Victor Davis Hanson: Anatomy of Iraq

03/02/07

Victor Davis Hanson delivers a brilliant article that catalogues the events of the Iraq War as they unfolded, the shape shifting of the self-serving political servants of our government, how the far left media's agenda empowers our enemies and that all is not lost.

A sensational, historically accurate memorization.

March 2, 2007 8:10 AM

Anatomy of Iraq
How did we get to this baffling scenario?
By Victor Davis Hanson

It’s make it or break it in Iraq in 2007. Or so we are told, as America nears four years of costly efforts in Iraq. But how did we get to this situation, to this fury over a war once supported by 70 percent of the public and a majority of Congress, but now orphaned by both?

How did a serious country, one that endured Antietam, sent a million doughboys to Europe in a mere year, survived Pearl Harbor, Monte Cassino, Anzio, the Bulge, Tarawa, Iwo and Okinawa, the Yalu, Choisun, Hue and Tet, come to the conclusion — between the news alerts about Britney Spears’ shaved head and fights over Anna Nicole Smith’s remains — that Iraq, in the words of historically minded Democratic senators, was the “worst” and the “greatest” “blunder,” “disaster,” and “catastrophe” in our “entire” history?

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjdkOTA2NmUxYzkwY2U4NzcyYTYwN2VhZDdmMTkxOWQ=

Ahmadinejad to Visit Saudi Arabia

03/02/07

Below you will find Al Jazeera's English coverage of the upcoming "Middle Eastern Superbowl" as Iran's Ahmadinejad (King of all Shites) meets with Saudi Arabia's (King of all Sunnis) ruling monarchy this week.

Who knows what will really be going on behind closed palace doors, but once they both stop blaming George Bush they will have to address the mess they have on their hands and how to calm it down. Otherwise quite soon the most unstable region on the planet, which controls the most precious natural resource, will be deep into the nuclear arms race that will eventually vaporize all watering holes.

Let's hope the Saudis and the Iranian love their children too. (Sting)

Ahmadinejad due in Saudi Arabia
Al Jazeera News Coverage

Iran's president is set to make his first official visit to Saudi Arabia amid developments that threaten to further isolate Tehran because of its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

Upon his arrival on Saturday, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to hold talks with the Saudi monarch, King Abdullah.
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Ahmadinejad's visit is aimed at calming sectarian tensions threatening the region as well as conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AED40568-768D-45EB-AFE2-3EBDF264CA21.htm

Abdullah: Best of the Worst with Same Old Song

03/02/07

You never know what is going on behind closed doors in the Middle East despite the English version we often get spoon fed in the media. We've all become hip to the Arafat; count on the language barrier, say one thing to the West in English and something else to the Arabs in Arabic. It managed to work a long time since most of the West was really concerned about making money and enjoying prosperity the rest of the planet can only dream of. Of course 9-11 changed our degree of concern and awareness, at least for a while.

Jordanian King Abdullah II has always appeared to be the most reasonable, level-headed and sincere of the iron-fisted, ruthless, exceptionally wealthy Arab dictators when dealing with the West. Perhaps he has to because as one of the regions weakest rulers, his might be the first kingdom to fall if things get too out of hand. Like I said, who knows? I rarely get an opportunity to read what he says in his Al Jazeera interviews and I haven't been invited to one of his palaces for a twelve course dinner in a while.

When the King makes comments like the ones printed below, we all know it is part of a chess match, a royal agenda. To say the entire Middle East hornet's nest is the result of the Israeli/Palestinian crisis is absurd. This is not a bad sign because it signals that the region's royal hierchy knows they have serious problems and their best way to stay in power is to appear to be sincerely addressing "the Israeli Issue."

Their problem is that the Israeli crisis has nothing to do with the Sunni's and the Shites. It has nothing to do with the repercussions of non-secular countries with thirteenth century philosophy's waking up and discovering their subjects are really pissed off with third world life. It has everything to do with no employment opportunities, but the availability of tons of finger pointing mosques. It has everything to do with the decades old practice of self-serving governments diffusing blame from their gluttony and deflecting rage to the Palestinian crisis, which they have kept in perpetual limbo as a trump card for that exact purpose.

To once again say that Israel must return to prewar borders (which war?), giving up lands it captured after being attacked, exposing itself to even greater potential harm to achieve a peace no nation will guarantee, when lunatics like Iran's president publically call for it's extermination, is asking Israel to risk self-destruction.

We have seen this game time and time again. I hope Abdullah and the rest of his contemporaries in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and company have a bigger vision with a shot at working. I believe they are seriously scared, realize they have created a monstrous series of problems that they are now being forced to face and will try to deal with them. I simply hope they have developed greater perspective in how to compromise.

Abdullah: US must influence Israel
By ASSOCIATED PRESS AMMAN, Jordan


Jordan's King Abdullah II said Friday that Israel must choose between the mentality of "Israel the fortress" or "living in peace and security with its neighbors."

Interviewed on state television before his departure for the United States, the king said the United States was the country most capable of influencing Israel. "It is time that the [US] employ this influence to prove its transparency to the people of the region, and that it is not biased," Abdullah said.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1171894559202&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Bush and Brazil Promote Ethanol

03/02/07

In what one hopes to be a first and positive step to reduce Western Hemisphere dependency on Middle Eastern oil, President Bush is teaming up with Brazil to promote ethanol usage.

I have many thoughts and questions about this. This first thought is that anything that is realistic and that can decrease our dependence (hence involvement) on Middle Eastern oil is exceptionally positive from every angle. I have read a bit about Ethanol. I do not know how functional it is at this point. I would like to know more.

In addition, why is Bush pushing it in Latin America and the Caribbean but not the U.S.? I hope this is for real, sincere, has serious legs and is not simply a tactic to take steam away from Chavez's influence over that section of the world.

U.S. and Brazil Seek to Promote Ethanol in West

By EDMUND L. ANDREWS and LARRY ROHTER
Published: March 3, 2007
WASHINGTON, March 2 — President Bush, hoping to reduce demand for oil in the Western Hemisphere, is preparing to finish an agreement with Brazil next week to promote the production and use of ethanol throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, according to administration officials.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/03/business/worldbusiness/03ethanol.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1172925641-H8lAATXCJt4GRSU6GqCnDQ