Posts tagged “middle east”
Both sides in the Israel/Hezbollah conflict are morally reprehensible. Israel's intention to avoid civilian casualties doesn't excuse the overwhelming disparity in deaths. Knowingly killing civilians to achieve your goals is a war crime regardless of provocation. Someone needs to separate these fuckers, and fast.
I give up on this shit.
Saw Syriana, good but no Munich. Also: 959 days until 2008, and the Democratic field is already depressingly weak. Gore and Kerry again? While Republicans have Giuliani and McCain? At least a Clinton-Rice race means a female president, even if she'll be stupid and corrupt or smart and evil.
Not good. Sharon has had a major stroke. This is really bad news.
Some bombings get names and others don't. The Baghdad attack killed twice as many people as London, but you wouldn't know it from the coverage.
I break down the Iraqi insurgency into three groups: local power-grabbers, Iranian-backed destabilizers, and largely mythical al-Qaeda fighters. The real danger is Iran exploiting instability to seize territory and oil influence. Withdrawal ultimately hurts Western interests more than staying hurts Iraqis.
Trying to parse the logic on targeted killings in the Middle East is making my head spin. Both sides are committing atrocities out of mutual terror, the security fence looks inadequate, and the only thing I'm sure of is that simple answers don't exist here.
We're going to win in Iraq -- everyone says so. But guerrilla warfare could stretch the conflict, eroding public support until we're forced to withdraw. A victorious Saddam would destabilize the entire Middle East. None of this was at stake before we invaded. Now we have no choice but to win.
Bin Laden's crew notes the irony of Bush and Sharon being called men of peace. Hard to argue with that logic.
Two things: Sharon's already talking about attacking Iran before Iraq's even started, which seems premature. Also, Pamela Anderson has a new video you need to see.
Satirical writers are recycling the same tired "Arafat is gay" joke. Two stories in, the pattern is clear: they've hit a creative wall.
America's moved on from war coverage to kidnapped girls and cratering markets. Meanwhile, I start at IBM Hursley Monday, shirtless and clueless, since my boss hasn't called and my shirts are on the south coast. Crash, markets, crash!
The UN Security Council voted 14-1 to back a Palestinian state. About time. The endless cycle of death in that region fills me with despair.
