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To: TigerPaw who wrote (56058)	10/23/2001 4:46:11 PM
From: RetiredNow	Respond to of 77400

OTOTOTOT I thought I'd never say this, but it's time to start nation-building. In WWII, we could have said there wasn't a clear alternative to Hitler, but no one gave a shit then. The evil was so clear and present that it didn't matter then and it doesn't matter now. Wiping out the evil must be our first priority like it was with Hitler. Then nation-building can be our second priority to ensure a lasting peace in that area. That means we'll need to work with the UN at rebuilding Afghanistan and Iraq, educationally, economically, and politically, after the Taleban and Saddam no longer exist. In addition, we need to become more balanced in our approach towards the Arabs and Israelis. Those folks have been fighting for three millenia. We need to either pull out altogether from supporting either side or work towards creating a Palestinian state with a clear and peaceful government. The Palestinian Authority clearly is not up to this task. They can't even control their own warring terroristic factions like the military wing of the PFLP. I'm sure every Arab will hate us in the short term, but in the long run as we take care of the root causes, their hatred of us will lose focus, dissipate and cease to exist as well. We can ignore problems or sidetrack issues, but the reality is that they hate us not because they hate our way of life, but because we support Israel in such an unbalanced way. The quotes from some of today's leaders saying they hate our way of life is a little naive, or worse, deliberately misleading. I can understand our unflinching support for Israel based on a historical perspective. I myself have always leaned in favor of Israel for most of my life. Many people say that it's in our best interests to keep the balance of power in the Middle East by supporting Israel. I think the roots of our support run deeper. The U.S. stood by in our isolationist stance for many years as the Jewish people were being slaughtered in Europe. Then finally, after Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt had the amo he needed to galvanize the American public to action against Hitler and Japan, which he'd been trying to do for years. Then after we entered Europe to help with the war, we discovered that all those reports of the atrocities weren't faked, as we deluded ourselves into believing. As a result, due to our realization that our isolationist stance in essence prolonged Europe's and the Jews' suffering and increased their deathtoll, our regret and remorse was something of such huge proportions as to guarantee our steadfast protection of the Jewish people and Israel for the following half century. With the help of Hollywood, we've never forgotten those atrocities either, and our late reaction to stop them as well. So yes, I can understand why our country is so staunch in our support for Israel. The facade is publicized as an effort at keeping the balance of power. But at the core, it is our country's unacknowledged shame that propels us to continue a long standing policy of restitution for the past sin of waiting too long to come to the Jewish people's aid. The Arab's would do well to read their history books to understand our policies and our historical motivations, just as we try to understand theirs. However, the enmity of the Israelis and the Arabs and our one-sided support of Israel is now pulling the U.S. into a dispute that could very well erupt into an unbelievable conflagaration across many different countries. See how they hate us in Indonesia, Malaysia, in the Middle East, and in Africa? It's time to realize that if we want peace, we need to find a place for everyone in the world, not just the Israelis. I hate that we have to play global policeman. But our choice is clear. Either help every nation to stabilize and grow economically, or stay out of their affairs entirely. And that means stay out of the Middle East and take no sides. I'd rather see us not pull out, because we have the power to help a great deal. But I'd also rather see us pull out entirely and support no one than support only one country in such a one-sided fashion. That's the problem with being the greatest nation on earth. If we don't do our best to help everyone else in the world economically as well as politically and educationally, then eventually we limit the realm of our own growth and possibilities. If the world grows, then we grow. If the world stagnates and falls apart, then we eventually reach a limit. It's just like Econ 101. We need to focus not just on market share (or mind share), but also on growing the market in its entirety (raising the standard of living for everyone on earth).