K, I thought that the only countries that liked the US in the Middle East were Kuwait and Israel. I then read that Saudi Arabia, kicked Bin Laden out of the country. So, are they friendly with the West? I also read that Iran held a full minute of silence for the victims at a soccer game. Not one person interrupted. That really surprised me. I also was under the impression that they have anti-US tendencies, but were not nearly as bad as other Middle Eastern countries. Can you all inform me on the relationship the West has with each of the countries in that region?
thanks,
I am not a mideast expert, although I’m pretty good here in Asia, so more knowlageable people please chime in.
Saudi Arabia and the US have long had good relations. We were allies during the gulf war although I don’t know exactly the terminology of our current relationship.
The US also has good relationships if not certain alliances with Jordan, Egypt and Kuwait. The US has tried to broker peace between Palistinians and Israel, which means we have to have some sort of credibility with both parties.
Iran and the US used to be quite close during the times of the Shah. There has also been a thawing recently.
Turkey is a part of NATO member, and thus bound to the US by formal treaty.
It’s possible to “like” someone and “dislike” him at the same time. Haven’t you ever had a friend who embarrassed you in public all the time, and he drove you crazy, but part of you still “liked” him anyway?
I should imagine that that’s how it is with the U.S. and other Mideastern countries. Sometimes we embarrass them, sometimes they embarrass us, so it’s an oversimplification of some very complex human relations to try to keep a score card of “good guys” and “bad guys”, like junior high school girls who make lists of “My Friends” and “My Enemies”.
And, just because a country may not happen to “like” us at the moment doesn’t mean they can’t stop for a minute of silence out of simple human respect for the dead.