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Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (2204)	10/12/2000 12:01:31 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

I don't see much that the Chinese could do, in concrete terms, to influence that situation. They could talk in the UN,but they do that already, and it doesn't mean much. Steven.. you're not following me. Allow me to clarify.. China is a growing economy with limited oil reserves. They need oil and they are competing with the west to obtain it. Now should the Chinese lend their political and military support to the Arab oil producers, in a scenario where the Arabs use oil as a weapon to isolate Israel from the US, it will make things VERY TRICKY for US policy makers. The only immediate action we could take would be to immediately authorize arms sales to Taiwan, or issue some kind of trade sanctions against China (which would leave our businesses screaming bloody murder)... There are some rumblings in the mid-east that extend deeper than just the Palestinian unrest... Israelis are becoming more reactionary in the face of Palestinian intransigence (created by Arafat's lack of genuine desire for peace). If the Israelis are pushed into a corner, they will strike and lash out. And, imo, we almost came to that point several days ago.... Especially when the Palestinians desecrated Joseph's tomb and converted it into a small mosque. Although, not particularly a Jewish holy site, IT IS certainly one for Christians, and is a CLEAR SIGN that even Jewish sites may be desecrated. Too much of this willingness on the part of Palestinians to desecrate "infidel" holy sites, and you'll see the Temple Mount reclaimed by the Israelis and a closing off of the entire area. I may sound a bit extreme here, but Israelis feel like they have gone much farther in compromising their pride and religious history in the interest of peace. But if they perceive that no matter what they do, it equates to mere self-defeat and empowerment of an intolerant Palestinian Authority......... Well, the Israelis being the Israelis... and possessing that nuclear "get out of jail free card", they will do what they think is in their best interests... even if it is to the detriment of the rest of the world... They did it when they attacked the USS Liberty, a US spy ship, out of fear that their plans to attack Syria toward the end of the 6 day war in 1967 were about to be found out. They had already defeated Egypt and Jordan in lightening fashion, but wanted to seize the Golan heights in order to eliminate the constant artillery fire that was being directed towards them by the Syrians. They deliberately attacked the Liberty killing 34 US sailors and wounding 171 more in 30 different aerial sorties, AND DESPITE THE FACT that a BIG US FLAG was flying on the stern. washington-report.org Now since that ship was essentially an intelligence risk for the Israelis, I can't say that I wouldn't have taken the same action were I in their position. But it highlights the fact that the Israelis ACT IN THEIR OWN INTERESTS, not just those of the US. Bottom line? Watch what's going on in the Mid-East VERY CLOSELY. Regards, Ron