Quote:
Originally posted by Rich
Why don't they hate Japan?
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I agree with you. "Extremely rich and resouceful" has nothing to do with it.
Another point. France, the UK, and USSR/Russia have been just as duplicitous in their Middle East dealings as the US and "they" don't hate those nations as much as the US. To many in that region of the world, the US is symbolic of the western world - "the Great Satan". Symbolism. Powerful.
If you look at the Middle East through the lens of the Cold War you see where certain attitudes were forged and why as the US and USSR jockeyed for power and influence in the region. Taking a little wider view you can look at the power struggle for influence in the region between the US, USSR, France, and the UK.
You also have the interesting situation that the leaders in the Middle East have
views and goals which are often in opposition to those of their people. The Saudi King may want the US military on Saudi soil but the people may not. The US was simultaneously condemned and applauded in the Middle East for its support of Afghanistan against the USSR. The same thing happened when the US defended Kuwait. Many nations of the Middle East sent troops to Gulf War I - even Syria. Many people in the Middle East saw the US as meddling.
I'm not saying the US can't or shouldn't be responsible for Middle East attitudes toward it but there is within Islam itself the seed of hatred for all things western. "Dar al Harb". The world of the sword. Kill the infidels.
If the only solution to not having the infidel hatred focused on you is to not be involved in the power struggles there, then the US might have very well surrendered the entire region to the USSR during the Cold War which might very well had a negative effect much greater than two planes flying into the WTC.
Like it or not, the struggle for influence in the Middle East is only going to become a greater struggle. You now have the situation where China's oil needs are increasing at a rapid rate. It is estimated that China's oil use this year increased by almost 20%. That's almost a billion barrels per day. It seems likely that China will play a greater role in Middle East politics in the coming decades. Oh, they're going to hate the Chinese too.