Quote Originally Posted by Viking
Turmoil will weaken the Arab world in the short term, but it can strengthen it in the long term.
Arab countries that hit the jackpot should stay away from turmoil if anything. 50 years of political reform among the progressive regimes hasn't led to anything, so no reason to pursue dangerous endeavors like this one. As if Palestinian and Iraqi refugees aren't enough for these countries?
Fancy skyscrapers are no measure of power; they can just as well be the fancy book cover with gold and rubies for a book with blank pages.
Solid economic hubs immune to terrorist attacks and serve the interests of the entire region. I think this is the right track, and is certainly a measure of power.
What is there to protect, really? Dictator monarchs and wealthy sheikhs?
Wealthy sheikhs and investors keeping it all afloat yes. But more importantly the people and their source of well-being after the oil. Spend while you can.
No, I have no intention of destroying "the current strategic center of the Arab world", but I have an even smaller intention of destroying the cities of my home country that I actually live and spend time in.
It can destroy cities but not your cities.
Accidentally helping burglars emptying a house might make one an idiot, but hardly morally responsible for the theft. It's not U.S. soldiers that are blowing up markets and setting off bombs at other public places.
It was all NATO in Libya. An incompetent operation that completely destroyed the most oil-rich state, the one that was a threat to Iran and could have accepted more refugees if more stable.

Some of these states aren't even adults. You are the adults since you've been around longer than 60 years.