Submitted by sara (United States), Nov 8, 2011 at 17:47
"Summing up the West's policy dilemma vis-à-vis the Middle East:
Democracy pleases us but brings hostile elements to power. Tyranny betrays our principles but leaves pliable rulers in power."
This is the crux of the problem. The western mentality that drives us to push our civilized values on tribal mentalities that have no use for such niceties. It is pure arrogance for westerners to assume that the rest of the world shares the same ideals and principles. This is not reality. In fact, we are more and more in the minority (and powerless).
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