Why the Middle East Is So Aggravating (yet so difficult to leave) || Peter Zeihan

The Middle East has been a thorn in the side for the US since day one, so why haven't the Americans just abandoned ship? To understand why the US is still involved in the Middle East (and openly facing these potshot-esqe attacks), we need to breakdown this region...
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#middleeast #iran #syria #attack

[@simonpollo]

A no cut 16 minute summary of the Middle East. Respect for Peter’s insane public speaking skills.

[@darthnihilus511]

Holding his phone up the whole time no less😂

[@big1boston]

You should check out the Duran you will get a non bias report.

[@silverkoffee]

There is a cut at about 11:03

[@bcanuck]

@@big1boston They are Russian mouth-pieces

[@big1boston]

@@bcanuck they are British and Greek. The news is accurate.

[@joelingerfelt-ut8zx]

Talks from his eyelids...no teleprompter, no notes. amazing

[@jeanlamb5026]

Google shades to feed him the words...

[@oldcynic6964]

And never trips up, or stubs his foot, or drops his camera...

[@chrise-ih4ix]

​@oldcynic6964 you consider everyone else retarded?

[@integralmark]

while walking in high altitude, so he's cross training a mental performance skill set with a physical exercise practice

[@chrise-ih4ix]

@@integralmark he's simply being a typical human contrary to some degenerates

[@trepan4944]

Every morning I wake up, shower and shave, and watch Peters latest video with a hot coffee.

[@More_Row]

Alright, don't remember asking but fair enough.

[@robsrockinout]

That's my morning routine as well!

[@GivingBackOnline]

You don't shit? 😮

[@justinsampler5506]

That's a nice morning routine! Respect

[@FrankMOrtiz]

The definition of privilege.

[@redo3138]

Tack! Learning so much here. Probably 99% of world population doesn't know this, which is pretty much a scandal. Geopolitics should be taught 10x more in school. Thanks Peter!

[@visby2548]

Nej, it's better that government run "teachers" stay out of (geo)politics. There is no chance they are going to give the correct story. Schools should stay to the "how to" not the "what to". How to read, write and do math.

[@iExploder]

They'd rather teach national myth and propaganda, sadly.

[@redo3138]

@@visby2548 1) Teachers are not neccessarily run by government and "government" (whatever that is) isn't neccessary incorrect. The truth is probably that no one is correct. It is probably impossible to be entirely correct when it comes to geopolitics. Things can be described from different philosophical standpoints, summarized over different timeframes and in the end the winners (and some losers) write the history books differently. What I am after isn't correctness, but that people should learn the basic mechanisms of geopolitics at an early age. I am personally shocked I wasn't exposed to Peters stuff earlier in life and that no one I know seems to know much about it. 2) Who should teach geopolitics? Ah, Peter. Well, thats great - but I feel its too late in life for me. I would litterary have lived a different and smarter life if I'd known even half of what Peter has cranked out since he started craking out his bits.

[@generalsupreemo9776]

Don't miss Those Sowells assessment of African geography.

[@shubs3566]

99% of the world, or 99% of the US? 😅

[@KRS-ro6oi]

"...we tried to make Iraq look like Wisconsin..." 🤣🤣🤣

[@bryanreed1328]

Lmao not enough beer

[@myscene2010]

Or 🧀

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@bryanreed1328 which is ironic because beer (or more accurately, ale) was a big part of pre-Islamic peasant culture in the grain growing areas of the Middle East.

[@FamilyManMoving]

Instead we made Michigan look like Iraq.

[@hoilst265]

@@FamilyManMoving Hey. That's not fair. Iraq has better water.

[@Indrid__Cold]

Peter, you are amazing in your ability to hold so much factual data in your "working memory" and then process it into accurate, well-reasoned analysis. Fortunately for us mere followers of your work, your verbal descriptions and summaries pour out of your head like coins paying off a slot machine jackpot. Many people can talk but have no analytical ability, while others are adept at analysis but couldn’t clearly explain how to light a match. Your ability to analyze and communicate the results in an approachable manner is what sets you in a class by yourself. My compliments.

[@madjag]

Yes, Yes, Yes

[@kgp277]

You should do more long form content. This was immensely enjoyable.

[@none3763]

His multi hour speeches & presentations are on YT. Or buy his books.

[@robertskinner8477]

Get the books on Audible and be entertained for days. Start with Accidental Superpower. God shed his grace on thee indeed. You’ll realize we ourselves are our only meaningful enemy.

[@grubmg]

Peter never ceases to impress - especially how you got such great sound from your microphone while walking at pace in the woods!

[@prsimoibn2710]

That's because you're American

[@HaggardPillockHD]

​@@prsimoibn2710 dude that's not a proper way to address them. It would be more appropriate to write 'MURICAN' or 'Yank'.

[@torahislife]

You obviously do not travel the world and talk to the average people on the street... Zeihan is incredibly out of touch with current realities

[@nshaley]

⁠@@torahislifeokay, I’ll bite, how is Peter “out of touch with current realities”?

[@wattlebough]

@@torahislife He’s right about China’s population collapse and collapsing economy. The One Child Policy from 1979- 2015 makes it a mathematical certainty. Shutting eyes won’t make it not happen.

[@AnthonySNY]

I don't like or agree with every single thing Peter says, but man would I love to hang out with him for a few weeks

[@bobwoods1302]

A few WEEKS?!

[@hazb8026]

​@@bobwoods1302yeah itd be the craziest hiking trip of your life

[@jimmiekarlsson4458]

@@hazb8026 Sure would lol

[@prsimoibn2710]

Try minutes first, you'd get bored fast trust me

[@realScottThomas]

@@prsimoibn2710i watch all of his presentations so I doubt it.

[@kortyEdna825]

Most Americans find it hard to retire comfortably amid economy downtrend. Some have close to nothing going into retirement, my question is, will you pay off mortgage as a near-retiree, or spread money for cashflow, to afford lifestyle after retirement?

[@Pamela.jess.245]

as most investing-related questions, the answer is, it depends.. my best suggestion is to consider advisory management

[@Joebiladen159.]

this is huge! mind if I look up the advisr that guides you please? only invest in my 401k through my employer for now, but enthused about diversifying my investments for a prosperous financial future

[@Joebiladen159.]

Thank you for this tip. It was easy to find your coach. Did my due diligence on her before scheduling a phone call with her. She seems proficient considering her resume.

[@tonyrobinson1623]

I hope readers realize that this is an entirely fake conversation designed to advertise a certain advisor.

