Saddam in Iraq was ‘convenient’ in that he wasn’t a Saud or from Saudi Arabia, and he wasn’t an angel (none of them are), so America could justify stepping
True. He was a dictator, a tyrant who used his power and sect of Islam to murder countless hundreds and thousands of people. And he dared fight the US and threaten papa Bush...
Oh? Re people in Europe being surprised…about dictators in Europe.
No. People weren't surprised about a dictator in the Middle East. I said nothing about the 'surprised about dictators in Europe". In fact...
Europe isn’t as Lily White in its history as they might want the world to believe.
I've not come across that Europe wants to pretend it's been "Lily White". Unless you have someone like Maloni or Orbán, or even Lukashenko saying otherwise. Most Eruopeans I know actually realize their continent has had shit ass leadership, especially early 20th century, and at least they try NOT to block it (see Texas and other southern states).
Islam is currently ass-backwards,
I'd agree with that.
but the Middle East was also a centre of learning at one point….
Yeah, it was, and actually more religious freedom than most other religions. It even used to accept other religions so long as they paid a 'tax' to practice...
The origin of our numerical system that most of the world is still using, etc….then Allah….
No.
Allah was there when all this happened, since Allah is just "God", or their word for it. What happened was religious Zelots who wanted only certain things done/practised took over. "Purists" who followed their own version of the Quran, pretty much like all other religious zelots/fanatics.
Theirs is not the only religion to do it too, it's just they've hung on to that ignorance and fanaticism for hundreds of years longer than Christians.
but it’s really only being the last hundred years where it has really gone to shit…. depending on who you talk to you exempting the European opinion regarding the Crusades.
Yes, when the extreme sects of Islam started to deny rights, the Mullah's began to take over, the Calif's became more dictatorial, and the new God of the Quran became the focus of their existence.
Spain wasn’t an oil exporter, so Meh… horrible fucking people rise to the top of the power structure time after time after time. European royalty we’re probably not the most benevolent folks to become royalty.
True enough in all that. Spain being semi-neutral during the war, and at the end 'pretending' to go 'Liberal' helped, I'm sure. But agreed, horrible people rise to power all the time, in all nations.
Because
Yes, I agree that Kuwait’s oil fields where a significant resource to American at that point.
The Middle East even in the 50s and 60s was a very different world than it is now in Burka-Burka-Stan (before the last month of protests anyway which will be interesting to see which way the wind blows afterwards).
The upcoming generation has the internet.
They see rights and freedoms they don't have and are pissed.
They're tired of abuse by the Mullah's. The people in Power, the Supreme Leader, etc, etc.
The killing of Mahsa Amini is just the latest in reasons for the people to be pissed. If you look at the protesters, and counter protesters, there is a visible age gap.
And it's not like Iran didn't have religion/Islam back in the 50s and 60s, it just wasn't in power like it is now.
Irony is, put ANY extreme religion in power and that country goes to shit and I don't think if Christian Extremism got into Power in the US, it'd be that different than Iran in a lot of ways. Hell, look at what they're doing now.