Nothing should surpirse you!
Like many people I have a keen interest in Iraq, not that one could easily avoid Iraq with the constant barrage of news, nor should one attempt to avoid it. However, recently I attempted to get a better understanding of the entire Middle East. I found a great deal of information in of all places the CIA World Fact Book, right there on the internet for all to see. It would have been a good idea for President Bush and his advisors to surf the Web before trying to bring democracy to Iraq. You can read what I found below, but let us just say that the people of the Middle East are not the best candidates for a participatory, open government, let alone one that is based on common law (or by western standards, common sense)
What you find is a group of countries whose governments are a mix of monarchies, and dictatorships operating under a mix of common law and Islamic law. Countries with a low average age, high unemployment, high poverty levels and low literacy. Countries where women and members of the military are not allowed to vote (or there is no vote for anyone). Even I concluded that is a good recipe for breeding discontent and dare I say it, terrorists. There is little room for debate or discussion and there is no room for dissention when it comes to religion.
And, oh yes, many of these countries are virtually totally dependent on oil for income while a significant portion of their populations are employed in government jobs (ok, so that is not much different from the U.S.).
There is another common characteristic; these countries were previously under foreign control, many by the British – sound 1776 familiar?
Hopefully, the next time we go on a quest to save the world from itself, we will make a visit to our own library.
The Middle East
Afghanistan-Islamic Republic, gained independence from the U.K. in 1919, operates on the basis that no law should be contrary to Islam, 40% unemployment, 53% living in poverty, literacy 36%
Bahrain-Hereditary Monarchy, gained independence from U.K. in 1971, operates under Islamic Law and English Common Law, 15% unemployment, unknown number in poverty, literacy 89.1%
Egypt-Republic election by popular vote, gained independence from U.K. in 1922, 9.5% unemployment, 20% living in poverty, operates under English Common Law, Islamic Law and Napoleonic Law, Religious based parties are banned, literacy 57.7%
Iran-Theocratic Republic, gained independence from U.K, 1961, 11.2% unemployment, 40% living in poverty, most economic activity controlled by the state. Has $40 billion in foreign exchange reserves in the midst of economic hardships, literacy 79.4%
Jordon-Constitutional Monarchy, gained independence from British administration in 1946, 12.5% unemployment (unofficial rate 30%), 30% living in poverty, operates under Islamic law and French codes, literacy 91.3%
Kuwait-Constitutional Hereditary Emirate, political parties are illegal, adult males not in the military can vote as can adult women (as of May 2005), operates under civil law with Islamic law significant in personal matters, 2.2% unemployment, unknown poverty levels, literacy 83.5%
Libya-Military Dictatorship (a state of the masses in theory), gained independence from UN trusteeship 1951, operates under Italian civil law and Islamic law, no political parties, 30% unemployment, unknown number living in poverty, literacy 82.6%
Lebanon-Republic, gained independence from League of Nations mandate under French administration 1943, males age 21 can vote, women 21 can vote if they have an elementary education, operates under mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code and civil law, 18% unemployment, 28% living in poverty, literacy 87.4%
Oman-Monarchy, gained independence by expelling Portuguese in 1650, all Omanis can vote except members of the military and security forces, operates under English common law and Islamic law, only appeal is to the monarch, 15% unemployment, unknown number living under poverty, literacy 75.8%
Qatar-Traditional Emirate, gained independence from the U.K. in 1971, operates under discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir, some civil codes being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters, 18 year olds can vote, but no legislative elections have been held since 1970, 2.7% unemployment rate, unknown number living in poverty, literacy 89%
Saudi Arabia-Monarchy, unification of the kingdom in 1932, operates under Shari†a (Islamic) law, males 21 and older can vote for municipal councils, no political parties, 13% unemployment (Saudi males only) some local estimates as high as 25%, unknown number living in poverty, literacy 78.8%
Syria-Republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime, gained independence from League of Nations mandate under French administration 1946, operates under combination of French and Ottoman civil law, religious law is used in family court system, 12.3% unemployment, 20% living in poverty, literacy 76.9%
United Arab Emirates-Federation with specific powers and other powers reserved to member emirates, gained independence from U.K. in 1971, no voting, secular courts, except Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes, 2.4% unemployment, unknown number living in poverty, literacy 77.9%
United States of America-Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic traditions, gained independence from Great Britain (U.K.) in 1776, operates under federal court system based on English common law, each state has its own system based on English common law (except Louisiana). 4.5% unemployment, 12% living in poverty, literacy 99%
And you wonder why we can't cope with the Middle East!
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Why Americans Can't Understand the Middle East
- QUINNSCOMMENTARY
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Why Americans Can't Understand the Middle East
Post by QUINNSCOMMENTARY »
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." George Bernard Shaw
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody is not thinking" Gen. George Patton
Quinnscommentary
Observations on Life. Give it a try now and tell a friend or two or fifty.
Quinnscommentary Blog
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody is not thinking" Gen. George Patton
Quinnscommentary
Observations on Life. Give it a try now and tell a friend or two or fifty.
Quinnscommentary Blog
Why Americans Can't Understand the Middle East
I actually did a guide to the middle east, it was a bit more tongue in cheek than that, but it was pretty close all the same. :rolleyes:
"We are never so happy, never so unhappy, as we imagine"
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
Le Rochefoucauld.
"A smack in the face settles all arguments, then you can move on kid."
My dad 1986.
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