[@classwrapper6466]

@@tonyrobinson1623this user does, Fake conversations

[@christianross2567]

That strategy was GOING to be worth it in a world where we never struck shale oil. Now that we have...

[@LoneWolf-wp9dn]

Presumably it's worth it rather than leaving and having isis conquer Iraq or otherwise make a country for themselves and have to deal with a much bigger thing in the future

[@jorgdahn3736]

Won't Last THAT long at the current rate of consumption, though.😱

[@Premium_ZoomerTrader]

@@LoneWolf-wp9dnwont happen the turks or Israelis would replace what the Americans been doing in the middle east

[@LoneWolf-wp9dn]

@@Premium_ZoomerTrader #doubt

[@crescent4996]

@@Premium_ZoomerTrader Or more secular dictators like Saddam was, which lets remember, we made alliance with at one point.

[@semiuniversal]

I feel it's crucial to highlight the impact of historical events, particularly the Mongol invasions. Zeihan's analysis provides valuable insight into how consistent rainfall in Europe facilitated agricultural diversity and political stability. This (admittedly abbreviated) view does not account for the catastrophic damage inflicted by the Mongols on the Middle East. The onslaught during the 13th century devastated centers of learning and culture, effectively ending the Islamic Golden Age. This turmoil significantly hindered the region's progress and inadvertently set the stage for Europe's rise. As European societies were for the most part spared from the devastation of these invasions, they had the opportunity to develop and advance in a relatively stable environment. Europe's ascendancy was not merely a product of its geographical advantages but also a consequence of the profound and lasting impacts of external forces like the Mongol invasions on other regions, particularly the Middle East.

[@chrise-ih4ix]

nah 😂😂😂

[@doujinflip]

But then the question is why didn't the Middle East recover? Remember all of China and much of Eastern Europe had also been conquered by the Mongol Horde.

[@chrise-ih4ix]

@@doujinflip exactly! He's a Muslim apologet. It's not worth debating with him.

[@semiuniversal]

I am most certainly not a Muslim apologist, far from it. I think that the Muslim religion, like all large religions, is essentially poison. I just don't like simple answers to complex problems. I think the rainfall hypothesis is actually clear and compelling but it's misleading to claim that was the only, or even primary, contributing cause. The world would be almost unthinkably different had the Mongols come in and upset the Medieval apple cart. @@chrise-ih4ix

[@semiuniversal]

I personally believe that any area of the world that was invaded by the Mongols was scarred badly. In Russia, the Mongol legacy is a haunting presence, its ethos of iron-fisted rule and deep-seated suspicion of the external world now mirrored in Russia's aggressive posturing and territorial ambitions, posing a stark challenge to Western notions of global peace and stability. China, too, carries the indelible marks of Mongol rule, its centralized power and strategic assertiveness echoing an era of foreign domination; traits that today fuel its rising global assertiveness, often clashing with Western interests and values. It's damned lucky that Ögedei Khan died suddenly in 1241 and the invasion of Europe was called off or it would a huge and catastrophic influence on Western society too. It would have delayed the industrial revolution by centuries. @@doujinflip

[@davidsturges3295]

I think you've confirmed what I've thought for years is that being in the Middle East is a no-win situation.

[@Mountain_Valley_Sky]

No chit, Sherlock. Like nobody knew that bk when everyone said they've been fighting in the middle east for thousands of yrs against 1 another & larger empires...(the early 1980s for those historically challenged) & you will change nothing by going to war there either?? That was the early '80s, after Carters team botched the 52 American Hostage rescue. Took Reagan getting elected (a Republican) to get them released w/o a shot. Think about that, PZ..?? How insightful now, 50+ yrs later to think its genius to know the middle east cannot be *_Won_* # 🤡 *_ShowInDC_*

[@MarcosElMalo2]

And just leaving is a no-win situation. This is the dictionary definition of dilemma. A problem with two solutions (stay or leave), neither of which is good. Yes, it’s more complex than that, with a lot of moving parts, but the push and pull is between less engagement or more engagement. Long term, the U.S. wants to ease out, and has been easing out, getting our regional partners to take more responsibility and to start cooperating with each other in a meaningful way. The recent Iranian proxy attacks tells me that Iran doesn’t want the U.S. to leave. And that is a clue that Iran is a proxy for someone else.

[@Mountain_Valley_Sky]

@@MarcosElMalo2 we don't need to steal oil any longer (except in Syria, clearly 😆) so it is a Win Win situation to leave, & stop allowing Military Service Men & Women to be killed, so we have a reason to retaliate against Iran, by Firing Missiles into Iraq & Syria. Cuz that is intellectual brilliance that only this administration could get behind. Well, & this channel, as a Cloaked Neocon mouthpiece, bragging about the wisdom in regards to the likes of Jake Sullivan. I assume Victoria Nuland's brilliance just goes unspoken most of the time. Anyone who cannot admit this a is purely entertainment and comedy channel to get the Communist & Chief re-elected, should listen to Colonel Douglas MacGregor. The man PZ will not 1 on 1 debate regarding all the US policies that PZ stands behind & supports. While MacGregor is shredding everything on this channel *_WITH FACTS* .

[@vih-qq9pm]

@@MarcosElMalo2 Leave them and their camels to it. There is no longer a dependency on their oil. If Europe and Asia want to defend their canal connection, OK. Or ask the Turks back. They seemed to know how to handle the situation.

[@shtroizn]

@@MarcosElMalo2 Wait what?! You started out well enough but every expert i have listened to has claimed that Iran is trying to actually push the US OUT of the ME through its proxies. Sure - for the short term it actually pulled the US IN - especially due to the Houthi attacks on International shipping. But the strategy of Iran I think is to A) Turn Israel into a pariah State among Arab and Muslim nations (and to some extent in other countries) so Israel and Saudi Arabia won't be able to sign a normalization treaty and B) Get the US out of the ME - once the Gaza war is over and the Houthis can claim they no longer need to support their Palestinian brothers and sisters. Then Iran becomes a regional power and nukes will seal that deal.

[@Glory005]

Long term, the situation in the Middle East is by no means static. Oil and groundwater are gradually running out, at the same time as rainfall becomes ever more scarce. Modern drilling technologies can eke out a few more years, but as time goes by it'll become increasingly difficult to generate the foreign exchange required to import enough food or fertilizer to feed populations in places like Egypt and Iran.

[@philipadams5386]

Not to mention Saudi Arabia.

[@maxten]

massive migration for Europe and America.

[@23suricata]

@@maxtenYes, and this is not so secretly keeping Western governments up at night. Plus, with climate change, all countries will face internal migration issues when certain areas are no longer livable on a practical level.

