[throwaway66920]

I’m pretty naive to the Middle East, but the primary reason people are protesting is lack of economic opportunity (Iraq specifically), right? Is that someone’s fault? Can it actually be changed?

I don’t want people to be killed for protesting, but I don’t know if I care if that protest is successful or not. I’m open to ideas why I should.

It sounds like a bunch of people are protesting that their country and has few useful economic outputs, and that sucks, but I’m not sure what can be done about that.

[danharaj]

The United States rolled in and installed a brutal kleptocratic state after starving the country through sanctions in the decade previous.

I guess that enterprising freedom loving American ideology didn't take. Oh well what can you do /s

[throwaway66920]

I mean I’m sure American influence has been a clusterf*

But I guess what I’m trying to say is I can clearly explain why I want the Hong Kong protests to be successful. I don’t think I can do the same for Iraq

[avocado4]

Protesters are burning Iranian flags.

[throwaway66920]

And I think I understand that’s because they’ve elected an Iranian favoring government which they believe is causing limited economic opportunities- or perhaps anger at the government due to its violent response to generic economic protests.

My question is, why should I care if the protests are successful or not? It’s a separate idea from wanting protestors to receive humane treatment from the government.