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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Win Smith who wrote (35796)	8/2/2002 8:12:38 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

In Pakistan, nukes aren't a hypothetical. 1. Pakistan has little oil. 2. India has more nukes, and more people, effectively placing both nations in the same M.A.D. war scenario which kept the US and Russia from blowing each other to kingdom come. However, Saddam having nukes will effectively create a nearly inpenetrable shield behind which he can rest assured he will not be forceably overthrow, and subvert his neighboring oil producing states. And btw, Arafat has "limited credentials" as an Islamist, but look at the amount of support he engenders from the Arabs. He provides the financing and technical support, and other intelligence agencies provide the manpower and training (ISI). And there is READY evidence that the Arab street will follow him if they believe he can win, or provide them a better alternative (look at Desert Storm and the Palestinians). He doesn't have to be an Islamist to accomplish this. And some Islamist groups will "use" the disorder he creates, to take advantage to press their agenda. Personally, I don't fear the Arab street if we take decisive action to remove Saddam and replace him with a more moderate regime. But if we dilly-dally and continue to debate the topic to death, we will be seen as weak and they will flock to him. After all, these people are not particularly well educated and are receptive to a "charismatic" leader who will promise them anything to improve their lot in life. Look what Hitler was able to achieve with a relatively well educated population. That's what I fear.. The US being seen as ambivalent and unwilling to assert its moral authority to finish what was started 12 years ago. Hawk