Atheism on the rise in the middle east

[abaris]

There are actually some quite daring secular movements in the Middle East, people living under austere Islamism (mostly Not military or political intervention, I'm with you guys on that, it doesn't help, but at least some social solidarity and not defending and supporting these regimes we wouldn't ever want for ourselves.

Yeah, I'm with you on that. That's what I'm arguing for. Every western intervention makes things worse, since the West either supports their opressors or removes leaders from power, who are popular with the people. Let them find their own way. These countries have a very young population and that can cut both ways. They're often in opposition to their leaders and the old ideas, but it's quite natural that resentment grows when some outside powers are interfering. And resentment can be exploited by dubious forces.

The most catastrophic interference is the removal of Mossadegh from power in Iran, since that country would have taken a completely different path than it did under the west's puppet and the ensuing backclash. Supporting insurgents without knowing what they stand for is an equally bad idea as is shown in Syria.