Vote: Greatest Middle Eastern Country

In your opinion, which is the best/greatest country(ies)?

  • Total voters
    213
P

PM96

Joined Feb 2012
4,676 Posts | 6+
California
I think the best Middle Eastern countries are Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Wealthy and well-developed economies
  • Extremely low crime rates
  • Not involved in too much ethnic or religious conflict
  • Have not participated in any wars recently
The most significant flaw I can think of is that these countries are not democratic and not exactly free. But as far as I know, they treat their citizens somewhat better than the other countries in the region. If I'm wrong, then let me know.
 
GalataTurk

GalataTurk

Joined Dec 2010
1,894 Posts | 0+
Thrace/Türkiye
Modern Turkish people are Byzantine Greek? This is really new to me.
Seriously,We are Central Asians.Not Byzantine nor middle eastern! :notrust:
Cultural assimilation doesnt change our genes.We still have much common with other Turkic peoples as well as we have with Greek and Bulgar neighbours.
 
WeisSaul

WeisSaul

Joined Mar 2012
2,836 Posts | 16+
New Amsterdam
Last edited:
Afrasiyab said:
A good abstract of Israel's unpredictability.

Somaliland has almost no domestic or regional clout, let alone international. Somali is already a failed state. A self-declared independence of Somaliland and its recognition by Israel (already caused an unrest in the Arab League) would gain Israel nothing but more hostility from its neighbors.


The Kurdish de facto state as you claim is not a de facto state. It's an autonomous region within Iraq, though its goal is to become one. Again, The Kurdish Autonomous Region has no power regarding what Israel aims in the region except playing the terrorism card (PKK), which Israel is not unaccustomed to at all.

Of all the states you mentioned, only Azerbaijan might have a tiny political stand, if nothing. The rest are almost useless or/and useful in a short term in whatever Israel targets. However, if the things reached a boiling point, Azerbaijan would not hesitate to discontinue its relationship with Israel, as Iran and Turkey are in a more desirable range of allies for Azerbaijan.
Click to expand...

Cyprus and Greece provide a means of creating a secure way of trade to Europe, and flanking Turkey. Kurdistan (and the PKK) cooperate militarily with Israel, and will likely become an oil exporter to Israel should they ever achieve independence. Israel militarily cooperated with the Kurds to assassinate targets in Iran, and set up explosions around Israeli missile and nuclear sites. Azerbaijan still prefers Israel to Iran or Turkey because it sees Israel as a force that cannot harm Azerbaijani sovereignty. When Turkey tried to get Azerbaijan to turn away from Israel following September's UN report on Gaza, Azerbaijan told the Turkish government to get lost.

Like I was trying to say, Israel is not necessarily isolated, but its allies are so ineffective in regards to the direct threats that Israel faces, that even with all of its allies, it just a tiny notch above complete isolation within the region. It's allies would be of very little assistance in a real military confrontation with Iran. Perhaps the PKK would be of (very little) assistance but that's it.
 
Afrasiyab

Afrasiyab

Joined Sep 2007
6,378 Posts | 4+
WeisSaul said:
Cyprus and Greece provide a means of creating a secure way of trade to Europe, and flanking Turkey. Kurdistan (and the PKK) cooperate militarily with Israel, and will likely become an oil exporter to Israel should they ever achieve independence. Israel militarily cooperated with the Kurds to assassinate targets in Iran, and set up explosions around Israeli missile and nuclear sites. Azerbaijan still prefers Israel to Iran or Turkey because it sees Israel as a force that cannot harm Azerbaijani sovereignty. When Turkey tried to get Azerbaijan to turn away from Israel following September's UN report on Gaza, Azerbaijan told the Turkish government to get lost.

Like I was trying to say, Israel is not necessarily isolated, but its allies are so ineffective in regards to the direct threats that Israel faces, that even with all of its allies, it just a tiny notch above complete isolation within the region. It's allies would be of very little assistance in a real military confrontation with Iran. Perhaps the PKK would be of (very little) assistance but that's it.
Click to expand...

Are you aware of the fact that PKK is an internationally recognized terrorist organization?
 
Satuf

Satuf

Joined Nov 2009
3,471 Posts | 5+
Nebraska
Afrasiyab said:
Are you aware of the fact that PKK is an internationally recognized terrorist organization?
Click to expand...

Few years ago, it was a crime just for merely being a Kurd in Turkey. What I mean is that someone couldn't officially consider themself a "Kurd" but rather as a "mountain Turk."

Do you not expect there to be a PKK?
 
P

PM96

Joined Feb 2012
4,676 Posts | 6+
California
The Turkish government may be mistreating the Kurds, but I don't think there is a campaign to eradicate them. And PKK is indeed a terrorist group, and they are not above killing Kurds! The hypocrisy of terrorists... self-described "freedom fighters" who kill their own people if they are "traitors"!

Who told you guys Israel is funding the PKK? Israel and Turkey have diplomatic relations and were considered allies for a long time, however strained their relations may be now.
 
Satuf

Satuf

Joined Nov 2009
3,471 Posts | 5+
Nebraska
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTt84I3bxF4]Israel Training Iraqi Kurds - YouTube[/ame]
 
fuser

fuser

Joined Mar 2012
256 Posts | 0+
Pataligram, Pataliputra, Palibothra, Kusumpur, Pus
Egypt, Iran and Turkey in no particular order, also Israel is overrepresented here.
 
fuser

fuser

Joined Mar 2012
256 Posts | 0+
Pataligram, Pataliputra, Palibothra, Kusumpur, Pus
^ No, but that Israel shouldn't get that much vote particularly in a history forum.
 