[@anthonyml7]

This spells mass migrations to me down the road

[@orboakin8074]

As a Nigerian, here's my simple answer: Bad geography, poor social and economic systems, poor political systems, failing legal and social institutions, dutch disease, tribalism and others. Also, the colonialism excuse is just lazy and mainly used by tribalist Arabs as an excuse. Same way Pan-Africans use it as an excuse for Africa's failings.

[@jarexaderemi9511]

I agree wholeheartedly

[@sonneh86]

I would also add winter. Because we experience winter in Europe (which creates scarcity and other challenges), we developed a culture of planning ahead.

[@zibbitybibbitybop]

Hoping Nigeria can manage to overcome all the challenges you correctly noted and keep building up the economy, your country has so much potential to be a powerhouse.

[@tigerdude2727]

House slave detected.

[@none3763]

what is dutch disease?

[@CrimsinTheShaman]

One of your best videos, Peter. You've opened the eyes of many to the geopolitical history of the Middle East. Critically, that history underpins so much of the motivations and machinations of the political powers and militant groups in the Middle East.

[@bigcity2085]

Well , I dunno. While studying fracking ,I was deep deep in oil industry sites and in an interview one oil guy stated; " It is generally understood among oil industry execs., that we went into Iraq because the Saudis wanted Hussein gone". Coincidentally, once he was gone, we got the 'ol " mission accomplished" banner put up, which does seem to confirm oil guy's statement. For what it's worth. Don't get me wrong; I love Peter's insights, and I'm from Colorado and am totally envious of what must be the most immense sunglasses collection on the front range (you really need them out here).

[@green_block]

The video is full of misinformation. Anyone who is knowledgeable about Middle Eastern affairs would catch it easily, but if you just know superficially, you might get duped into believing his opinions. I have to give it him. He can say something absolutely incorrect with a great deal of confidence.

[@Art-is-craft]

The problem is that most people separate geography from politics/culture.

[@RandarserousRex]

@@green_block What was incorrect in the video?

[@nathansowa9499]

@@RandarserousRexwe’re in Syria supporting Al-Q in order to topple the Syrian government. US is illegally occupying a third of Syrian land and stealing their oil and depriving the Syrians of income to rebuild. The US state department has admitted this in think tank conferences. Zeihan is a propagandist for the US empire, he’s trash.

[@mk1fourwinds62]

Lately, I’ve been reading up on Ottoman history. Syria wouldn’t have existed without the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after WWI. It’s been a thorn in Turkey’s side ever since. I think the future will look pretty grim for an independent Syria. The Turks want rid of the Kurds, whether right or wrong, also. The Turks certainly have no love for the Iranians either and Syria is a good strategy to keep them at bay. I think we’ll see an even more active role for Turkey in the area.

[@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg]

What do you mean by "active role"? Do you think Turkey will simply annex Syria?

[@matm4413]

"The Turks want rid of the Kurds, whether right or wrong" how can "removing" an ethnic group ever be right, please explain that to me

[@timmyjimmy3647]

I highly recommend the videos on turkey made by Kraut

[@mk1fourwinds62]

@@matm4413 I’m saying that because if the issue were simple no one would argue. Turkey hates the Kurds. The Kurds are a US ally. Turkey will want to rid themselves of the Kurdish resistance. The US won’t, but will probably waffle and stumble. The Iranians aren’t fond of the Kurds. Turkey and the US will use them as pawns there. My statement is an acknowledgement that, no matter my opinion on the Kurds, and I have tremendous respect and admiration for them, there certainly are those who have a very different opinion. Just ask the Kurds. They are going to be a centerpiece of history in this region for many more years to come, just as they always have. It’s not going to be a peaceable narrative, either.

[@mk1fourwinds62]

@@asdasdasddgdgdfgdg They have occupied parts of it recently already. I’m no expert, but given the situation with Russian troops in the region, Kurdish rebels, a failed state on their border, their own nationalist pride, especially concerning their history with Syria… sure wouldn’t surprise me!

[@Padoinky]

Peter takes the most esoteric and convoluted aspects of historical factors and simplifies the chaos into understandable concepts and principles…. Well done sir

[@mohammadal-hafidh1158]

No he is absolutely delusional, this is the most eurocentrist retardation ive ever seen

[@busboy262]

Peter brings the cheer and laughter again. LOL, Thanks, Peter.

[@thomasridenour277]

Dude, you have to be in seriously good physical condition to walk at that altitude and talk (cohortantly) for 16 minutes. Props to you.

[@Bogo___]

I learn so much watching these videos. I greatly appreciate and look forward to them every morning

[@WatchdogFL]

Been watching you for over 2 years. I have to say this may be one of your best regional overviews ever.

[@madjag]

I absolutely agree. He's the man....how exactly can he do this?

[@devalapar7878]

I like structural explanations. You can apply them anywhere in the world and it will explain the political situation. For example, all these things can be said about Afghanistan too just on a smaller scale.

[@Babalouie59]

Mess-O-Potamia. Growing up in the South, we learned a lot about avoiding trouble from reading Joel Chandler Harris' stories about Brer Rabbit's adventures with 'The Tar Baby'.

[@joshuahofer2571]

It’s hard to take a Middle East summary seriously without a mention of Sykes-Picot and the Ottoman Empire. Western strategies to divide and separate cultural groups is surely one of the most important developments in the past 100 years.

[@dr.michaellittle5611]

Peter is an unbelievably brilliant guy who provides insights that no one else can. Love these videos 👏

[@cdt996]

Always start my day with a Peter Zeihan video!

[@presiyanyankov8869]

So with propaganda?///

[@tommcdonald752]

Same, motivates me to get everything ready to leave for work so I can relax and listen to Peter’s insights

[@matthewgrabowski3779]

Same here, its why I hate weekends 🤣🤣🤣

[@stephenglover1818]

Hey Peter are you also one of these idiots that thinks that Iran are the main sponsors of Hamas, do you know who you sound like, NEOCON Nikki with all her lies. Eg that Russia is going to go beyond Ukraine into Poland and the Baltic States - at least the Tucker/Putin interview set the record straight on that one. Or what's the other one, oh yeah ''China is going to invade, Taiwan' based off zero evidence. Repeat after me NO NEOCONS NO WARS !!!

[@phillipemery572]

Peter, could we hear more about Turkey's overall trajectory in the region? I feel like we hear drips and drabs about Turkey's importance, but it'd be interesting to her your perspective on how they stand to gain/lose prominence as a global player over the next few decades.

[@billwoods6759]

I enjoy being educated with blue skies, Aspen trees, and snow in the background.

