Today's Thinkith
I will attempt to consider today point-to-point from my viewpoint as an American in the western United States.
1. It seems the key to success in the area is
who and how we choose alliances. The Old Money (Shrub-et-al New World Order)
seems to want to endeavor a UN-backed plan that may bring back the King of the
Afghans. This seems reasonable enough, but the question regards the "further
down the line" aspects of a favorable outcome. I can remember this
being done to install the Shah of Iran.
This is, however, a
viable cover story for getting the whole of the many varied fighting parties
into one manageable opposition. The stickler here is the Pakistani-Indian
conflict in Kashmir, which blew up again earlier today.
2. So far as thinking anew, this is smoke. It would be wise to cover your ass, when entering a conflict you know nothing about, with such bull-roar. I expect the sifting of information is a major consideration when everyone involved is venting their particular interests and none seem to jibe with one's own. Given an actual Plan, US has the capacity to dominate in just a very few days. Problem is, that Plan seems to have to pass muster with far too many elements.
3. As I sit here writing this, I look out over the city to mountains that approach 11,000 foot peaks?the Sierra Nevada range. The Hindu Kush range is similar except for a lack of vegetation. War in such situations is difficult in the traditional sense, but only if combatants are interested in land logistics. If killing the enemy is the prime consideration, however, the side with the technological advantage will prevail. (Ever hear of "fly by wire" missiles?) Basing operations out of Russian-influenced Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, and attacking Kabul from there effectively drives the enemy into Xinjung Uygur provinces of China over those same mountains -or- into Pakistan (where they came from).
4. Winter will be murderous to the refugees without a major UN effort. This may take many forms, not all that are good. Segregation of men from their families seems unduly mean but may be necessary to prevent further terror cells from forming within humanitarian environments. A "work for food" program could provide rudimentary infrastructure to replace that which has been destroyed and give idle minds something other than war and revenge to think about.
5. Backing Israel is now politically a losing
proposition. The Kineset (?) government is far too unstable a form. Is there any
way to insure that American involvement is acting to ends that are "appropriate"
to both and the rest of the planet? No?
The "cease fire,"
that sprung from September 11th, is already in shambles. The Palestinians are
taking the worst of it, as usual, but remain the dumbest; therefore most tending
toward terrorism tactics.
This is an internal problem to
the Israelis, not one that US should be involved in or directly supporting (via
foreign aid or loans or whatever). Israel seems both insistant and able to
handle this 'on their own.' So they should. By the way, I don't like the British
either...and I am more English than any other. I could write an encyclopedia on
the why of this whole subject...international BUTT-IN-isms suck. However, due to
history and economic realities here, US will continue as always.
6. The Palestinian-Israeli situation is key to the entire region. It is The Fuse from which Muslim radicals take righteousness. Remove the Western backing of Israel and "push will come to shove," the result being either a living peace or a horror of holocaust. Perhaps what is evolving now will give peace a better chance. Sharon does not seem to want to.
7. Saudi Arabia, home of Mecca, has said now that they "will not allow any aircraft based on their soil to strike other Islamic states." Quote end quote. Huh? This is a frigging KINGDOM with all the money, and none of the sense, of a modern industrial nation. Ditto Kuwait, UAE, Jordan, etc, etc, etc. Although allowing some stability not seen where despots have been disposed (like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Ethopia), this is half step removed from communism as a totally useless governmental form. Forget the why of it and seek the how to transition.
-BUT-
"If we allow our commitment to American interests to blind us to the interests of the world community, then we will have done an injustice to ourselves and to the principles of America itself." - Deepak Chopra (see below also)
It is apparent now that The Shrub is finding a political necessity in a "not building nations" approach to the coming conflict. Wrong! Without a semi-permanent presence, the belligerents will not end their fighting, as is fact in the Balkans.
We know the history of the region. We should take it seriously; both in formulating long-term views of any action, or short-term "solution." This is critical both politically and militarily. For now, the only thing to do is to wait and see what shakes out of the situation. No demonstrations in opposition to what is being done will change it; until, at least, results are made apparent. All in all, I keep thinking that, "No doubt, the Whirled is unfolding as it should." That alone seems to insulate my emotions, if nothing else.
Finally, I am able to find some significant thought from Deepak Chopra, a person from that region of the planet that reflects a real overview of a Loving Reality in times like these. Not so for the Dalai Llama. Maybe I am looking on the wrong thread. It has occurred to me, however, that, if Oprah Winfrey were to marry Deepak Chopra, she would then be called Oprah Chopra.