Lines In The Sand

The Middle East and northern Africa circa 1914. (Courtesy of/www.clas.ufl.edu)

Middle Eastern borders, once imposed, are breaking down.

Saudi forces bombed another Northern Yemen town.

Libya has splintered; there are Syrians "in hell."

I can't name a single country where it's going well.

ISIL's killing refugees who've fled from Palestine.

It's not safe no matter where you draw some borderline.

Mix religion, history and tribal loyalties

And you get a situation where no side agrees.

I predict it won't get better 'til it's gotten worse

Meanwhile, we're the common enemy that many curse.

Every time we pick a side we make the others mad,

Angering established allies we might once have had.

 

We aren't winning hearts and minds and I have little doubt

Only if the countries in the region sort it out

Will they make a peace that has a chance of being kept.

Wish we'd thought of consequences there before we leapt.

Failing in Yemen

(Courtesy of/news.yahoo.com)

No one wants to say that Yemen's failing as a state

But the situation on the ground ain't looking great.

President has fled the country; Houthis hold the streets...

I'd say the criteria for failing's one it meets.

Saudis and Iranians engaged in proxy war;

Former leaders want to loot the country even more.

Sunni fighting Shia with al Qaeda in the mix

Yemen's problems may yet prove impossible to fix.

On the brink of civil war - the final coffin nail -

What else would you call this if it's not an epic fail?

U.S. forces left already; writing's on the wall

As another sign of Arab Spring becomes its Fall.

Dear ISIS... You Wanted Our Attention?

ISIS sent a "Message to America" last night;

Murdering a journalist - a sad and gruesome sight.

Foley's from New Hampshire, it's my next-door neighbor state.

Prayers go out to those impacted by this act of hate.

As for ISIS members... Guys; your message is received.

Thought you'd like our full attention?  That's what you believed?

Wanted us to notice when the A.Q.A.P.* guys

(They're the ones with plastic bombs) signed up with you? Surprise!

Although we've been thinking we should put a stop to you

You've just made it likelier that that is what we'll do.

You've been getting beaten by our air and drone attack?

What you guys may not have known is - we've been holding back.

All you've done is make us angry.  Trust me when I say

You won't like it when we're angry. You will rue the day

You got the attention of the whole United States

Who'd now like to see you bastards' heads served up on plates.

*al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula