To: RetiredNow who wrote (222277 ) 3/6/2005 2:43:45 PM From: tejek Read Replies (2) | Respond to I agree. That is why I believe there is a lot of hope for Iran. But the hope for Iran is despite the mad mullahs, not because of them. Like I said, Iranians want their country back from the mullahs. I hope because of our actions in the Middle East, we've given Muslims the belief that the world is on their side in their struggle for freedom. Many Muslims are starting to get fed up with their despots. That is why we are seeing them take to the streets. They were initially emboldened by elections that seem to be occurring all around them, in Palestine, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, even a small amount in Saudi Arabia, and the rest are feeling left out. That is why you see people taking to the streets in Lebanon and getting bolder in Iran. Muslims are fed up. And we helped kick all of that into a higher gear with our recent actions in the Middle East. Afghanistan : a country in turmoil ruled by tribal warlords and now a major exporter of opium.......its becoming the ME's Colombia. Karzai has little control outside of Kabul. The people not in the drug trade are impoverished. Their major priority is food and water, not democracy.Iraq : A civil war is underway. Insurgents attack both American soldiers as well as Shias and Kurds. The American military is now entering its third year with no end to the insurgency in sight. Insurgents are capturing westerners for the ransom. That helps to fuel their campaign. The coalition of the willing is dead. Hungary is getting ready to pull out; Poland will soon follow. I suspect Italy might be next. The Iraqi war is an albatross around the US economy hurting its recovery. As a consequence of the war, crude is at $55 and may well strangle the global economic recovery.Lebanon : The feuding with Syria goes back centuries. Syria was owned Lebanon and sees Lebanon as an extension of itself. That's what the current fight is about.......Lebanon's autonomy from Syria. Its a divorce dispute....who gets the house and the kids........and not a fight for democracy as you and the rest of the Bushies want to portray it.Iran : Bush now is going after Syria and Iran. Syria is a weak link. Iran is not. Iran's latest threat is to withhold their oil from world markets. Iran is sitting on $22 billion foreign reserves. I suspect they could make good on their threat. Palestine : Another basket case........you see flowers where I see lemons. As I expected, Israel has backed off on independence talks with Abbas. Soon, after the current honeymoon is over, they will be treating Abbas like they treated Arafat.
