5 Things Powerful People in Washington Believe That Have No Basis in Reality

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/world/5-things-powerful-people-washington-believe-have-no-basis-reality?page=0%2C1

* The presence of U.S. forces in the Islamic world contributes to regional stability and enhances American influence.

* The Persian Gulf constitutes a vital U.S. national security interest.

* Egypt and Saudi Arabia are valued and valuable American allies.

* The interests of the United States and Israel align.

* Terrorism poses an existential threat that the United States must defeat.

For decades now, the first four of these assertions have formed the foundation of U.S. policy in the Middle East. The events of 9/11 added the fifth, without in any way prompting a reconsideration of the first four. On each of these matters, no senior U.S. official (or anyone aspiring to a position of influence) will dare say otherwise, at least not on the record.

Yet subjected to even casual scrutiny, none of the five will stand up. To take them at face value is the equivalent of believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy -- or that John Boehner and Mitch McConnell really, really hope that the Obama administration and the upcoming Republican-controlled Congress can find grounds to cooperate.

Let’s examine all five, one at a time.

[harun]

1. They don't believe those things

They know they are BS. They just use those reasons to sell their foreign policy of the Middle East which is to prop up Israel at all costs.

All five of those are just their marketing schemes.

[heaven05]

2. +1000