Does anyone get it?

Question

Iran, Iraq, Sunni, Shitte, Islam, Muslim, Lebanon, Isreal, Syria, Gaza Strip, Hizbollah, Hamas, Al Qaeda, Pakistan, Quran, blah, blah, blah...............

I am now at the point that I have no idea what the hell is what over in the Middle East! I'm beginning to wonder if our politicians do either!
Is anyone else confused?

Answer 1

The people involved don't truely understand what is going on.

Uber simplified version:

After WWII the land that became Israel was taken from Palestine by the West, without regard for the Palestinians living there. This started pissing off the Arab nations there. The Arab nations then attempted to take back Israel by military force but were beaten back in the 7 days war (Israel was, of course, helped by the West). In this war Israel took more land, leaving Palestine with only the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Over time Israeli settlers (aka squatters) set up settlements in Palestine, extending the unofficial borders of Israel. Due in part to this, and in part to long standing animosity between Hebrew and Arab, terrorist attacks were carried out by Arabic organizations. Leaving that area as it is now.

Iraq is somewhat unrelated. In the 80s we armed them with WMD in order to be a power to hold back Iran. Later Saddam got power hungry and attacked Kuwait. We went in and beat them down in 92. I still don't really understand why we went back under W.

Bin Laden was a CIA operative trained to combat the spread of communism in Afghanistan in the 70s and 80s. He went rogue after seeing how Americans were treating other Arabs and formed Al-Qaeda.

Answer 2

The press chooses from this collection of words in order to write the most sensationalistic news stories they can each day. As one term begins getting over used, they switch to the new term to regain the sensationalism and regain some audience and advertising dollars. Hence the recent switch from Islam/Muslim to Hamas and Hezbola. There is no bearing on reality, just what words the press deems most profitable.

Answer 3

Much of what is going on is prophetic and in the Bible. You have to do some digging since many of the names of regions and cities have changed, but if you get a new map and an ancient one and set them side by side while you read Books like Daniel and Zechariah. You'll have to do alot of cross referencing and using a New Living Translation helps too. I haven't figured it all out over a cup of coffee...but I do have to say, studying these Books in the Bible lately have been very enlightening in view of what is going on in the Middle East. I'm not pushing Christianity, much of what is found in Zechariah and Daniel can also be found in other Historical journals. If history is your thing....it's worth a look.

Answer 4

I try to keep up, but it is a lot of confusing information to handle, not being from there myself. I don't think the media does the greatest job of explaining the groups. The problem with the politicians is that they try to play it off as if it were simple and straightforward with easy answers to the problems, which it is not.

Answer 5

What's so hard to understand? As long as we humans are around we will have the proclivity to make and bear arms for the sole purpose of waging war. As for the region, war is commonplace and because that is so, no governing body has been able to remain in power long enough to keep any semblance of peace.

Answer 6

No, but I'm a news junkie anyway so it doesn't confuse me.

Answer 7

its all about the oil and the money the oil makes

Answer 8

yes, very

Answer 9

yes it is confusing. war war war!!! why can't it just stop!!!!!

Answer 10

yep, i is.