How do we solve the Middle East problem.

[lone wolf]

WE don't. It's up to them to reach a solution. As long as WE meddle and come up with solutions suitable for us, their problems are not getting solved because it goes deeper than any of us who deny we are part of the problem can ever understand. Stop giving them attention and allowance. Isn't that the way to deal with spoiled brats?

 

[L Gilbert]

Neither is interference.
Perhaps someone could find an instance where an outside party has interfered successfully and not caused any harm while doing so? I can't. On the contrary, all of what I have seen so far is the opposite.

 

[DurkaDurka]

My solution is... do nothing.

Neither the US, NATO, UN or any other organization can force a solution on the parties involved. There is far too much mistrust and hatred amongst them for any external solution to be of any use. It seems to me that people who think they have the magic solution to this problem are a little naive in their efforts.

 

[gerryh]

Yup. The alternative is that we end up joining in the killing and bombing.
It's not complacent to refrain from interfering in others' business.
Mediating is active.

WE don't. It's up to them to reach a solution. As long as WE meddle and come up with solutions suitable for us, their problems are not getting solved because it goes deeper than any of us who deny we are part of the problem can ever understand. Stop giving them attention and allowance. Isn't that the way to deal with spoiled brats?

I can't see how turning a blind eye would help the situation. What I personally can see is an escalation if the rest of the world was to turn a blind eye to the situation. As has been pointed out in the past, one of the countries has nuclear capability and at least one other country in the area is getting close.

 

[DurkaDurka]

I can't see how turning a blind eye would help the situation. What I personally can see is an escalation if the rest of the world was to turn a blind eye to the situation. As has been pointed out in the past, one of the countries has nuclear capability and at least one other country in the area is getting close.

I say we sit back and observe. If the countries involved want to play nuclear roulette, so be it. There will be escalation regardless if "we" intervene or not. Preemptively attack Iran's nuclear facilities and we take the chance of Iran going after western targets in the ME, let it play out and they both have nukes. No win situation either way.

 

[L Gilbert]

I can't see how turning a blind eye would help the situation.

It wouldn't. But then that's not what I said either. One can do other things besides going there and adding to the carnage. When our kids squabbled, we didn't step in and start swinging along with them, we provided incentives for them to stop and get along.

What I personally can see is an escalation if the rest of the world was to turn a blind eye to the situation.

And the rest of the world going there to interfere would result in what? Perhaps the opposing sides would get angry about the interference and join to resist the interference. Perhaps it'd be Muslim countries against Christian countries. Or perhaps the rest of the worlds countries would simply join in and pull another Russia/USA cold war. Brilliant.

As has been pointed out in the past, one of the countries has nuclear capability and at least one other country in the area is getting close.

So? When was the last time we had a nuclear war?

 

[gerryh]

It wouldn't. But then that's not what I said either. One can do other things besides going there and adding to the carnage. When our kids squabbled, we didn't step in and start swinging along with them, we provided incentives for them to stop and get along.

Ok then, what do you suggest those other things shoulod be? What incentives?

 

[gerryh]

We don't solve this conflict, nor should we try. I agree with LG. I think Canada should stay out of this conflict as much as possible and be an objective third party. When the belligerents tire of trying to kill each other, maybe we could help act as a mediator. But that would only be possible if both sides see us as neutral because we've behaved that way.

(Unlike the US which arms and supports Israel to the tune of about $5B US each year and makes the ongoing oppression and injustice sustainable year after year)
Israel – United States relations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maybe one thing Canadians can do is raise this funding issue with Americans and embarrass them into neutrality. Once Israel has to fund their own death and destruction, they might cut back.

People who think we should get involved should consider my post above, so they are informed about this conflict.

Cutting off funding for one side only will only shift the balance in favour of the opposite side.

 

[L Gilbert]

Do I look like an international politician? Offer them something nice if they stop. Perhaps in the case of countries as opposed to kids, lots of business dealings, aid for their health systems, aid for their poor, send consultants to help them build, send resources of lots of different types, etc. Use your head, THINK. As I said, the alternative is sending more people there to blow things up and shoot people and get our people shot in the process..

 

[gerryh]

Do I look like an international politician? Offer them something nice if they stop. Perhaps in the case of countries as opposed to kids, lots of business dealings, aid for their health systems, aid for their poor, send consultants to help them build, send resources of lots of different types, etc. Use your head, THINK. As I said, the alternative is sending more people there to blow things up and shoot people and get our people shot in the process..

LG, the whole reason for this thread is to "make people think". Think of the ME besides being a place to point fingers and condemn. To think of ways to stop the horrors rather than just pointing them out and blaming one side or the other for them.

 

[darkbeaver]

Sitting back and doing nothing in this conflict garrentees further ethnic cleansing and full expansion into Lebanon and beyond, it is only the present pitiful international humanitarian interest that prevents perfect genocide.
Evil will prevail when good men do nothing.

 

[L Gilbert]

LG, the whole reason for this thread is to "make people think". Think of the ME besides being a place to point fingers and condemn. To think of ways to stop the horrors rather than just pointing them out and blaming one side or the other for them.

Yeah.... and? Does that mean YOU can't think of alternatives to going there and adding to the carnage? I am not an international politician or diplomat but I can show my kids that quitting squabbling is beneficial to everyone. If it were me, I would simply modify what works with my kids to suit a national issue.

 

[L Gilbert]

Sitting back and doing nothing in this conflict garrentees further ethnic cleansing and full expansion into Lebanon and beyond, it is only the present pitiful international humanitarian interest that prevents perfect genocide.
Evil will prevail when good men do nothing.

Gerry already said that, Beav. I agree, though.

 

[earth_as_one]

Cutting off funding for one side only will only shift the balance in favour of the opposite side.

What do you call funding one side?

 

[L Gilbert]

And corruption, bought or not, is what screws up the solution.

 

[gerryh]

All the thinking has been done a thousand times over with respect to this issue and already put into practice. What we see today is the very best thinking that money and the wholesale corruption of the west can buy.

Then maybe what we need is the very best thinking that money and wholesale corruption CAN'T buy.

 

[gerryh]

What do you call funding one side?

You've only mentioned the U.S. and Isreal.

 

[L Gilbert]

Aiding one side or the other doesn't work. The USSR and USA displayed that for decades.

 

[earth_as_one]

You've only mentioned the U.S. and Isreal.

No doubt Palestinians have their supporters. I'd be in favor of cutting the military and economic aid to both sides and only allow humanitarian aid (food, medicine...) Or arm both sides equally...

 

[lone wolf]

I can't see how turning a blind eye would help the situation. What I personally can see is an escalation if the rest of the world was to turn a blind eye to the situation. As has been pointed out in the past, one of the countries has nuclear capability and at least one other country in the area is getting close.

I can't see how watching them act like sandlot savages has helped any - other than sixty years worth of junk to fill the evening news. If they're not the centre of attention, that takes away all the fun. If one of them gets pushed into the Mediterranean ... it's the will of Gollah....