[@kevinfloyd4907]

Peter: every day you fill me with emotions. Either limitless hope or deep dread. Nothing in the middle

[@SnowBalling]

Love these longer videos, more like this please.

[@McD-j5r]

I am becoming a frequent expectador of Peter. He really gives a show.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

You’re an expectorant?

[@jimbowling8528]

The Middle East - where the kings of the west clash with the kings of the east (and north). A power vacuum begging to be filled from the outside. Gives a whole new/old meaning to the Euphrates drying up. Good overview. Thanks.

[@Anthropic312]

This is literally the best summary of the Middle East I’ve ever heard

[@BR-hi6yt]

Yeah, fortress towns - that's about it.

[@douglasvoigt9268]

And totally wrong.

[@buttaman34]

Yea he completely left out the Ottoman empire who ran the middle east for centuries.

[@iraqisailor]

It’s a stupid summery.

[@GiarcraiGO]

​@@iraqisailoryour refutation of his position is stupid. Not because his answer is wrong, but because yours was lazy. Try giving reasons for your opinion.

[@MendeMaria-ej8bf]

Thank you for always interesting information and analysis.

[@k.naveenkumar8470]

I really changed my view on geopolutics after listening to Peter thanks so much man.

[@grzegorzkapica7930]

4:10 I would add; when you have winter, you have to organize, or you die.

[@zee9709]

Its worse in the desert, if don't have water, you have to take it from others who have. Creating a perpetual war for water control.

[@brianjonker510]

I was going to say it enforces a work ethic. Work hard now so you are well supplied for the lean cold times of snow cover.

[@fazdoll]

People organized their way through an Ice Age. Now that's a work ethic.

[@theforsakeen177]

@@brianjonker510 This argument never convinced me, most ppl outside the west today work far longer than them and in much worse conditions for much lower pay. Only when they do it it isn't "work ethic" it is "slavery".

[@EnteiIsDoge]

Also kills bugs

[@ronmarkell4436]

Thank you for the oversight. I have to admit that I’m going to have to watch this again to absorb all of the content.

[@tylerpyle2135]

Always a clearly laid out set of thoughts. Much appreciated Peter, keep it coming.

[@marioc9168]

Afghanistan should give us all we need to know about what would replace the current paradigms in the ME. With what we spent in Afghanistan we could have made a wall separating the mountains where the taliban give sway and the cities in the plains where we could have ensured little girls could go to school. We fight for money and geopolitical interests but one would be surprised how many would have agreed to stay there if we could have ensured the cities remained growing centers of freedom and choice. I was there and I saw first hand how much freedom was instilled into Afghani peoples. We protected the university for a time and I think that was the most noble assignment I ever had.

[@CecilShive]

Problem was they weren't willing to fight for it. Big difference when it is given, rather than earned. Iraq is was same.

[@ABH565]

afganistan were like that before us-soviet intervention. are forgetting US fund the taliban to fight of the soviet. last time they called freedom fighters. its the same script used in Iraq now but different player like the kurds.

[@CecilShive]

Not forgetting, The US supplied the taliban and the more moderate Northern Alliance. Once the Soviets started withdrawing the taliban destroyed the leadership of the northern Alliance. Big difference was the Northern Alliance was fighting for political reasons, where the taliban lead by Osama, it was all about Religion. Which bit the US in the ass in the long run. The US bases in Saudi were "temporary" until Saddam was forced out of Kuwait. Then they were to be closed. They are still there. Osama used that fact to attacked the US, for defiling the Muslim Holy Land with infidels. One has to wonder what would have happened if we had closed the bases. The bases could have been located elsewhere.

[@JH-1775]

Thanks for clarifying this important history in the context of geography and economics. I really had not understood. Much appreciated!

[@ASmithee67]

U.S. interests in the Middle East are primarily to support world oil supplies and global trade. As the U.S. reshores supply chains to North America and a few allies, the U.S. support for world oil supplies and global trade goes from "need" to "nice to have" to "don't care". I'm betting we're one Administration, maybe two, from minimizing U.S. presence in the Middle East and letting the locals fight it out to their own solutions.

[@TonyMontana57442]

the first 5 minutes introduction are very well informative and intesresting. great

[@antigonesmith9781]

Well done. Thanks for the rundown...and for respecting my ability to grasp these things.

[@lachlanbell8390]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@chrismeyers5238]

Peter thanks again man. I don't know how you can walk and talk at the same time for such a long distance. Peace and prosperity Sr.

[@francus7227]

Because he's one of the minority Americans that isn't a lard slurpper....

[@allenvaughan1]

Excellent audio quality upgrade! ---Excellent analysis as well😊

[@wyansas]

The point about rainfall was really interesting and something i hadnt considered before.

[@pitolatino1]

Brother Thank you for sharing. stay well!!!

[@wattlebough]

Islam is the dominating factor in this equation. It’s the elephant in the room nobody wants to talk about.

[@StayFreshMyFriends]

SE asia has Islam and no where near the amount of problems

[@wattlebough]

@@StayFreshMyFriends That’s because Islam came relatively late to places like Indonesia which was previously Buddhist and Hindu. Coupled with strong Dutch and Portuguese colonial rule and influence for several centuries not long after the arrival of Islam. The countries also continued to have a very strong cultural residual effect of having been Buddhist/Hindu that it remained a part of the cultural mindset. Indonesia is also **constitutionally** secular thanks to Dutch colonial influence. That’s the difference between the status of Islam in SE Asia versus its birthplace in the Hejaz of Arabia.

[@wattlebough]

@@StayFreshMyFriends But I will say this, in addition to my other comment. The places in SE Asia where Islam is the most entrenched and secularism is weakest have seen decades of problems that don't get the news media attention. Aceh Province in the northern tip of the island of Sumatra was a region of ongoing insurgency against the Indonesian government for a long time. The insugency was wiped out in a single day when the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami hit Aceh, killing 200 thousand people, including many insurgents and their support bases. Today Aceh is subject to Shari'a Law. Also investigate the recent Siege of Marawi in the Southern Philipinnes in 2017, which took the Philippines Army five months of fighting to get the largest city on the southern island of Mindanao out of the hands of the Islamist insurgents and back in government control.

[@strigoiu13]

​@@wattleboughi was about to write the same, but seen your comment. all over islam is a problem when taking it too seriosly as most islam followers tend to do.

