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The best thing that could happen to the ME and the US is disentanglement. We're not helping anything over there, and they would very much like us to fuck off.
by local_crmdgeon 3y ago
The best thing that could happen to the ME and the US is disentanglement. We're not helping anything over there, and they would very much like us to fuck off.
Israel has nukes, we can still protect them without invading random Arab countries every 10 years.
- FreshStart 3y ago[flagged]
- noworriesnate 3y agoWhy does the US need to protect Israel? What’s in it for us? Honest question.
- imchillyb 3y agoPorts, air strips, staging, logistics… They’re our only friendly in a sea of declared enemies.
- mindslight 3y agoFat lot of good it's doing in regards to genocidal Russia.
- noworriesnate 3y agoI’m sure we use those resources to defend Israel more effectively but I’m talking about using them for our own benefit. Maybe with the US being energy independent we can let the Middle East move into the obscurity it so desperately needs. Once the stakes are more localized, they can work out their local issues without nations from halfway around the world getting PTSD trying to interfere.
- CameronNemo 3y agoYeah Israel does not have the US's back at all. At least Netanyahu does not. AIUI he and Biden are on very tense terms.
- unmole 3y agoBahrain, Quatar, Kuwait, UAE, Jordan and Oman are all home to US military bases. If they are not allies, is the US an occupying power in these countries?
- local_crmdgeon 3y agoDepending on who you ask, yes
- Clubber 3y agoI dunno, it might half way be protecting the Middle East from Israel as much as the other way around. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/friends-benefits-why-us-israeli-alliance-good-america https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/friends-... Sort answer, they're a staunch ally providing security, intelligence and economic partnerships.
- genmud 3y agoWell, it might be better for the US, but I'm not sure that having China as a replacement trade partner is going to be any better for the people in middle east. Just looking at the places where they have gotten involved in Africa, it might seem like a good deal at first, but there are definitely strings. But, regardless, it definitely is a much more hands off approach. Its kind of like Arrakis in Dune, as long as the spice (oil) flows, nobody cares about the inhabitants.
- pkaye 3y agoChina and other Asian countries now imports a bulk of Saudi oil. US relies mostly on its own shale oil along with Canadian oil. Soon Mexico will have its own shale oil production. US does import oil from elsewhere but some of it is because US has a lot of refinery capacity to refine crude for others. https://oec.world/en/profile/country/sau https://oec.world/en/profile/country/sau