[lit-ideas] Re: Iraq & news
- From: "Phil Enns" <phil.enns@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2005 20:00:31 -0500
Andreas Ramos:
"If in two years Iraq is a shining city on the hill, then there won't be
any need for the US to be in the region. The US gets sent home and loses
influence in the region. The Arabs will have their oil and grow
stronger."
Nah, that's not how it works. The U.S. still has bases in Japan,
Philippines, Germany, etc. The U.S. will have military bases in Iraq
and Afghanistan for a long time as a means of containing the spread or
influence of terrorism. And now with Saddam out and Iraq, hopefully, on
the road to some kind of democracy, the influence of OPEC is
significantly undermined. This image of the Arabs wielding oil as a
weapon is no longer realistic.
Andreas again:
"If the current disaster continues for two (or twenty) years, the US
will always be the dominant power in the region."
It can't continue for even another couple years. The Bush
administration is asking for another $80 billion dollars. There is no
way this administration wants to continue asking for this kind of money
and there is no way Republicans will put up with continuing to give this
kind of money.
Andreas again:
"This is indeed Israel's strategy: keep the Palestinians weak and
shattered."
I agree it is Israel's strategy of the last few years but few Israelis
sees this as a long term strategy. Most Israeli's would prefer a
thriving Palestinian economy. The problem is how to get to that
thriving economy without sacrificing the very existence of Israel.
Sincerely,
Phil Enns
Toronto, ON
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