Hassan Barari in his article “Ill-advised US policies in Mideast” (June 2) has correctly blamed the United States for the current turmoil in the region. It is true that from Palestine-Israel conflict to the post-Arab Spring days, the lopsided policies of the US have cost the region dearly. The US, it seems, did not foresee the outcome of its flawed policies. One cannot deny the fact that every nation has the right to protect and further its interests but that should not be done at the expense of other nations. Ironically, the US policies have also affected its influence in the region.
Not only the US influence has considerably declined in the region but anti-America sentiments are also on the rise. Things have come to such a pass that erstwhile friendly countries and the most loyal allies are looking for other options and trying to forge alliances with other nations.
It would not be an exaggeration to claim that the US has not gained much from its unwavering support to Israel. In the wake of the so-called Arab Spring, the US ignored many ground realities and advice of its allies. One cannot forget to mention the ill-conceived “war on terror.” The neocons presumable saw it as a win-win situation while invading Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars might have benefited a handful of elites in the US. Not only those invasions have transformed the region into a cauldron of chaos but also affected the United States, which was once known as the “land of opportunities.”
A million-dollar question that comes to one’s mind is: Is there a way out for the US?
I believe it’s never too late. The people of the US and the saner elements in the corridors of power should realize what is in the best interest of their country. The world is no longer unipolar, as other powers are emerging. At a time when military might is being taken over by economy power, the US is mired in ugly confrontations around the globe putting unnecessary burden on the economy back home.
Ill-conceived American policies