[@wattlebough]

@@strigoiu13 It goes all the way back to Muhammed himself and his first converts. The first Jewish blood spilled by Muslims happened in Medinah when Muhammed’s fanatical followers assaulted and killed several men of the Jewish tribes that had resided there for several centuries. Muhammed had them either driven out of Medinah, or in the case of the Jewish Banu Qurayzah tribe of Medinah, every male who had reached puberty was executed by beheading and their bodies dumped in to a trench which is under the pristine white tiles of Medinah today. The women, such as Rayhanna Bint Zayd and the children were all divided up among Muhammed’s men as war booty/ slaves and concubines. It’s well recorded in all the earliest historical Islamic records and is therefore part of the Sunnah.

[@johnduguid]

What a great explanation of the Middle Eastern current state of affairs based on history, geography, and politics.....and in less than 20 minutes! Thanks for putting this puzzle together, Peter.

[@Chan-rc2hw]

Love you Peter!

[@bradenchurch552]

I’ve watch all Peters vids and I think this is the best one yet. What a service he is providing. I vote for getting the F out of there. Too much blood and treasure wasted already. Thanks Peter.

[@nathanseper8738]

While America may no longer depend on Middle Eastern oil, other major economies, like South Korea and Japan, depend on Middle Eastern oil. The economic consequences of losing the oil could still impact the United States.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

True. It affects the entire world. And despite the wishes of the isolationists who think we can retreat into Fortress America, we are part of the world. The isolationists want a simple answer to a complicated problem, like the kid who takes the ball and goes home, yielding the playing field to others.

[@user-ju1qd3ok2g]

With Venezuela not producing much oil and nobody buying Russian oil.... the Middle East is important, for now.

[@DotADBX]

the usa and more so canada could provide the EU and korea/japan with all the oil they will ever need it will just be expensive to transport it there (though imo the costs is worth the life loss/military intervention required to rely on the middle east)

[@crescent4996]

It will impact these other countries MORE, so they should be paying us if they want us to provide security for THEIR resource concerns.

[@john.8805]

Once Amerika retreats and these powers expand into the region/make themselves partners, this will mean a different perspective for the Middle East. The American paradigm is too cowboys and Indians. Other areas of the world (India, far-east) may offer different opportunities in a partnership, like more moderation and societal stability, less morals and values and greater emphasis on technology rather thank nation building via individuality and resource trading.

[@mattcat83]

Isn't this just how Rome treated Germany, building border forts and just hunkering down? Eventually, things can change.

[@tonyoostendarp7611]

Every once in a while, peter hits a home run. I'm struck by your knowledge, today this presentation beats every thing else you produce. You are worth the money. Excellent, Thanks for you Peter, I'll say it again, The president of the USA, I believe that's a mountain you can climb. Thanks God for the USA. Not perfect, but it is the best around.

[@AftabulousAF]

While it’s understandable that this is an oversimplified and infinitesimally brief rundown of millennia long history, it overlooks the following aspects among many many others: 1. Several fields of science and in general, knowledge, owe their existence and progress to major contributions from Arab names. 2. States have very rarely been destabilised (Arab or otherwise) from within or with the help of outside forces where United States wasn’t directly or indirectly involved. 3. The same era when Arab Nations were phasing into irrelevance (according to you) when Long Distance Sea Travel was become a norm, there were upheavals all across Europe due to nobles treating the same skinned people as them as less than (French Revolution, anyone?) 4. The Technological disparity that you portray existed between the West and the Middle East can occur in the same country in different places, and often times not updating with the times itself is a sign of the glory days being behind you. Cohorts of population, certain cities and even adjacent neighbourhoods can experience this. 5. It’s “MuJAHIdeen”, not “MuHAJIdeen”.

[@baxtermullins1842]

It’s like watching the old Connections Programs.

[@IFKY]

Fascinating! Thank you Peter, I'm learning new things everyday while I have my coffee (also in CO). Really really appreciate people like you.

[@flyboy98]

Fantastic summary

[@Flyingclam]

The one thing I would push back on is the technology part of the middle east. The ottomans made great use of early gunpowder weapons like the bombard, grendades and Arquebus. Leading to the golden age of ottoman conquest in europe, all the way to hungary. Obly stopped in vienna when euppeans then mastered its next generation of muskets and cannons

[@AliceinWonderlandzz]

Brilliant! I've always only looked at this from a religious/cultural standpoint. Your argument to leave is compelling. But abandoning the Middle East to regional conflict is dangerous in a world full of nukes. Because others like China and Europe are going to remain reliant on their energy, it also opens up wider conflict. As always it remains the festering sore that heal. Once fossil fuel falls by the wayside like whale blubber, we can leave them to their camels and sand.

[@philipadams5386]

That is really the only option, IMO. There will be a humanitarian disaster in the region in due course. Without oil, the region cannot support a population of much larger than a few million - and perhaps not even that.

[@gabriellejudd1]

Meanwhile the smug face increasing drug addicted societies with greed, lack of morality in all areas & backscratching corruption from the top down....Nice...

[@jrochest4642]

As of 6:00 he's gone right through the Medieval/Early modern periods and has not mentioned the Ottoman Empire? Which has a considerable impact on the history and development of the region, I'd say. . .

[@Mark.G475]

😂 it was a quick summary in 15 minutes! Idiot!

[@olavberrig4548]

If I remember right, then the Spaniards and the Portuguese only started sailing to Indian and China, after the Ottomans blocked the trade routes via land

[@lucasproctor7464]

Yep. Constantinople fell in 1453. Led directly to Columbus looking for a new route to India in 1492 (39 years wasn't that long in terms of tech progress back then.)

[@mandarinandthetenrings2201]

At one point the Ottoman's account for 10% of world GDP. But by the 17th century their GDP fell to less than 2% and that after they kept expanding their Empire into the Middle East. Deep water transportation is so cheap that they eventually imploded.

[@bilalbaig8586]

You hit the nail right on the head. US forces are in Syria to prevent Turkey from occupying it. Because unlike the US the Turks would actually be accepted by the locals and be able to generate growth and prosperity. Which would be be the first step in the resurgence of the new Ottoman Empire.

[@gabrielelmisurati4810]

Spoken like someone who didn’t take time to learn the proper history of the middle east. The way he speaks about this region is very problematic because he continues to push the belief that they are backwards and would have remained in the stone age if it wasn’t for the ‘western savior’. It’s a racist point of view that basically erases and over simplifies an entire region. For centuries places like Morocco and Iraq were the centers of learning and advancement. He clearly hates Arabs and thinks very little of them. Not only that but trying to excuse what happened in Iraq and saying ‘it’s debatable if it was a success or not’ is ridiculous. The truth is the region was stable for centuries and was only destabilized by the greed of the west. They went in to take down the Ottoman Empire and broke up the region into regions and areas that they thought they could control, and more importantly, exploit. And the reason that there is a continued presence in the region is to keep it destabilized. There is no doubt that the western powers are scared of another islamic empire rising and dominating the region like they have in the past. ‘The capacity for an outright civilization collapse is very real’. So for those hundreds of years before America existed, the region was in disarray? I’ve been watching Peter for a while and I think he has some valuable insights in some things, but definitely not the middle east. He’s clearly racist and has no understanding of the region.

