TIC - Shifting Sands of the Middle East-2019

The United States has expended almost 8,000 lives, hundreds of thousands of wounded, countless thousands of cases of PTSD, and $7 Trillion since 9/11, not only in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, but many other hotspots in the Middle East. The area is plagued with numerous civil wars, tribal and religious conflicts that go back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad. We now find ourselves mired in the middle of this interminable mess. It is time to assess our role in the Middle East. What is our mission in each and every one of these countries? Which of these countries is a direct--or indirect--threat to the United States? What are all of the terrorist groups--by name--and which ones pose a threat to us, here, 5,000 miles away? If we respond to certain conflicts for humanitarian reasons (i.e., striking Syria for deployment of sarin gas on Kurds), why do the United Nations, NATO, or the United States not respond with equal resolve to genocide taking place in sub-Saharan countries? Where do we go from here?

Friday, February 22^nd

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm