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Middle East Solution? Ignore It

The only option: "backward societies must be left alone"

By J. Kelman, Newser User

Posted May 1, 2007 10:05 PM CDT

(Newser) – As experts scramble to respond to escalating crises in the Middle East, think-tanker Edward Luttwack has a novel solution—leave 'em be. The strategic implications of the Arab-Israeli crisis ended with the Cold War, he argues, and local regimes don't control oil supplies—oil companies do.

Besides, none of the countries is nearly as well-armed as we presume. It's time, he asserts, to "recognise that backward societies must be left alone." He hopes to start with Iran, a country he views, if anything, as a minor threat. Iran, he says, is like a modern-day Mussolini: fooling the world into thinking it's far mightier than it is.

Iranian women chant slogans under a portrait of Iran's supreme... (Getty Images (by Event))

An Iranian woman covers her face attending a demonstration to... (Getty Images (by Event))

Iranian women walk past posters of candidates for Syria's parliamentary... (Getty Images (by Event))

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Middle East Solution? Ignore It

The only option: "backward societies must be left alone"

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Middle East Solution? Ignore It

The only option: "backward societies must be left alone"

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Iran • Israel • Middle East • Palestine • Kurdistan • think tank

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Will Israel Win Out, or Fire Up Its Enemies?

Israel's success—or failure—could prompt range of scenarios

Obama Meets With Jordan King

Abdullah II shares youth—both are 46—with Democratic candidate

White House Proposes $43B in Mideast Military Aid

Rice pitches strategy to help contain Iran

Madonna Fans in Israel: Don't Bomb Iran Before Show

Facebook page asks government to hold off until after concert

Obama: Israel Not Sure About Bombing Iran

President urges diplomatic solution to nuclear crisis

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?