[@tiljack8389]

He's glib and doesn't even touch on many things but you didn't understand what he was saying if this is your takeaway. He has talked about the fall of the Ottomans and the creation of the modern statelets imposed on the region before in other forums but not here because that set of facts didn't apply to the history of why Iranian proxies attacked American forces and their trainees in Syria, the Ottoman period had zero to do with it. Other parts of long ago history did, in a roundabout way that while an excellent bit of oration, perhaps didn't always circle back to the premise enough for you to even remember what the premise was. The Americans are there at the tail end of a big economic story that is coming to the final bits of the chapter in which they see good reason to be there in the first place. They are trying to leave, retreating the sphere of economic influence that is reshaping the world order that stabilized the last 80 years. There will be a new order that the statelets probably won't survive through, barring Turkey. It probably will be very ugly, and part of his glibness is humor to show he doesn't like it, not racism against Arabs. In economic terms, the Middle East after Babylon always has been just a crossroads for trade between the empires that shape the way things work, when it's Persia or Rome or the Ottomans holding the whole area it works out fine for the locals, but the statelets formed by Sykes-Picot definitely are not up to that task once the order imposed by Bretton Woods goes away. And it's going away, the whole thing Zeihan's been saying his whole career but most people pretend isn't happening.

[@Fourmiler]

Great job again Peter!

[@jimgraham6722]

Thanks Peter, I have a personal exclusion zone, 2,000 km radius centred on Dubai. It leaves plenty of pleasant places to visit.

[@RexBennett-w5v]

We needed to get out of there 30 years ago. The only reason we did not was political/oil. Now we are stuck with a mess. It is not like we did not have the tech to work around the problems caused by that area. politics kept us there to feed big oil and also feed the military industrial complex.

[@wizzzer1337]

"Damned if you do, Damned if you don't." That's the burden of being the strongest most influential nation on earth.

[@g.dejong7804]

Yet you have so many homeless and children that have to go to sleep on an empty stomach

[@TomTomicMic]

​@@g.dejong7804 Well everybody knows what the Middle East is like!?!

[@Preston-hz8gf]

@@g.dejong7804our homeless and poor are fat not starving.

[@williamdudleybass9302]

Brilliant analysis. Especially value Peter’s capacity to “motor mouth” forth so many details from numerous disciplines to generate immediate synthesis with clarity & logic. Ironic when one considers the Middle East was a major center of human civilization in the beginning. Consider, too, the United States was engaged “over there” way earlier back during the Barbary Wars of 1801-1815, themselves part of the greater Second Hundred Years (world) War of 1688-1815. The Barbary States were nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, but more or less acted as they wished. Fractured tribal political groupings with arms from all over. Europe & East/South Asia had long surpassed the Middle East in industry, agriculture, & technology even then, so Peter Z’s observations on today’s now can be found in the Barbary Wars. One quirk is how Sweden has circulated back into today’s picture as Sweden was warring against the Barbary Pirates before the USA joined in. The Swedes are not militarily engaged in the Middle East currently, of course, & they are ascending into NATO with their formidable regional military might. By Middle East, I include North Africa & parts of Central Asia, basically the whole caravan hub between Subsaharan Africa, Europa, South Asia, & China. Where’s the Mongol Empire when ya rilly need ‘em?

[@serafinacosta7118]

You have points. If only you could break your paragraphs into a smaller set of sentences ….

[@williamdudleybass9302]

@@serafinacosta7118 Right on. It’s something I struggle with & continue to work on. Kinda like chopping up a firehose while keeping all the water focused, LOL Thanks!

[@Simple_But_Expensive]

The problem is that our politicians think the people of the Middle East and East Asia think pretty much like we do. Having lived in both areas, I can tell you they don’t. They see the world completely different, so their thinking is different also. Think Klingons and Romulans in the original Star Trek. Assigning our values to them is a classic mistake. Specialists in various governments understand this, but none of the decision makers listen to them. In the Middle East their is an attitude of myself against my brother, myself and my brother against my father, my family against my clan, my clan against my tribe, my tribe against my nation, my nation against the world. It is one giant game of king of the hill, except it is played with religion and weapons of war and they are deadly serious. This is why the Middle East will never be stable. Add in oil hungry Europe, and you have a permanent recipe for chaos, both locally and exported to the rest of the world. In East Asia, there are no rags to riches stories. They have an almost feudal outlook. There is no raising your sftation in life. You are what you are, and that will never change, so they value status quo. The only exception is in the upper reaches of society and the military. Ironically, this has always prevented the stability they crave. China has rarely existed as a complete nation instead of a handful of warring states. The upper reaches of society were constantly trying to carve out a piece for themselves while the peasants could only endure. This changed with Mao, but looks like it might just be an unusually long period of stability. These countries were enabled by globalization. The end of that is going to be very painful for them. The effects of the four horsemen are going to kill millions, and possibly billions. People in pain like that tend to lash out, and they tend to target others who aren’t in pain. According to Peter, that will be North America, specifically the US. I sure hope the people in the US elect competent politicians instead of not thinking about their vote (never happen), or they will get the government they deserve. And reap the whirlwind because of it.

[@philipadams5386]

As someone who has lived in the region, too, I agree absolutely with what you say. Most Westerners superimpose Western values on the people in the region; this is understandable because it’s difficult to disassociate yourself from the values you were brought up with. But it leads Westerners to misunderstand the Middle East.

[@MoietyVR]

What an oversimplification! I love it, very astute.

[@listener523]

2 corrections. 1. Trump told the military to leave and they lied about it. 2. Turning them into Wisconsin might have had some appeal for the locals. Due to the low quality of the inhabitants of Washington we tried to turn them into Berkley.

[@badfinger61]

Superb history lesson from the incomparable P-Zed. Only man I know who can decipher the enigma which is middle eastern politics.

[@kopkaljdsao]

Just a note on industrialization. Food production is not mandatory in a global world. Industry however needs water. Middle East does not have water.

[@micky5368]

Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

[@gregorysmull8068]

Peter did not talk about Russia's major hand in middle eastern affairs, and that is major omission. They are aligned with Iran and their proxies as a counter-balance to U.S influence in the region. Russia is also a major pillar that is propping up Syria under Bashar al-Assad. Russian interference in Syria in fact is likely a major factor keeping Turkey out of Syria and thereby keeping them in NATO.

