Misunderstanding the Power of Money in the Middle East
Reader comment on item: The Palestinian Economy in Shambles

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Dec 27, 2007 at 19:30

As we read this, there comes the feeling that once again, there is a deep philosophical difference that can be explained by retracing an earlier path to try and distinguish the western and oriental mindset in the clash of civilizations that is the Middle East theater. Money is a tool, which may be wielded for a common good for all who so utilize it. In the alternative, it is a tool that can be brandished as an echelon to power, its use to influence a desired result, even to buy a means to an end, usually undesirable.

In the ancient days of a powerful Islamic presence in the Middle East, the western cultures could not shake such Islamic influences easily, for the wealth was not traded away until the era of colonialism by western powers, which were strengthened during industrialization. World War 1 saw these things take on their modern characterization as the Islamic influences were forced to assume a lesser role in local issues controlled by western finances. That was then, until petroleum resources gave local politics back to the Islamic center of power when they took possession of the resources back.

So why do we find that infusing vast sums of money into the region does not gain the intended results? Look and see that it is a democratic process that sends money into areas of the world perceived as depressed economies, even to ‘Palestinian' areas of Israel. Look and see as well, that the Islamic sensibilities do not work well in a democratic model, and that in a Muslim theocratic society, such funding as maybe thought to do good is held back and dispersed as it always has been in the Middle East, not democratically, but autocratically.

Think this is not so? Look at a corrupted capitalistic system and see the similarities. The rich keep getting richer and the poor are left to their destitution, to become pawns in the distribution of power that is the money that is greedily absorbed and horded by the rich, with government help greased by oil, by the way.

Strangely, this brings about the situation involving Israel, intended for elimination by the oil rich Middle East contenders. By making a political issue of 'Palestine,' they have extracted these vast sums from the well intending western powers to play out their plan against the west and Israel.

All need to be careful, for withholding help from Israel is not like withholding help to the 'Palestinians,' for Israel's Eternal Sovereign will take a dim view of anyone who messes with His promised people, and there will not be enough oil money in the world that will keep Him from exacting His rightful due.

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