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The Future of the Middle East Essay The repercussions in the wider Middle East should have spurred more emphasis on the other nations. When the United States decided to invade Iraq in 2003, the whole of the Middle East underwent numerous changes. Some of the more secured regimes were actually discredited with quite important examples of the inability of these countries in their abilities to cope with the crisis. The entire region was thrown into an atmosphere of anti-Americanism. Robin Wright’s â€Å"Dreams and Shadows† captures the future of the Middle East, veering away from the more controversial war in Iraq and its consequences. It is able to describe the struggles of the people in Iran including other countries such as Morocco. She airs what others are not able to say, giving her an edge as she naturally has an access to the inner chambers of the experiences and journeys, with her journalistic experience to her credit. Vicariously, readers were able to glean her many experiences such as when she was present when the ruins of the United States Embassy in Beirut stood before her, knowing that there were 60 Americans who had been killed then by a suicide bomber. She ponders that at that time, she felt that the Islamic fundamentalists had the upper hand and who dominated the future of the region. Today, she speaks her heart all too willingly as she says that Islamic extremism is no longer the most important, interesting and dominant force in the Middle East. This book speaks of the different stories that relate to the brave reformers in terms of their human rights. She knows that there is a culture of change that is represented by the different upright persons who cause a change in the system. Those who have tried to achieve some changes are, sadly, just the religious movements such as the Hamas in Gaza and the Hezbollah in Lebanon. The recent events have convinced leaders that these suicide bombers are part of the dangerous trend of events. The author examines the reasons why the moderate reformers have been unsuccessful in the way they have acted in the Middle East. Wright gives a tug to the heart in her book as she narrates the heroes and heroines who publicly denounce inhumanity. She suggests how these autocratic regimes in the Middle East have been quite corrupt in the way they have run their governments. She looks at the different ethical dilemmas that arise at all levels. Individuals are often faced with ethical questions. More often than not, the answers to these questions are difficult because it involves weighing of values. Conflicting values in a given situation are not capable of compromise. One has to choose one over another. Sometimes, the ethically correct course of action is clear, and hopefully individuals act accordingly. But the answers are often not simple. The availability of weapons of mass destructions from rogue states is an alarming reality today, which maybe used against countries that adopt democracy as a way of life. This makes terrorism not only a threat to democracy, but also to the stability of the world as a whole, and most importantly, the preservation of human race. After the bombings, the border restrictions and protections in different nations were questioned. How did it come to be that the suspected hijackers managed to obtain visas easily and to use them freely? Thus, the U. S. –Mexico border was rigorously restricted but, quite confusingly, fewer restrictions were placed upon European, Asian and Middle-Eastern countries, resulting in hundreds of non-immigrants passing through the country where the government had no actual control. They were allowed to engage in activities in violation of their visas. Over and above that, a major aspect seriously affected by the actions taken by the government against terrorism was the civil liberty. What is to be noted is the different target areas that need to be address. She sees the potential for a meeting of the minds between the Hamas and the Fatah so that there will be democracy in Palestine. After the 9/11 bombings, the nation was swept with investigations and questionings. Many, mostly from the Middle-East communities were arrested and detained. There were people who were secretly indicted just because of several false statements in their Social Security card application; statements they made because they needed to work. A great number of the detained suspects of the 9/11 bombings, including the suspected terrorist group members and supporters of terrorist groups, cannot be charged with any crimes because of lack of evidence or the prosecutors could not really indict them with anything based on the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. Still, they were â€Å"jailed for â€Å"questioning† or as material witness, detained on â€Å"immigration holds. † Because they have not been charged with any crimes, the victims of the Government’s post-September 11 nation-wide dragnet have few constitutional protections, and for the most part are unable to defend themselves because there are no known charges to defend against. The Government refused to release the names of the detained, the reasons for the arrests and where they were being detained. It was obvious the detainees had no access to representation. A new rule was issued by the Department of Justice giving INS the power to decide whether to release the immigrant detained on a reasonable bail or not. The stay of release was affected until the Attorney General reviews the case and determines appropriate action, which could happen in months, even years Indeed, Wright brings to question the array of ideas that make the region possess a rich past. What is to be noted is the different target areas that need to be address. She sees the potential for a meeting of the minds between the Hamas and the Fatah so that there will be democracy in Palestine. REFERENCES The New York Times. Retrieved Jan. 20, 2009 at: http://www. nytimes. com/2008/03/02/books/review/Cockburn-t. html? _r=1 Wright, Robin. Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East. Penguin Press HC, The (February 26, 2008)