Pericles,any elist group that measures their present importance by past genetic ancestry,has lost the plot.

In our society traditionally,people rise like cream because of their endeavour and creativity,not because of some illusionary "manifest destiny."

Dear Arjay,

No. Only religious Muslims believe that they are an elitist group ... everyone else are infidels - second class citizens - or worse; infidels who need to convert or, as often intoned, depart their mortal coil - quite violently.

Whilst rabbitting on about Israel, perhaps you should consider that there has been more death and blood spilt between - and within- Arab states than in conflict with Israel. To disabuse you of blaming Israel, these wars and internal blood-letting generally have been the result of differing Islamic theologies. Of course, we must not forget the poor Kurds.

But then again, politics (sort of) does enter into these conflicts. Remember the Palestinian Civil War 2006-2011, when Palestinians were desperately trying to exit the war zones - even to Israel and the west. Remember the fatwa handed down? Then there was Black September, the Lebanese Civil War ... one could go on.

One has to admit that when Islamic states get belligerent, which seems convulsively often, they do so with 'style'.

Danielle,

You are completely missing the point.

In Arjay-World, here is a Rock of Evil. It is called America.

Whatever wave beats up against the Rock of Evil, is thereby good.

All enemies of the Rock of Evil, America, are good.

The world is divided into four:

* the Rock of Evil and its Neo-Con supporters;

* astute observers such as Arjay;

and the rest of the world who are either

* puppets of the Rock of Evil,

* or freedom-fighters against it, such as Assad's soldiers,al-Qai'da (who temporarily seem ot be on the other side, but let's not worry about that), Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Gaddafi, Saddam, etc.

Here's thought for Arjay: what if many people, millions if not billions, actually can think for themselves and are happy to cry:

"A pox on both your houses!"

and in the forced choice that Life imposes on many of us, are also quite aware that there can be, and usually are, many forces far worse than the Yanks. It's a complex world, Arjay, with many Satans, and many, if not most, people know it and have to live with it.

Cheers,

Joe

Dear Arjay,

The 'chosen people' Jews were 'chosen' to establish monotheism when people about them were sacrificing their infants, in flaming furnaces to multiple deities, etc. The Jews also (an iron age people) introduced the ten commandments - a not too bad social experiment, which has served the west - more or less - quite well, and found at the root of many laws. These commandments were extremely sophisticated considering the period in which they were formulated.

This is the only sense in which the Jews were 'chosen' Indeed any 'choseness' has been rather a poisoned challice.

You should also consider that Islam is a very new kid on the block. Indeed, what were the inheritors of Islam doing prior ...?

Dear Joe Loudmouth,

You are utterly, utterly correct. One gets tired of the continual sniping at the US.

When the US - Great Satan - withdrew its funds from UNESCO - which it is entitled to do - the entire organisation seemed to have collapsed. This indicates that the Great Satan was carrying the load. No recognition of the US's contribution has been made. It is about time that Arjay and his fellow conspirators gave the US credit for the good it has done. Yes, there have been mistakes - what governments don't make these. But the US has also contributed positively worldwide.

Leaving this bizarre discussion on "chosen-ness" aside for the nonce and returning to the topic at hand, can someone please explain to me why Australia or any other Western country should be getting involved in Syria?

This does not look like a fight between the "good guys" and the "bad guys."

It looks more like a fight between groups of bad guys with the ordinary guys, as ever, caught in the middle. And I don't see what we can do about it.

In fact so far as I can see any intervention will only make an appalling situation worse.