A Field Guide to Losing Friends, Influencing No One, and Alienating the Middle East

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/289-134/20255-a-field-guide-to-losing-friends-influencing-no-one-and-alienating-the-middle-east

Put in context, the simultaneous raids in Libya and Somalia last month, targeting an alleged al-Qaeda fugitive and an alleged kingpin of the al-Shabab Islamist movement, were less a sign of America's awesome might than two minor exceptions that proved an emerging rule: namely, that the power, prestige, and influence of the United States in the broader Middle East and its ability to shape events there is in a death spiral.

Twelve years after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and a decade after the misguided invasion of Iraq -- both designed to consolidate and expand America's regional clout by removing adversaries -- Washington's actual standing in country after country, including its chief allies in the region, has never been weaker. Though President Obama can order raids virtually anywhere using Special Operations forces, and though he can strike willy-nilly in targeted killing actions by calling in the Predator and Reaper drones, he has become the Rodney Dangerfield of the Middle East. Not only does no one there respect the United States, but no one really fears it, either -- and increasingly, no one pays it any mind at all.

There are plenty of reasons why America's previously unchallenged hegemony in the Middle East is in free fall. The disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq generated anti-American fervor in the streets and in the elites. America's economic crisis since 2008 has convinced many that the United States no longer has the wherewithal to sustain an imperial presence. The Arab Spring, for all its ups and downs, has challenged the status quo everywhere, leading to enormous uncertainty while empowering political forces unwilling to march in lockstep with Washington. In addition, oil-consuming nations like China and India have become more engaged with their suppliers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq. The result: throughout the region, things are fast becoming unglued for the United States.

Its two closest allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, are sullenly hostile, routinely ignore Obama's advice, and openly oppose American policies. Iraq and Afghanistan, one formerly occupied and one about to be evacuated, are led, respectively, by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an inflexible sectarian Shiite closely tied to Iran, and President Hamid Karzai, a corrupt, mercurial leader who periodically threatens to join the Taliban. In Egypt, three successive regimes -- those of President Hosni Mubarak, Mohammad Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the chieftains of the July 2013 military coup -- have insouciantly flouted U.S. wishes.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

1. I can already see this thing you linked is full of shit

pissing off Saudi Arabia was a natural byproduct of working with Syria and Russia to RID SYRIA of CHEMICAL WEAPONS! Yup. No influence there.

Israel is still begging US for money every year, and the only reason they're bent out of shape is Obama is actually trying to work with the Iranians on diplomacy after years of tough sanctions and after they elected a moderate to replace MembersOnlyajad.

[eridani]

3. Well, Kerry has issued a strongly worded statement condemning more settlements

i predict that Israel will keep on destroying Palestinian property and building more settlements, which will result in another strongly worded statement from Kerry or his successor.

[kelliekat44]

2. Not only full of it, I am glad for once we have a President who somewhat puts Israel and SA outside

of running our politics and foreign policy decisions. Turkey is likewise taking its stand against both. We have for far too long given these two (secretly anti-American) states too much sway over our government. Now to get their minions out of our Congress.