Row over Syrian refugees divides America

[arjunadawn]

By far the biggest cause for the rise of Middle Eastern Terrorism was the Bush Clan and their wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with absolutely no plan for the end game and the consequences that followed.

You might think the problems in this region are the result of meddling from without but it is a shortsighted conclusion. It is simply incomplete. This conclusion only has merit if it can be demonstrated that this type of rivalry and intractable conflict was new to the region. You could successfully argue Bush agitated it, provoked a recent manifestation of it, but this is hardly the cause. This perception is common for people who's primary field lies elsewhere. They then look out upon the world and make sense of it all with cause and effect; this fails here.

Watch the linked video. Conflict in this region predates any modern grievance and even religion, and demonstrates that no, Bush is mostly definitely not the cause of it. In fact, this video excellently reveals how religion layers upon the tribal to make an even murkier causation elusive.

[arjunadawn]

What is wrong with an extra layer of security? What is the agenda of people who oppose this?

I think the point is that if greater security is needed, then incorporate it into the existing system.

Years ago, when around 10,000 refugees, mostly Kurds, were taken out of Iraq after Saddam Hussein had re-invaded the north and the no fly zone, I was involved in the relocation.

Every single person had to be vetted by the FBI (there was not a homeland security or NSA at that time). It got a little nonsensical since we were having to submit the names of newborn babies.

Those refugees, by the way, were flown to Guam where they were housed at a military camp to undergo a much, much more intense screening and then had to wait for resettlement.

Whether another layer will provide more protection, I don't know. It is good, however, that security issues are being discussed and that they are being taken seriously. That is not only good for the US, but it will also hopefully make for a bit more warmer welcome for the refugees.

Agreed.I think this is the key- increased vetting or circumspection can better fit within existing frameworks. But it is no wonder people are calling for this, or that, to be enacted to safeguard them- the existing framework for nearly all things that safeguard America are being politicized, selectively enforced or applied. If all the existing laws were applied, and perhaps a few extra screws turned with regard to Syrian refugees particularly, the gov could provide what is asked of it- vigilance, Again, its because America's laws and safeguards are effectively AWOL these past years people think another... bureaucracy needs to be created.

While they are at it, start profiling.

[apetley]

By far the biggest cause for the rise of Middle Eastern Terrorism was the Bush Clan and their wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with absolutely no plan for the end game and the consequences that followed.

You might think the problems in this region are the result of meddling from without but it is a shortsighted conclusion. It is simply incomplete. This conclusion only has merit if it can be demonstrated that this type of rivalry and intractable conflict was new to the region. You could successfully argue Bush agitated it, provoked a recent manifestation of it, but this is hardly the cause. This perception is common for people who's primary field lies elsewhere. They then look out upon the world and make sense of it all with cause and effect; this fails here.

Watch the linked video. Conflict in this region predates any modern grievance and even religion, and demonstrates that no, Bush is mostly definitely not the cause of it. In fact, this video excellently reveals how religion layers upon the tribal to make an even murkier causation elusive.

Clever video.

[craigt3365]

By far the biggest cause for the rise of Middle Eastern Terrorism was the Bush Clan and their wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with absolutely no plan for the end game and the consequences that followed.

Methinks the problems started way before this. But yes, those wars didn't help.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Middle_East#Defeat_and_partition_of_the_Ottoman_Empire_.281918.E2.80.9322.29

When the Ottoman Empire was defeated by an Arab uprising and British Empire forces after the Sinai and Palestine Campaign in 1918, the Arab population was rewarded with what many Islamic activists of more recent times have described as an Anglo-French betrayal. British and French governments concluded a secret treaty (the Sykes–Picot Agreement) to partition the Middle East between them and, additionally, the British, via the Balfour Declaration promised the international Zionist movement their support in re-creating the historic Jewish homeland in Palestine.

Historically known as the site of the ancient Jewish Kingdom of Israel and successor Jewish nations for 1,200 years between approximately 1100 BC–100 AD, the region now had a large Arab population also from the 7th century. When the Ottomans departed, the Arabs proclaimed an independent state in Damascus, but were too weak, militarily and economically, to resist the European powers for long, and Britain and France soon established control and re-arranged the Middle East to suit themselves.^[20]

Syria became a French protectorate thinly disguised as a League of Nations mandate. The Christian coastal areas were split off to become Lebanon, another French protectorate. Iraq and Palestine became British mandated territories. Iraq became the "Kingdom of Iraq" and one of Sharif Hussein's sons, Faisal, was installed as the King of Iraq. Iraq incorporated large populations of Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmens, many of whom had been promised independent states of their own.

Palestine became the "British Mandate of Palestine" and was split in half. The eastern half of Palestine became the "Emirate of Transjordan" to provide a throne for another of Husayn's sons, Abdullah. The western half of Palestine was placed under direct British administration. The Jewish population of Palestine which numbered less than 8 percent in 1918 was given free rein to immigrate, buy land from absentee landlords, set up a shadow government in waiting and establish the nucleus of a state under the protection of the British Army which suppressed a Palestinian revolt in 1936.^[21] Most of the Arabian peninsula fell to another British ally, Ibn Saud. Saud created the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

During the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, Syria and Egypt made moves towards independence. In 1919, Saad Zaghloul orchestrated mass demonstrations in Egypt known as the First Revolution. While Zaghloul would later become Prime Minister, the British repression of the anticolonial riots led to the death of some 800 people. In 1920, Syrian forces were defeated by the French in the Battle of Maysalun and Iraqi forces were defeated by the British when they revolted. In 1922, the (nominally) independent Kingdom of Egypt was created following the British government's issuance of the Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence.