11 Comments

Noticeably absent in this discussion of the history of ISIS, the Syrian Civil War, and the Arab Spring is any mention of the roles of the US State Department, the CIA and related NGOs.

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"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is a foolish and cynical political theory liable to blow up in one's face. I prefer Abraham Lincoln's remark that the best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend.

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same guy who fought a 2mil dead civil war?

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Actually I agree with the legal arguments for the right of secession put forward in the first 100 pages or so of Mr Jefferson Davis' 'Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government" but after the war both he and Lincoln wanted genuine reconciliation and peace.

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'And 10-25 years later, no one will remember what Friedman predicted, let alone that he even existed.'

That should actually be the other way around since remembering what Friedman predicted is LESS likely than remembering he even existed.

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Also notably absent from the discussion was the fact that the constitution the US foisted on Iraq, instead of being a three state federal system was a centralized, winner take all democratic system which guaranteed permanent Sunni powerlessness and subjugation to the Shia.

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The linked-to article has been deleted, so here's a copy:

Thomas Friedman Finally Admits the Arab Spring is a Disaster

FrontPage Magazine ^ | April 10, 2013 | Daniel Greenfield

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/3006593/posts

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Wouldn't historians make the Arab Spring itself an aftermath of Saddam Hussein's fail?

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"P.S. PLease point out any solid counter-examples in the comments". No comments. Hmm.

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Because it’s from years ago and reposted to Substack. The comments aren’t transported here from Econlib.

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Not even the exact link to the Econlog post, alas.

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