Suicide Bombers

[rmnunez]

Pat: On the incongruity of the US-Israeli relationship, I’d have to agree with you.

US foreign policy in support of Israel antagonizes most of its neighbours and some of them are both geostrategically more important and wealthier in valuable resources.

If it were true that US foreign policy gives merely ‘lip service’ to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and that said policy is actually a tool of the rapacious American capitalist class, then its posture vis-à-vis Israel makes no sense, where’s the profit?

Wouldn’t it make sense for the American MNCs to motivate their government to curry favour with the leadership that controls dozens of markets with 100s of millions of consumers in wealthier countries on 4 continents instead of subsidizing a fully militarized state armed to the teeth and surrounded by hostile neighbours?

If the US veered 180 degrees and threw the billions it annually grants Israel to Arafat instead, wouldn’t even the EU rejoice? Doesn’t it make more sense for the US to support the whole World’s united and repeated voice in the UN and across the Globe’s capitals to bring Israel to heel? Wouldn’t this make most people more predisposed to favour Americans in whatever enterprise?

The obstinate and expensive support for Israel, despite its clear and continuous excesses does make US foreign policy more unpopular and this has an adverse impact on patterns of consumption abroad and this would motivate a US MNC inpired US foreign policy.

[rmnunez]

Though its true there are numerous unrepresentative dictatorships in the UN, there are fewer of these now than there have been in the past –we are making progress. There have been some outstanding offenses to the UN and by them (some recently). The entity needs serious reform and will undertake that process, probably as soon as the next Secy. Gen. Gets installed.

There are Security Council reform proposals (from different governments) involving possible loss of veto power and changes in seating with either fusion of Anglo/French chairs into an EU one, addition of Japan, and/or inclusion of a rotating and ‘permanent’ African vote.

One of the under-contemplated reforms that interests me is the possible diminution of status for members through weighted voting, based among other things on currency of accounts (the US would have to pay up the arrears).

[rmnunez]

The positive achievements resulting from the US initiative to spring from the 911 attacks include not only toppling Saddam, ousting the repressive Taliban, getting Iran to finally comply with the IAEA on its nukes. Lybia’s Khadaffy came right out and invited them to check his installations, Syria seems admonished and more submissive too. Iraq did violate IAEA terms at its Tuwaitha reactor.

Additionally billions in US development financing were released for the ‘diplomatic’ effort at the UN. This fresh cash coupled with grossly enhanced military-industrial spending have pulled the US economy from its slump and this is having a positive effect on other regional economies already.

All sorts of new strictures on international transactions aimed at terrorist financing have been instituted. Many terrorists have been caught, some were killed. Governments around the world are much more forceful in their efforts to control any terrorist activity.

Coordination in law enforcement has improved and harsh sentences are imposed for terrorist support. None of this could have been achieved so swiftly and comprehensively under a UN initiative.

Though I miss the more care-free style of past travel and am often irritated by the delay and confusion all these enhanced security procedures at airports entail, I think the grief is minor and temporary.

[rmnunez]

Terrorists didn’t use suicide bombers before, this surely is a sign of desperation. In the past the US fought terrorist antagonists covertly and sometimes behind the backs of the governments of countries where they acted. Now the Americans are rousting them with soldiers and tanks. Terrorists are struggling to defend themselves, they are overwhelmed by the technology and firepower, the size of the American military deployment.

This has produced a ‘natural’ reaction; terrorist forces which previously were dispersed in localized areas of action are drawn closer together. While their ‘indrawing’ tends to concentrate their strength, it also diminshes their profile in the West. Furthermore, in Iraq terrorists confront armed adversaries rather than defenseless officeworkers. These are other ´positives’ that result from the post 911 US-led Coalition effort.