[@logician3641]

Why would Turkey being out of Syria keep them in NATO?

[@nuam9906]

By your comment i assume you are an anglosaxon with 0 knowledge of russian. The russian GDP is less than the GDP of california. They have no more money for deploying huge forces in Syria, fight a huge war in ukraine and prevent a rebellion in chechenya.

[@strigoiu13]

Wow such a great influence, giving the russians so much in return 😂😂😂 fighting proxy rebels all over syria for the alawites to keep their old soviet base there, wow, great job! at least they provided real training for troops, but, overall, russian influence now is low and nowhere near the soviet times. russians are unable to defend armenia today which is much closer to them, let alone provide any meaningful contribution to the middle east.

[@SapperRJMorgan]

As someone who spent a few years in Afghanistan he hits the nail on the head… as usual.

[@gingerbeer849]

I wonder what Peter actually knows about farmers. Farmers I know are university educated, forestry educated, have a basic understanding of chemistry, a better than basic understanding of veterinary medicine (and microbiology in some cases) and of course plant and animal agriculture. Oh, I left out a dozen other specialties: mechanics/physics/food science/nutrition/computer sciences/bookkeeping/finance/business operations/a second language/etc.

[@joebehrdenver]

Peter is from Iowa, and has expressed all those details in past work. I was introduced to him through a college (Iowa State) friend who now works the family farm.

[@shiteetah]

I love listening to you, you’re like a lecture in my back pocket. I worked for a company from 1997 to 2014 who sent me all over the Middle East and many other Islamic countries. I’ve repeated the same point of view you have but when people haven’t spent time trying to learn what the tenets of Wahhabism are and how they influence policies and behavior in these countries, they will never understand why things remain the way they are.

[@michaeldowson6988]

The Chinese excelled at porcelain making and never graduated to making glass, so no eyeglasses or telescopes, microscopes, etc.

[@domtweed7323]

It might just be an energy limit. Making glass requires a vast amount of charcoal (the tech to use natural coal came later), and China was densely populated, so probably didn't have loads of wood to waste on it.

[@Dan-kd3dr]

Great job Peter!

[@nanismilie]

How does a country like Egypt, known as the breadbasket of the ancient world, not have the economic foundation to be a peer? I just don’t get this.

[@brianjonker510]

Look at a population density map and ask yourself why that long thin strip that ends in a triangle.

[@tradingmachine4832]

what was the population of the ancient world dummy

[@RoyeReedBenjamin]

Pre-industrial farming, Egypt could produce more food that almost anywhere else, but they have grown their population to industrial farming levels by importing food from places that industrialized. They haven't industrialized their own agricultural sector enough to support their current population.

[@the-well-known-amir]

A. They are not the same people. The current Egyptians are actually Arabs immigrating from Saudi Arabia

[@Virtuous_Rogue]

My wild guess is because of population. Egypt currently has a population of 110 million. The entire Roman Empire at its peak (117 AD, with Egypt under its control) had around 75 million.

[@Zoofactory]

This was the best I’ve seen from him in a year. 👏

[@francemaster]

The historical statement that the middle east only preserved knowledge is inexact. There was enormous creativity during the arab enlightenment, in medicine, mathematics, philosophy and many other subjects. This is not a political statement, I'm a historian. Climate can indeed be very influential, but for a region that has had very pronounced up and downs, other factors must also be considered.

[@carlpolen7437]

With respect, I think your statement is also inexact. Much of the supposed medical, mathematical, and philosophical 'achievements' of the middle east during the middle ages HAS been clearly shown to be Muslims simply 'digesting/copying' previous (mostly western) knowledge. Medicine? Arabic medical prowess was almost entirely copied from ancient greek physicians. Mathmatics? Same thing, only this time it was pre-christian greek and persian mathematicians they copied/expounded on. Philosphy? Again, Muslim philosophy during this time period was mostly Muslim's attempt to reconcile Islam with western philosophers like Aristotle, etc. The real reason many people incorrectly attribute these achievements to Muslims is because, with the MASSIVE spread of Arabic as a common language (especially written language) as Muslims repeatedly used war during the middle ages to rapidly spread, you had, for the first time in over 500 year (since the romans and latin), a way to transmit writing/knowledge over VAST distances and have that knowledge be understood by someone hundreds or thousands of kilometers/miles away. So what did this do? Over time people, even in the west, forgot that the knowledge of theMuslims was actually once theirs, and they just assumed that it came from the Muslims, when in fact it hadn't. The only reason the false narrative of the Middle East as a place where signfiicant new knoweldge was 'discovered' in the middle ages, is, frankly, becauses of Historians who, since America invaded the Middle East have pandered HARD to muslims, even going so far as to complelty ignore the simply massive evidence that 'muslim' knowledge actually predated Islam. I will admit that there was SOME new thinking coming out of the Middle East during this time period. However, the VAST majority of this 'new' thinking was actually just Islam attempting to metabolize western knowledge. In other words its was still reactionary. Baghdad is a good example of this. Middle ages baghdad has this reputation as this center of knowledge, and it was, but it was western knowledge that was compiled, so that religious muslim scholars could have some kind of response to: such as the writings of aritstotle.

[@LRRPFco52]

The caliph absorbed those things from the Byzantines, the Mediterranean civilizations, Spain, and India. The knowledge of medicine, mathematics, philosophy, and other disciplines has existed throughout various civilizations in history. It ebbs and flows with cataclysms and warfare diminishing it, followed by interaction through trade that expands it. The Sumerians and ancient Babylonians had much of his knowledge, as did the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.

[@francemaster]

@@LRRPFco52 of course, everyone has used previous knowledge, including the west. There was, however, undisputedly, new knowledge created, for example, in mathematics, demonstrations of quadratic equations by Al-Khwarizmi. There were not taken from India, they were new. As to the other person's statement, I would say that it has also been the case that the west has tried to deny the degree to which it has learned from others. For example, in the early XX century Miguel Asin demonstrated that the Divine Comedy took much from Arabic literature; at the time, this was fiercely disputed, and nobody wanted to recognize it. Now, even if not well known, this is considered proven.

[@Right-Wing_libertarian]

Yes, more longer videos sir. I crave your videos Peter

[@sticks2478]

Don't you mean when you bring a gun to a knife fight. It doesn't make sense the other way around. Unless you're Wolverine.

[@LiamJoyce]

Glad someone pointed that out!

