The book Spoils of War – The Human Cost of America’s Arms Trade by John Tirman, The Free Press, NY, 1997 while wrapped around the sales of helicopters to non US countries also explores the history of Middle East in terms of geopolitics. For many years, the influence of the French and British and the countries ensured the oil was pumped to their countries. The countries would back leaders who continued to assist them. After the second world war, the US begin to play a greater role in foreign affairs in particular its substance against communism or to stop Russia via the cold war. The Middle East because of its geographic location became much more important and Turkey, Iran and Iraq with borders and particularly Turkey controlling the entrance to the Black Sea (Russia’s southern Navy). The countries of US, Russia, UK, and France were less interested in the internal operations of a country and like most countries around the world there tends to be wide opinions between the best religion and which style of governance there should be. All countries in the world have a left (tilt towards communism) and a right (tilt towards capitalism) as solutions to solve the underlying problems of the people in the region. All countries tend to have a relatively small group having large land holdings (feudal society) and many people barely surviving. Within the mix is besides different types of religion – Christianity, Islam and others; all the different types of Islam and Christianity and all the different divisions do not necessarily always get along. The leaders play off the different types to stay in power. In the book, Turkey as a member of NATO, buys Black Hawk helicopters to attack the communists within its borders – both known and suspected sympathizer, also affected were Kurdish which the leaders of Turkey wanted to surpress.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, as a shareholder you favour capitalism and desire the goods and services your company produces is used by as many people to ensure the company continues to produce profits to the benefit of the shareholders. When you go beyond your country borders, there will be all sorts of agendas and old grievances in play. Ancient countries have great stories and terrible stories in their past, your product may or may not be in contact with the terrible stories but all political parties do some sort of propaganda to allow them the greatest support. Sometimes it gets carried away till politicians rely whatever system they pick has a need to balance the books. What seems simple looking in, is actually very complicated puzzle to keep power. Worry about your goods and services, not the internal workings of the country where your goods and services are sold.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to asking questions