MY TURN-Complaining about pot holes and projected DWP increases seems almost ludicrous in light of what is happening in Europe and the M iddle East. I am certain that many of you have been watching the news and keeping your loved ones a little closer. I have some thoughts on the subject which I would like to share with you.
Of course, this provides an opportunity to try and provoke national hysteria. Republican candidates are outdoing themselves, shouting about restrictions on Syrian refugees coming to the U.S. Democratic candidates, while still trying to give the President support, are anxious to show how they could do things better.
The cable news stations are in their element. Anyone who could...jumped on a plane to Paris to pontificate. Their mixture of news, visuals and interviews runs the gamut…from interesting to painful. We’re getting a rest from the election rhetoric, except from those who think they have immediate solutions. I'm particularly fond of candidates who espouse only allowing Christian Syrian refugees into our country. I guess that excludes Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs and of course Muslims?
I don't agree with John McCain often, but you have to admit the man has class. He showed that clearly during the 2008 election, when a lady in the audience asked him for confirmation that Obama was a Muslim. He stood up to her without hesitation. That exchange was one of the highlights of the campaign.
On Wednesday, he showed his sensitivity to intolerance again when he decried those that were putting religious restrictions on refugees. To paraphrase, McCain said, I am a Christian and I am taught to love my fellow man.
The U.S. does have a history of turning away refugees, like during World War II when we turned away a shipload of Jewish refugees, sending them to certain death. Another black stain on our morality was the rounding up of Japanese Americans (emphasis: Americans,) taking their property and putting them in camps. Donald Trump reminded us of the famous "Operation Wetback" during President Eisenhower's time. I don't see many of the politicians using these events as an example of smart policy.
There is no sugar coating it…the entire situation sucks!
Two bombs killed 43 and wounded 239 people in Beruit last Thursday.
In late October, 224 people were blown to bits on a flight from Egypt to Russia.
Last week, Paris endured six separate attacks, killing 129 people and injuring hundreds more.
Boko Haram blewing up a market place in Nigeria killing 49 and wounding 80.
Calls to put 10,000 American servicemen and women into that quagmire are not met with a great deal of enthusiasm, although a poll this week showed Americans were becoming more receptive to the idea.
The annual veterans Thanksgiving Dinner is coming up next week at the West LA Veterans campus. I challenge you to attend this event…then say you want to send 10,000 more Americans into Iraq and Syria.
Many have asked why the Middle East countries can't put their boots on the ground. It is estimated there are more than 25,000 ISIL fighters in Iraq and Syria. I did a little checking as to the military strength of the thirteen Middle East countries.
According to Globalfirepower.com, Israel has the largest force; Iran is second with 545,000 active military; then comes Saudi Arabia with 233,000 active military; and Jordan has 110,000. Add to that Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Bahrain, Lebanon and Iraq. And that doesn't include Turkey which has a huge, very advanced military force and is part of NATO.
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Excluding Iran and adding the forces from the smaller countries, there is more than enough military personnel and US supplied weaponry to take on ISIL, Al-Qaeda, etc. But Saudi Arabia has been busy bombing Yemen with whom they share a border. And even though they have plenty facilities, they haven't offered to take in one refugee.
I heard that Jeb Bush called for the U.S. military to get involved in the ground fighting. I wonder, will his son volunteer?
I am not professing to be a foreign policy expert and like many of you I have questions for the "experts." But it gets down to a personal level. We can talk about the big picture until the cows come home, but I'll guarantee you the family in Long Beach whose daughter was killed in one of the Parisian cafes, is not looking at the big picture.
During my many years of working in Latin America in the turbulent 80’s, I learned quickly that if someone offers food, along with shoes and an education for their children, people will agree to join up and be called any kind of "ist"-- communist, socialist, capitalist, etc.
For decades, Muslim countries have done an excellent job of disenfranchising the majority of their population. Their respective governments have done very little to advance their people. I don't care what religion you are...you want to be able to take care of your family, have a possibility of advancement…and be safe.
We have seen how the "Arab Spring" started with so much hope and promise, and then turned into an economic and political disaster. We in California have a problem…if the earthquakes don't get us, the terrorists might. So are we willing to give up some of our freedoms to remain safe? Unfortunately, the manufacture of magic wands has been outsourced.
But this is no joking matter. We have a dilemma. There are too many people living in poverty here in Los Angeles and we need billions of dollars to fix our infrastructure. How can we be expected to take on the world's problems?
On the other hand, how can we not? This country has been there for our Allies when needed. We have accepted people from all over the world and we have benefited greatly from their knowledge, culture, music, food and literature.
I don't think we should equate compassion with weakness...or bellicose speech with intelligent planning.
As always, comments welcome …
(Denyse Selesnick is a CityWatch columnist. She is a former publisher/journalist/international event organizer. Denyse can be reached at: [email protected]) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
–cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 94
Pub: Nov 20, 2015