[@DoNotFitInACivic]

The saying is bringing a knife to a gunfight, which is what the Middle Easterners were doing when they fought the West. In context of how Peter was setting the stage it sounds backwards, but he used it properly.

[@drhouse7379]

Peter’s style is to give a very understandable overview of what’s happening and why. Thank you Peter!!

[@sultanskinny]

I’ve never seen somebody so confidently talk out of their ass before.

[@damienbates]

Islam! Islam! Islam! Let’s not forget that the inheritance laws and religious concepts that didn’t permit loans or investments to have interest. These concepts made commerce next to impossible to build businesses and killed innovation because no one could get financing. Lots of crazy social idea’s also killed startups.

[@vintagegamingrepublic5156]

The caravels were invented in Portugal. The spaniards invented nothing they just copied the Portuguese. And only Portugal went east, spain went west.

[@juleswhicker]

Without Portuguese maritime achievements in the 1400s, Spain could not have been what it became in the 1500-1600s... but it was going West that made the bigger difference. The Spanish also made their ocean-going ships bigger sooner, increasing cargo volumes.

[@xenia5101]

You are omitting the charm of the lengthy British experience in the ME. Hopkirk's books are almost impossible to put down once begun.

[@kellychuba]

Peter Zeihan explains why the middle east is mostly still in the stone age and why I lost my kidneys to our pursuit of oil.

[@ahmeda6591]

Actually during the stone age it was only the middle east that has multiple civilizations, at same time Europeans didn't even evolve to become fully humans , history is strange

[@francus7227]

Nobody believes you. Kidneys?

[@PlatypusAurelius]

Great information and historical context. Thank you Peter.

[@simonhibbs887]

Peter is right that the natural state of affairs in the region is autocratic regimes, we saw this with Saddam Hussein, Assad, Mubarak and now Sisi in Egypt, the House of Saud, etc. The experiment with democracy in Iraq is an anomaly. If we leave that's what it would revert back to, bloodily as he points out. However, we have also seen that this is not a stable state of affairs. In the 80s we stayed out of the region, and Iraq started a major regional war we could not ignore, invading Kuwait and putting tank divisions right next to the Saudi oil fields. In the 90s we stayed out of Afghanistan and they supported the twin towers attack. Staying out doesn't work. Does stying in work? The region is going to be a mess regardless. So the choice is between long term persistent low intensity conflict with occasional painful casualties, but with the ability to have a say in what happens in the region. It at least gives us an ability to veto various states of affairs, such as a resurgent ISIS. If we pull out the low level attrition goes away, but we have no say, no influence on the ground, and expose ourselves to long term massive risks down the line, like the ones we have already seen happen, that we'll have little or no chance of avoiding. As Peter says, we can take our pick.

[@carlpolen7437]

I agree that deomacracies are not the norm in the Middle East/for Islam. You mentioned Egypt/Iraq, and I would add what's happening in Turkey and Tunisia. The ONLY places where democratic processes took some form of hold were they places with extreme western influence or intervention. With Turkey it was Kemal Mustafa (Ataturk) a lover of the west, and western ideals who FORCED turkey to turn away from many Muslim practices. For Tunisia, it was France. But the moment these western pressures leave/die out, the nations immediatley begin to slide back to Religious autocracy. Again, look at Turkey and Tunisia, both once tauted as proof Muslims could have some form of democracy, and both now with autocratic religiously backed leaders.

[@simonhibbs887]

@@carlpolen7437 I think you're conflating islam with the local political dynamics a lot there. There is one country in the Middle East that is a religious autocracy and it's not even Arab, it's Iran. There are two norms in the Arab world, autocratic monarchies like the gulf states and Saudi Arabia, or secular Ba'athist dictatorships. The Saudis are the closest to being a religious state in the Arab world, but even there the royal family is firmly in control, the clerics have influence only at their discretion. It's easy to conflate Sharia law with religious dictatorship, but it's just the dominant legal system in the culture. Yes it's religiously based, but the majority of the population are muslims including the leaders. As I said, Iran is genuinely a religious state, that's what that looks like. Nowhere else in the region actually looks like that ( or a Sunni version of it), not even Saudi. Islamic State did, but they got smashed. Turkey, the other major non-Arab regional power, has persistent autocratic tendencies by western standards but is still a real democracy. I don't like Erdogan, but the fact is he pretty clearly won the elections. Yes, I know he suppresses free speech and undermines democracy, but I genuinely don't think that swung the election for him, like it or not he really is genuinely popular with a majority of Turks.

[@philipadams5386]

@@simonhibbs887 I don't like Erdogan either. But I acknowledge that he is a very able politician and statesman.

[@CecilShive]

You forgot two major points. Iraq was at war with Iran for ten years, with the backing of the West. Back when Sadam was the Wests best friend in keeping Iran's "revolution" from spreading. And of 9 -11, The terrorists were Saudi, Egyptian and Kuwait. Planned by a Kuwaiti, Osama, that was hiding in Afghanistan because the Saudi's had kicked him out. Peter says nothing about when Iran becomes Nuclear which is just a matter of years. That will cause a major change in the Region. Counties will have to choose between the Iran or the Israeli nuclear umbrella.

[@carlpolen7437]

@@simonhibbs887 it’s laughable that you think there is only one religious autocracy in the Middle East/muslim countries.

[@brainites]

"A moderate Arab is one that has run out of ammunition." - Source withheld

[@sidzero]

In regards to this whole "Waiting for something better to happen" in the middle east, what we're waiting for is for one of those fortress cities to become powerful enough to actually secure the region, with a government we don't find problematic, thanks to the spread of technology that is still in the works. Like, say, they start building vertical farming towers in the desert with water piped in from desalinization plants on the coast, and find a way to scale it up.

[@anthonyml7]

I feel the only major players who can tackle that challenge are the UAE or Israel, maybe Turkey.

[@sadjaxx]

Not Israel. Too busy working on their Forever war.

[@VanaeCavae]

You need to do a video about Pakistan.

[@alicedavi1747]

I’m delighted to have discovered you on your recent visit to Sam Harris’ podcast - Making Sense.

[@ORRHART]

In short peter, the USA started to build anti Iran axis during trump then stopped midway. Israel-eygpt-saud axis after 10 years would likely sustain itself ffor a few decades.

[@jacobtaylor7506]

The anti-Iran was around for decades. Even before Trump, in Syria the FSA during Obama. Isis gain power cause Islamic groups banned together and hijacked the FSA, taking the fundings. Even the FSA was talking about them getting all the money and equipment. Then you have the Kurdish group in Iran, APK or some three letter acronym, a communist group. Not the YPG/PKK that is Turkey.