This sounds like what Ishmael was talking about, but that article doesn't have enough hard evidence or even hard new info, no matter how much the Times is trying to bait somebody. I'll wait and see, but I don't see Bush and his cronies doing anything in Iran because their hands are too full (of blood) in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iran can do almost whatever they want because the U.S. is stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan (Iraq mostly) and can't pull out because that's admitting defeat and can't stay because of the massive human toll. Not to mention that we're in the crossfire of a civil war there. We can't really help at this point - it's like throwing buckets of water at a burning skyscraper - and the best we can do is to admit defeat and leave before this becomes worse (and it will). Iran is using this occupancy to their advantage and the U.S. can't do anything. Unless Iran declares full nuclear war, Iran can build up their nuclear power and turn the opening of the 21st century into a cold war.

Watch the money. Thats all I can truly add to this. Watch the money trail of big business, and if it is hindered by Iranian behaviours, then Iran will almost certainly be attacked.

Ish, I certainly hope you're wrong. Iraq has been a disaster of extraordinary proportions. Attacking Iran would lead, I think, to world war, and would represent the culmination of human folly. Even our moron leader and his evil henchmen couldn't do this, no matter the financial imperative. While I believe the populace of the US is easily herdable, I also know, from polling, that even those who supported our ill fated incursion into Iraq, reject it now.

My pessimism knows no bounds, though even I grow weary of this whole crisis. Still, the faux democracies of Australia, Britain and the US will do what business interests dictate, in my ever evolving opinion.

I hope I'm wrong, but i just don't know. When Robert gates says ' We are not planning for a war with Iran', I cynically hear the opposite.

Enough bleakness. Ayatollah Khameini, in charge of Iran foreign affairs may bring a calmer influence if the US listen.

Mercatocracies? I don't know. But that is what more and more rules the world. I foresee a world where countries are companies.

Jennifer Government turned real? Scary thought.

Was it something I said? I didn't mean to kill the topic. It's a really interesting issue. Keep yelling!

quote:

The following statement is true. The previous statement was false. This statement, nobody knows

Hey, that was my tag for awhile! Thief

I've never seen it. Now it's MINE!! ALL MINE!! MUAHAHAHAA!!

Um. Politics. The U.S. is paying Pakistan to fight terror.

Ron Paul/Zombie Goldwater '08.

June 29 saw two unexploded car bombs in London near Piccadilly Circus. June 30 saw Glasgow International Airport suffer an attack with a flaming car. There are 8 suspects in the bombing plot. It's Gordon Brown's first test. What do you think motivated the bombers, and, more importantly, what do you think will happen because of this?

Timing, but it won't change anything unless they bomb Heathrow planes.

Unless? Or until?

Same thing.

Well, they might fail. And with the status of the UK as it is, if there's some plot, it will most likely be foiled.

World politics appears to be about the same as it was 2000 years ago. Some progress, eh?

Two thousand years ago...Europe and the Middle East had no contact to the Americans. There weren't Native American soldiers attacking the Seleucids. So, it's not quite right.

Well, not even two days into 2008 and already it appears yet another African genocide is about to begin in Kenya. I have been following this story for quite sometime - since the election results there - mostly through CNN. Initially the U.S. supported the election results stating that the incumbent had won and urged Kenyans to accept the results. Now it appears that line is being reversed. The opposition leader, who narrowly lost in the December 27th elections, is planning a "million man march" tomorrow - which has already been banned by the leader Kibaki.

The whole situation is really a huge tragedy that will probably unfold in front of us tomorrow and only grow worse. I seriously doubt the US or EU or any global power will confront it - not to debate, just a matter of opinion. Thus much like the situation with Rwanda in 1994 and the current refugee situations in Somalia and Darfur, this crisis will likely be ignored.

I'd really like to see the Presidential candidates discuss this on their stump speeches tomorrow. If any one of them brings enough light to the situation and pushes for action by the US government to work towards a viable solution then I will have found the candidate to vote for. As it is, I'm thinking this soon to be civil war probably won't get any more press time than College football wrap-ups.

quote:

Originally posted by ACaribouPixie:
The whole situation is really a huge tragedy that will probably unfold in front of us tomorrow and only grow worse. I seriously doubt the US or EU or any global power will confront it - not to debate, just a matter of opinion. Thus much like the situation with Rwanda in 1994 and the current refugee situations in Somalia and Darfur, this crisis will likely be ignored.

Well, I don't see why the U.S. should be expected to confront or deal with the political, tribal problems of another nation, we've got enough problems of our own right now.

And you're talking about Africa after all, the chances of any western country going in an establishing any sort of stability is laughable. Corruption and tribal fighting are the defining characteristics of Africa, always has been, and most likely always will be.

In Rwanda, the Hutus were destined to war with the Tutsis regardless of which white nation intervened.

In the Sudan, the muslims are going to kill the non-arabs regardless of which western nations confront them, especially given the fact that the Chinese support the Sudanese government.

In South Africa, you're going to see more and more tribal conflicts as well as black on white killing.

In Zimbabwe, the president is going to continue starving his people to death in an effort to hold onto power.

In Nigeria, the corruption is everywhere.

Somalia is practically a lost cause. Any aid we send is immediately confiscated by the warlords that rule that country.

This is Africa, this will always be Africa. But I still love it, and I love travelling throughout the continent. And during my travels I meet amazing people that are more simple and capable of friendship than any i've ever met.

Sadly though, the people of Africa have always been the victims of corrupt leaders. But this is also the fault of the people. It's a complicated place, Africa.

Well said hudson. I didn't mean to suggest that the US has an obligation to deal with the situation in Kenya as it very much seems to be an internal conflict. However I don't know how much the United States, UN, or other nations might have impacted the election and political process in Kenya. I realize the politics of Africa are very complex and can empathize with your fatalism. It is just so frustrating to watch as the US government wastes billions (potentially trillions) of dollars on an ill conceived and poorly executed war that actually fostered conditions for a genocide. In the meantime it depleted many diplomatic or military resources from alleviating conflicts in Africa. Of course using diplomatic and military intervention in African countries brings up a whole host of other moral and political issues, and any hasty or uninformed involvement would probably exacerbate the political tensions in the long run...but I'd like to believe more could be done.

On a side note, it is very interesting that you've been to Africa. Some of my friends have gone to Africa for study abroad or aid work, and they loved the experience and the people they met. One of my former college roommates was born and raised in South Africa (though he went to highschool and currently lived in the US). I'd really like to go to Africa someday, and hopefully my friend will show me around South Africa.