The Middle East is barbaric.
When I was in DC last summer, the cabbie (from Somalia) told me horror stories about Beirut. His sister was working there, and it is apparently routine for the bosses to rape African women. He had to go there to save his sister's life. The normal thing for a woman to do in Arab countries is to commit suicide after being raped.
Nothing ever happens to the rapist.
He also told me that if he were to wear his cross (a very large one ~2+") in public in Beirut, he would be stopped by the religious "police" and forced to eat it....literally.
This sort of brutality toward Christians and women is "normal" for places like Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia...and Beirut.
The Sunnis control Saudi Arabia and hate the Shiites.
The Shiites are in control in Iran and hate the Sunnis.
The Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq have been killing each other and people of other religions for millenia.
If you are a Shiite in Saudi Arabia, you can expect to go to jail if you are not very careful, and get your daily beatings there.
If....
No need to go on any more here.
I have no desire to ever visit the region.
