Phemanderac
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The "Middle East" as such is not OUR biggest issue, we are.
Now what I mean by that, the West has interfered in the Middle East for a long time (I am not talking about the intentions here, because, at least some of that "interference" was well intended, just poorly administered). As such, we have some responsibility in having facilitated the current problems there.
That said, the current knee jerk strong man approach with our own home grown and more radicalised (every day) youth is ineffectual and inflammatory. To my mind it lays the ground work for the self fulfilling prophecy that at some point a significant terrorist act will happen on our shores. Why, because we are being inflammatory.
Firstly, let's be very clear, innocent people are dying in the Middle East, however, that is not isolated, innocent people are dying every day, world wide....
We may not want a religious war, we may not even want an ideological war, however, our part in history seems to indicate that, whether we want it or not, it could be coming our way. These young people who strongly feel the need to take up arms in the middle east are further radicalised if we tear up their passports and try to stop them going. We are to some degree being the tyrants the radicals perceive they are opposed to. Yep, once again, I think the intention is good, but poor practice.
Let them go to their little war, let's face it, listening to reason is not a strong suit for radicals, young angst driven people, or rusted on ideologues for that matter. So reasoning isn't going to cut it - let them go, but make it perfectly clear they will no longer have the capacity to re-enter Australia, either as a citizen or as a legal visitor. Let them make a commitment for life.
Further, if (I think it is still a big if too) we (the Royal we, as in the West) do feel the need to "go in their with our military might" then we also need to not go half paced.
Make no mistake, I am not a fan, advocate or groupie for war/terrorism (it often seems one in the same), but, I understand the mechanics of this stuff enough to realise that a half arsed response will be calamitous. In effect, if we are going to do it, implement a clear and overt take no prisoner policy and use extreme force.
That is if....
Of course we either will not go in, maybe drop a few bombs and wring our hands briefly about some collateral damage, then the media will analyse and re-analyse what we did for weeks, months, years to come...Yet there will still be a "problem" to deal with... Or, we will go in and kill a few of our own young men and women and, once enough money has been spent/made, pull out and wait for the next carbuncle on the backside of humanity to take root somewhere in the world....
It would be nice to think that we (the so superior) West could do some significant self reflecting and recognise our own part in generating the "problems" in the world, however, I am doubtful that we as a people have the integrity en masse or the self confidence en masse to be able to accept that burden and still feel ok about ourselves...
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