“Note that dominant factions in both the Libyan and Syrian rebellions are Islamist. This is no accident. In Egypt and in Algeria, free elections led to Islamist majorities. In sum, we have a problem with Muslims, not Muslim leaders, who are moderates compared to the people they rule. Successful rebellions would put Muslim extremists in power.”
So the net effect of our involvement in the ME has been one big fat mess! We have removed criminal leaders and thereby left the door open to radical islamists. So we lost our own lives and treasure, and then left the scene and ISIS is the result. Saddam and Khadafi were preferable, in hindsight to the vacuum we left. I stil grapple with trying to understand what the world should do about Islam. Islam has not had a positive history with it’s attempts at trying to take over the world in the past, and now we’re faced with that prospect once again.
They were the 'strongman' leaders who would stomp the crap out of any opposition to maintain power.
Not nice, in fact, often downright brutal, but what it takes to unite different tribes and factions under one banner.
We didn't have that tribal mentality here, so we didn't need it. Odunga has done more to propel the US toward factions based on race and other considerations than anyone before him: the melting pot isn't melting any more, and the chunks (unassimilated 'immigrant' groups) are starting to bang around in the kettle.