The Never Ending Question

Should those of us at peace stand up for those under oppression in the Middle East? It is a question that has tormented the Western world for generations. It is influenced by the nature and scale of conflict and by who is involved. Since the beginning of recorded time, conflict has consumed the desert. Water is always scarce, and so people are always thirsty. Because people are always thirsty, people are always angry. Because people are always angry, fighting has always resulted. The Western world used to care on a basis of religious beliefs, but now the real matter in question is that of oil. Some time ago, when the West was split between Cold War ideologies, the USSR decided to invade Afghanistan. Because the USSR wanted it, the USA had to stand in the way. The way to do this without actually fighting the Soviets (and starting World War Three), was to financially and militarily support the emerging group to be known as the Taliban. A reverse Vietnam, Afghanistan ended in the same way. When Osama took control and ordered the 9/11 attacks, it was once again time for the West to get in on the desert again. And so, with that, it was off to Afghanistan for NATO. The USA decided to deal with unfinished business in Iraq, simultaneously, which confused the soldiers to the point of the War on Terror losing its steam and the presence of the West in the Middle East becoming senseless once again. I do not believe that Canadians, Americans or British troops should be in Afghanistan, but that's because I believe in diplomacy. Diplomacy is great until you're negotiating with an angry person with a weapon. He's angry because he's thirsty and hungry. How do we negotiate with him then? Do we take away his weapon, or do we feed him and give him something to drink? What if the 9/11 response was to shower the country with food and water, rather than bullets and artillery? The Western governments won't do it, because they've never tried it. I say give it a try next time. It's too late now. Western presence is associated only with war... to this generation anyway.