WeisSaul

WeisSaul

Joined Mar 2012
2,836 Posts | 16+
New Amsterdam
Why shouldn't Israel, a country that has made more medical and technological breakthroughs in its short history than all of its neighbors combined, not be allowed to rack up that many votes?
 
P

PM96

Joined Feb 2012
4,676 Posts | 6+
California
PM96 said:
I think the best Middle Eastern countries are Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Wealthy and well-developed economies
  • Extremely low crime rates
  • Not involved in too much ethnic or religious conflict
  • Have not participated in any wars recently
The most significant flaw I can think of is that these countries are not democratic and not exactly free. But as far as I know, they treat their citizens somewhat better than the other countries in the region. If I'm wrong, then let me know.
Click to expand...
What about countries that are both advanced AND peaceful?
 
WeisSaul

WeisSaul

Joined Mar 2012
2,836 Posts | 16+
New Amsterdam
Last edited:
Yes, but that's because those countries don't have massive ethnic tensions with their neighbors. 80% of the population of the UAE doesn't even have citizenship or full rights. Same deal for Qatar but Arabs only make up 40% of the population there. Plus Israel is a democracy, while Qatar and the UAE are absolute monarchies. In Israel Labor Unions are allowed, not so much in the UAE.

Besides, in a few years those countries won't even exist anymore considering that it was announced that the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Cooperation_Council"]Gulf Cooperation Council[/ame] would become a full fledged confederation, and they'll suffer under the Saudi Wahabbist culture.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article578389.ece
 
P

PM96

Joined Feb 2012
4,676 Posts | 6+
California
WeisSaul said:
Yes, but that's because those countries don't have massive ethnic tensions with their neighbors. 80% of the population of the UAE doesn't even have citizenship or full rights. Same deal for Qatar but its 20%. Plus Israel is a democracy, while Qatar and the UAE are absolute monarchies.

Besides, in a few years those countries won't even exist anymore considering that it was announced that the Gulf Cooperation Council would become a full fledged confederation, and they'll suffer under the Saudi Wahabbist culture.

GCC panel meets to study Gulf Union plan - Arab News
Click to expand...
I never pretended that those countries I mentioned were democracies. OK, so maybe a significant amount of UAE and Qatari populations are not citizens; but what about Oman? Also, the Golf Cooperation Council does not mean that Oman, Qatar, and UAE will turn into Islamist theocracies. As far as I'm concerned, they are fairly secular countries... I do not think that will change overnight.

Yes, Israel is a democracy. But I will not defend Israel nor Palestine because they have both committed heinous crimes against each other.

Regarding Oman, Qatar, and UAE. Well, I do realize that they are authoritarian countries. But they don't treat their people too harshly. They are not involved in bloody ethnic or religious conflict, do not torture or execute political dissidents as far as I know, and are very stable and safe.
 
WeisSaul

WeisSaul

Joined Mar 2012
2,836 Posts | 16+
New Amsterdam
I'm not saying they are bad countries (for their citizens at least), but Israel is better overall.

After all, where else but Dubai could you see women in Burqas passing babes in ......s?
 
P

PM96

Joined Feb 2012
4,676 Posts | 6+
California
I think that burqas are only in the really conservative Muslim countries (Saudi Arabia).

And any place where innocent civilians (Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, etc.) are being killed is off the list of places that I want to visit. And regarding Israel and Palestine, let me say that both sides are equally guilty of these crimes. It truly sickens me.
 
WeisSaul

WeisSaul

Joined Mar 2012
2,836 Posts | 16+
New Amsterdam
Last edited:
Yes, but the Palestinians target civilians while Israel doesn't aim for innocents. Plus have you seen the videos Hamas puts on television for little children to watch?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8fRMqWOBuM"]Mickey Mouse used for incitement by Hamas - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi0nDoG5bRU"]Hamas Mickey Mouse hatred show continues - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrieBhaGgHM"]Farfour "martyred" by Israelis in final episode - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeii225G-HM"]Hamas' Children TV with a Terrorist Jew-Eating Rabbit - YouTube[/ame]

Hamas was elected into power in the Gaza strip. Most of the killing and fighting is between Gaza and Israel. I say there should be a three state solution, not a two state one.
 
P

PM96

Joined Feb 2012
4,676 Posts | 6+
California
I don't care who says what first. Extremists from both sides have preached for extermination of the other people.
 
Login or Register / Reply

More History Discussions

K
Arabs/Middle Eastern vs the "West" who is the most faithful inheritor of Rome
2
Replies
23
Views
1K
johnincornwall
K
Is the South Caucasus Europe?
2 3
Replies
42
Views
1K
Historyfansince2015
R
Soviet armies defeated, Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, Baku taken - prospects for ground war Nazis vs. Allies?
Replies
8
Views
427
raharris1973
Kanfari
Hello, i need help explaining natural selection and its impacts on early societal formation.
Replies
10
Views
368
Murffy
R
  • Poll
A surviving Weimar Republic by 1960 - Schadenfreude rather than Revanche, is the main feeling to former WWI enemies & German Republic "sits pretty"?
Replies
8
Views
897
U S Grant

Recent History Discussions

Trending History Discussions

Top