Current Events & Trends: Navigating the Middle East minefield
As things now stand, the United States has virtually ceased to be the global policeman it once was.
Some observers now speak of a post-American Middle East. The World in 2014 stated, "The big question in 2014 is how far America's rivals decide to test the resolve of the 'sole superpower'" ("No More Global Sheriff," p. 87).
Obviously the aftermath of this year's scheduled departure from Afghanistan poses considerable risks from the Taliban. Therefore, "America will hope for a 'decent interval' between withdrawal from Afghanistan and any subsequent disintegration of the political system left behind" (p. 87). Note also the article summarizing declining U.S. prestige on page 20 of this issue.
The recent deal with Iran presents yet another knotty dilemma for America and the Western world. Israel, France and Saudi Arabia are openly very skeptical about true Iranian intentions toward constructing a nuclear bomb. A blurb beneath the headline of an article by Bret Stephens in The Wall Street Journal expresses their frustration with the United States over this: "France, Israel and Saudi Arabia confront an administration conducting a make-believe foreign policy" ("Axis of Fantasy vs. Axis of Reality," Nov. 11, 2013).
But on Nov. 24, 2013, France went along with the United States, Britain, Germany, Russia and China in signing an agreement with Iran in which Iran agreed to halt its nuclear program for six months in return for a lifting of some sanctions. Many have hailed this a great success, while others are comparing it to the Munich agreement with Hitler before World War II. Ominously, the chairman of Iran's parliamentary committee for foreign policy and national security characterized the agreement this way the next day on Iranian TV: "After ten years, we have emerged victorious over the West ... victorious heroes" (posted at MEMRITV.org, clip no. 4054).
Is Iran just playing for more time? Events in the not-too-distant future will tell the story. Remember that hardline Iranian leaders still want the death of America and Israel. Previously, as a Daily Mail caption noted, "Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the country 'will not fall asleep on its watch again' as he spoke about the justification for [a] pre-emptive strike" (Oct. 16). And there has since been talk of old foes Israel and Saudi Arabia jointly striking at Iran, though the United States has warned them not to do so.
Libya poses yet another serious problem, as it continues to act more and more like a rogue state. Oil production is down, with continuing civil hostilities causing refinery shutdowns. Various rebel groups, some of whom helped overthrow Gaddafi, are at odds with one another and with the sitting government—a government that recently established a committee to make the country's laws better conform to Islamic Sharia law.
Syria, aside from President Bashar al-Assad's continuing war with his own people (presently out of the world's spotlight), continues to be poisoned by sectarian strife between rebel groups, with Islamic jidahists apparently now gaining the upper hand.
To understand why this troubled region of the earth remains a political minefield, download or request our free Bible study aid The Middle East in Bible Prophecy. (Sources: The World in 2014, Daily Mail, The Wall Street Journal, MEMRITV.org, The Times [London], IsraelNationalNews.com.)
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Jerold Aust
Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.
Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978). Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps. Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
