The missing ingredient in all these pass-the-port armchair analyses of how the ME is supposedly tearing itself apart is the 'S' word.

Syria, Iran, Zimbabwe, the former Yugoslavia and the former Jamihariya regime in Libya are/were run along semi-socialist lines, and socialist regimes almost always support a non-aligned foreign policy. Thus, a decades-long process of economic isolation through sanctions and embargoes, and diplomatic isolation through constant demonisation of the ruling regime, ultimately creates a perfect cocktail of social unrest designed to bring those countries to their knees.

Because all embattled, isolated regimes have to deal with hostility from without and within, and very real economic decline, it's inevitable that they become paranoid and repressive, often turning on their own citizens - and not without good reason. Opportunism among internal opposition groups leads to Faustian pacts with superpowers who provide them with everything from international media canonsiation to weaponry, which in turn increases their sense of invincibility and matyrdom.

Inevitably, the old regime is overthrown and (for now) the invincible opposition becomes the new regime. And it all starts again. Even the decline of the superpower of the day does little to bring peace, once the damage is done.

For now, we're relaxed and comfortable here in Oz, but if we ever go down the socialist/non-aligned path, this will be the fate that awaits us too. The dismissal of the Whitlam government was a warning that every Australian government has heeded ever since.

Killarney,you are pretty well right, especially about the former Arab socialist dictatorships.

However in the current changes in the mid east no-one in any super or not so super power (Including Iran)supports the rising Islamic majority Parliaments. The haven't received support, are not likely to ... on current western and other power policy and they only owe their own people for their rise and success.

That is the major departure from the past.

It seems democracy in the mid-east has produced what the people want and not what some manipulative controlling outside power wants. ie It has produced Islamic (Sunni) democratic governments.

Israel is no longer in the game ... they are being rapidly sidelined ... and completely out of step with their newly democratic neighbours.

While we continue our current overly supportive policies towards Israel and don't re-assess our relationships with the new Arab democracies then we too will be sidelined... and will miss the developing trading possibilities.

I maintain we must adjust our policy towards all countries in the mid east

Killarney,

Perhaps you're right - pseudo-socialist regimes seem to inevitably turn fascist, first against sections of their own people, then all of their own people, then maybe if they are able, against any weak neighbour.

That's all true. But it is also true that Uncle Tom Cobbley and all in the region will want to stick their oar in.

And there seem to be waves, or levels, of potential interference - firstly, Iran and Hezbollah and Lebanese Sunni; then Saudi proxies, al-Qaida, Israel and Turkey; then Iraq (Sunni, Shi'ite and Kurds) and very much against its will, Jordan; then maybe Iran and Saudi Arabia on a more formal level; then God knows who. The wave may even extend to Central Asia, through Afghanistan.

And then there is Pakistan.

Imajuliannutter,"...Israel no longer in the game..." They are currently holding the West to ransom with their 200+ nukes and their mad dog attitude towards Iran.Israel is the biggest threat to world peace and have far too much power over the USA.

Gough Whitlam was sacked primarily because he tried to get loans from the Oil rich Arabs ie Kemlani loans affair.He went outside the influence of Western Banking and he had to go.Oil money actually has some of value backing it, not like our fiat counterfeiters,eg the US Federal Reserve.

The BRIC,Brazil,Russia,India,China may soon be joined by Japan,Iran and other Asian countries.The West that has no manufacturing will be left behind if we do not correct the debt based system of money creation and take control of our Govts.

Arjay,

I know people working in Zimbabwe, and mining production of gold is about 25% of where it was 20 years ago, and mostly marginally profitable.

PS, What democratic countries has Israel got as neighbours? Not Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon is only partially so.

Gold production is up from 8 tons in 2010 to 13 tons in 2011.I did not google other areas since gold looms large in a collapsing world economy.