Hey Steve,
I think you and I think along the same lines in many of these dynamic areas.
Irrespective of one's party or label as right, left or moderate, the Bush administration is weak and has lost much of the international support.
I think Sharon-Peres plan has been brilliant. I have no doubt that Sharon planned this all along. The Sharon-Peres new centrist party will win and he will be in a position to play tough for peace. He knows that the only negotiation with the Jihaddists is by their thinking he is a madman.
I don't condone what was done in Iraqi prisons, but, quite frankly, if they thought we are as crazy as they are, the fighting would be over by now. It just seems to be a fact of life. Again, I don't condone torture, but, when you are playing baseball against a spitball pitcher, you have to play with your own mound of saliva.
We should have cut all the media communications from day one and did whatever it takes to win. Whoever allowed those soldiers to have cameras should be shot. Bottom line - If that means the Jihaddists think we are as nutso as they are, that's fine. I'd rather see that than one wasted life of our brave soldiers.
Israel has learned this concept through 60 years of dealing with an overwhelming irrational enemy. I'm sure we all know someone in our lives who is irrational. You can't put logical arguments in front of that type of person.
ISRAEL - Sharon can be tough, threaten and they will know he means business. He also knows that peace is essential. If one crazed suicide Jihaddist can kill 35, imagine how many virgins he'll be promised if he can kill 100,000 Isrealis with a WMD. That's the unfortunate reality. Given Israel's size, one insane, hypnotized paradise seeker, could almost wipe out Israel. Of course, if they know that there are nukes targeted on every major holy side and population area, particularly where the leaders' families are, then Sharon can make peace. Note how the Hamas leaders quickly became Mr. X, Mr Y and Mr Z after Israel wiped their predecessors out.
US economy - r/e obviously slowing, interest rates should stay stable at this point. A lot depends on our relationship with China and whether they continue to buy up our debt. If they up the value of the exchange rate, they will probably follow that up with continued massive purchases of stock and US r/e, which will look cheap after the dollar is devalued. Gold, oil, gas - at highs now, but should plateau. Oil stocks are great buys here as many are well below highs. See XOM - closer to low for the year, despite record profits.
What do you think? |
