invasion of Iraq. In 2003, 3 million people gathered in Rome to protest the war, setting a Guiness Book of Record for the largest peace time rally in history. During this period, UN inspectors were on the ground in Iraq sucessfully destroying long range and short range missiles and dismantling the Iraqi military peacefully and without bloodshed and lost of life. Iraq was no longer a threat to its neighbors and neither was it a threat to the United States. But the dictator and war criminal GWB intervened prematurely and violated international law by telling UN inspectors that they had fourty eight hours to leave the country before the bombs started falling. Like Adolph Hitler, GWB invaded a sovereign country in peace time to start a war, murdering tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis and American citizens over a bogus lie about WMDs that have not materialized nine years later. Now, Iraq is bog down in a civiil war that may last for generatiosn to come. Let's face it, invading a country that is at war with the hope to stabilize it and bring about peace is one thing but to invade a country in peace time where no domestic unrest is taking place to destabilize it and ignite a civil war is a war crime and so far, the worst war crime of the 21st century. Still want to know how GWB compares to Adolph Hitler? There's your answer.
You know you're a teabagger when the only cable channel you get is the 24 hour nascar channel.
It is not America's fault and It is not Arab's fault, than who's fault is it? hindu Jew's, filthy self centered.
Yes, it is Israel fault!
You know you're a teabagger when you'd rather boink your cousin instead of that cute girl that works next to you at the glue factory.
Fareed, did you plagiarize this story too?
Plagiarize is such an ugly word. I prefer theft.
Fareed, you sound kinda nervous today. Do you know what I know concerning what the US is about to do? And it will not be boots on the ground or anything conventional in military practice.
No, that Indian guy got it all wrong. The Middle East Arabs are angry, because the US continue to kiss the ass of Israel.
ARE INDIANS UBER TERRORISTS OR WHAT???? Forget the GDP, focus on these murder statistics.
In India, millions of girls are strangled, slowly starved or simply tossed in the trash. Moreover, in India, at least 1,370 girls are aborted every day. As a comparison, some 250 Indians die every day in road accidents. Terrorists killed about six people, on an average, every day in 2009. In the last two decades of economic progress, 10 million girls have died as such in India.
SHAME ON INDIA AND ITS BARBARIC AND MEDIEVAL CULTURE !!!
Indians have killed more human beings (girls particularly) than Al Qaeda and Talibans put together.
A PRIMER FOR MIDDLE EAST:::
THE ECONOMIC SUBJUGATION OF INDIA & The Taming of Hindus!!!
The one most successful aspect of recent American foreign policy has been the conquest of India without firing a bullet. That is the beauty of capitalism used as a Trojan Horse! Economic victory! Give them a taste of steak and they will never settle for hamburgers again. USA now owns India Inc. not only economically but also militarily as economic subjugation ultimately leads to military domination. The recent win for US multinationals has been pressuring the Indian Govt to open up majority ownership of domestic companies by foreign investors. US will now be virtually able to control the government policies in India via remote control in Wash D.C.
The take away is that US needs to find a similar mechanism Middle East/North Africa/South Asia to control events without having to depend on military dictatorships to do the biding. Economic subjugation appears to be the way out but what may be applicable to Hindus may not work in case of Muslims. That poses the dilemma that we are struggling with. Israel may have to be the sacrificial goat to make this happen, I am afraid.
Fareed ever since you got busted for plagiarism, you've been an awful lot of brown nosing. Let me ask you is it ever "our" fault like you were born raised here.
Obama will be talking about giving him a second chance and mitt
will be speaking about solving the economy with facts remember this man is a millioniare he knows how TO MAKE MONEY ,
And thats what we need . A money maker.
I see the middle east turned to a huge, solid sheet of glass!! THEN, we will lose our dependence on foreign oil!!!
Fareed would know, he is not one of US.
CNN let this fake come back?
Fareed it seems by telling this you want to safe your job,if it so in relation to America then what does support to Israel on the cost of civilian Palestine people death by the Israel.what about a great lie about weapon of mass destruction in Iraq, why did Bush go there.for what you went in Lybia, Afghanistan.in the past in Latin American countries for Banana? why you were searching in Vietnam. in spite of all this thing you say it is them ! Wonderful.
i propose we pull out of all islamic lands as they seem to want. of course that means no more money from us. no more aid or contact of any kind. we stay out of their lands and they stay out of ours. should eliminate all but arab on arab terror. not pc i know,but might work. leave them on their own & they can leave us alone.
If the others do not serve you can always refer to the gone-byes.
If it is them, why is America getting involved in other people's business. US should save all those trillions to help US economy and create jobs. These moneys have been wasted on them for far too long, and for too much.
Nothing peaceful have been achieved by Police America, besides generating huge profits for a group of defence contractors and promoting enemies and hate everywhere.