While the West celebrated in the late 1990’s the End of History and all old evils like religion – the Middle East wasn’t there yet.

Compared to 1999 we know much more about Arabs and Islam … the West has spent almost a decade trying to understand and formulate an answer to bloody terrorism, the emergence of Islam and the growing influence of Arab countries …

Not only 9/11 and terrorism have changed the West’s view on Islam and the Middle East  -  Islam is simply the fastest growing religion world wide and Arab countries are demanding more power in the world as well.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are the winners of this decade in terms of political power and money. Both made huge sums of money from the explosion of oil prices. And both countries used the money to further their influences all over the world.

Yeah, yeah we get it: Death to all! Bla bla bla …

Saudi Arabia was much quieter, but also funded dubious religious and political groups all over the world. Iran was hard to overlook – all the tantrums and threats were not always unjustified (look here and here). But overall Iran tries way to hard to flex it’s muscles and provoke a confrontation with almost anyone …

In Europe Islam and the so called clash of cultures is causing many problems: the Assassination of Theo van Gogh in 2004, home grown terrorists in Spain (Madrid in 2004) and Britain (London Bombings in 2005). Muslim extremism was not just limited to the Middle East. But there is also a backlash in Europe: the Mohammad Cartoons in Denmark (2005) and the most recent Minaret Ban in Switzerland (2009).

Europe grants Freedom for Religions as well as Freedom from Religious Oppressions! Got it?

Europe still has a hard time to cope with madness of (any) religion – something it thought it had left behind in the last millennium …

1. The Middle East is still backwards – but it needs to evolve fast. The detailed UN report about the region from 2002 still is valid and only little has changed: Governance is still bad – most countries are still ruled by tyrants and not popular vote (and even when they vote it’s a sham like in Iran or Afghanistan).
2. No alternative to Oil: most Arab countries don’t have any serious industries or export articles apart from Oil (and sometimes tourism). Unemployment rates are astronomical and causes unrest in the overall very young population.
3. Poverty and Inequality: Although the Middle East seems awash with money there is also still terrible poverty in the region. Minorities and women are still treated badly.

Let’s hope the Middle East will transform itself – and let’s also hope that Islam will have a “modern” reformation like Christianity or hopefully looses it’s bloody influence …