Moreover, I also think the US diplomatic effort to curry and maintain support for the Afghan and then Iraqi occupations has produced some realignments. People make loud noises about Bushian unilateralism but there are 49 countries behind the US in Iraq (we get casualties too). The EU found lack of cohesion in its foreign policy and this is a good thing (they need to work on this). The ex-Soviets voted (as is their custom) en bloc for the US initiative. True, the Americans never carried the day in the UN, and there was vociferous opposition in the capitals of many governments which endorsed the American position, but this wasn’t at all the “US against the world”, much more like 60/40 (or viceversa) and quite a bit of the opposition was French (and not at all disinterested). But there was a realignment of sorts. Australia emerged as a regional power. Mexico frittered away its first turn in the Security Council (with constitutionally-mandated non-interventionist foreign policy). Spain emerged as a strong supporter but Latin America was not swayed (Spain’s diplomatic effort focused on México).

[PeterAngelo]

I can't wait until the freedom fighters figure out a way to blow up the INDIVIDUALS actually responsible for the state of the world today.

The Vatican Bank, all the church hierarchy and homopedophile priests, all the super-rich, politicians, bankers, CEO's, and anyone profiting from the military-industrial complex (and their families).

That would get the job done faster and garner the applause of most of the "free"(in the heart and mind) world by not killing innocent people.

I am pulling for them - Bush and the pope would be a great start - then chaney, kissinger, blair, rockefeller - whew - what a long, long list it is.

Oh well - I can dream.

[percivale]

As for the U.N., I have trouble respecting acy body that would place Lybia in charge of it's "Human Rights" Commission.

percivale

[Bragar]

Peter...

I can only assume that you are employed in higher education. You sound as if you're on the payroll of some west coast university... Correct?

Bragar

[PeterAngelo]

Bragar:

No - I love California - Especially Berkeley - but I went to the University of South Florida (mass communications), St. Petersburg College (law), The Rochester Institute of Technology (photographic science and engineering), and Lively Vo-Tech (electronics).

My politics evolved from knowledge and experience with business-politics on high levels.

There are five lawyers in the family lawfirm so far - we just know that's up.

It's not that I would leave my cushy lifestyle on the beach for anyone - it is just a twinge of social conscience that inspires me to write - it assuages my guilt.

I am aware that superior intelligence and the willingness to slaughter people for power and wealth will ALWAYS be the norm on this planet - we are animals in nature - like all the others - we just lie more and kill more.

At least pretty girls taste good - it's not all bad.

Teaching at a university requires a talent for politics and ass kissing that I could NEVER handle.

Running a law practice and being "in the arena" is more to my taste - I like to fight and am VERY capable. Those who can't do - teach - I DO DO a lot.

Bush is lucky I'm not Bin Laden - he would be dead.

[sp4mmed]

Peter:

My politics evolved from knowledge and experience with business-politics on high levels.

There are five lawyers in the family lawfirm so far - we just know that's up.

Wow - now I REALLY respect you!
I mean - all that learning, all that knowledge! WOW!

Sarcasim is the lowest form of wit - and I am witless.
I must say that it is really amusing to read what you write.
You, who have never had to live under the shadow of a suicide-bomber or a possible raid by the israeli forces, have NOTHING to relate to the situation with.
You cannot even begin to imagine what EITHER side is going through.
So, do not sit there, behind your lofty "education" and try to make out that you know anything that is of any real value.

Your education means nothing when you are running for your life, or trying to stop someone who has had their arm blown off from bleeding to death.

It is people like you who manage to pull the strings of the less fortunate and push them into committing acts of truly awful terror. Maybe I should say "convince" rather than push.

Your glib arguments are irrational and founded on nothing more that what you have read, or seen on television. One only needs to read your posts to see that.

Lawyers do nothing more than screw up peoples lives.
You bunch of parasites are incapable of doing anything "real" unless it is to your benefit. You creatures thrive on the misery of others.
Compared to you, Osama is a saint.

I think that if the world wants to improve, then the first thing to do is to set fire to all the lawyers - or better yet, use them as fuel for power stations. The world is infested with enough fat lawyers to keep the power levels up for many a year.

So, bottom line - go and live in Israel or Palestine for a few years before you even think of using your twisted logic on the situation there, or anywhere else in the world.
Fart away in your armchair, diddle as many woman as you want, but keep your shortsighted and useless prattle to yourself.