What does anyone outside the ME have to do with the implimentation of a peace accord? US or Germany or UK or whomever, what do they know of the situation, othwer than some dumbass news coverage?

My thought is, if you want to offer a suggestion on a peace for the ME, try living there for a month and then offer your proposal. I can say that may views changed considerablly after living there. No one can understand the complexities of the situation by watching the crap on CNN.

Only first hand knowledge should be acceptable for any proposal without that you have nothing.

CHUQ
21/02/07

Blair has announced the pull out of about 1600 Brit troops. Why? Is he bowing to political pressure at home? Or is he bailing, like most everyone else?

Let see our forces go back over and over and these go home. Is there any justice left? Why can they not go to Baghdad and assist? I thought Bush said we were all in this war on terror together.

Could this be a political ploy to make it appear that things are going well in Iraq?

There are a wealth of people with answers to everything from Britney to life on Mars, so please, someone explain this to me–quickly.

CHUQ
21/02/07

Sec, Rice is in Berlin to talk about ME peace. Why? Sould not the talking points be at the people involved? She demands Israel be recognized, but what has she said Israel must do? Anybody that can defend this type of :diplomacy” needs to do a little research in conflict management. What are the negotiating points? Pals must recxognize Israel’s right to exist, ok, we got one. What must Israel do? Give up settlements? No! Agree not to destroy houses and lives? No! Shoe some restraint on the use of lethal force? No! Just what the hll does Israel have to do?

It is not a compromise if only one side has to agree to give up something. That is know as bullying. And that has been the policy of the US since Johnson. Maybe longer. What is the new approach that the US is offering? The Pals do all the giving and Israel does all the taking? Sounds like the current policy.

There will never be a peaceful solution as a heavy handed approach is used toward the Pals. There will never be a successful solution as long as one side does all the compromising. The thing to look forward to in the near future is a prolonged BS session and the possibility of more violence.

CHUQ
21/02/07

THe Partitioning Of Iraq?

A question that will be asked over and over until it either occurs or the entire idea is put to bed, for good. When Iraq became a country, it was done arbitarily by the Brits. A map was taken and mostly straight lines were put unto the map and viola we Syria, Jordan, Iraq, et al. No amount of thought was put into the process, other than Kuwait had to be its own country. Why? Well, the al-Sabah family was in bed with the Brits and it was to be their reward for their services to the Crown.

The Kurds were lied to by the world, a homeland was promised and then not so important after the fighting was over. They remain hostile to just about everyone, unless the country happens to be working with them and their concerns.

In Iraq, the Brits screwed up! Within the lines drawn on the map of the region, they incorporated three different factions that had no love for one another. And, believe it or not, they were surprised when independence was met with several years of fighting among these groups.

OK enough history, let us speak of partitionoing of Iraq. After the Bush I war Iraq ws divided into 3 zones, two of which were no fly. Within these zones each faction started consolidating power in the hands of local leaders. Even though Saddam was still in charge, power consolidation was done covertly. The reason these zones were put in was to protect the Kurds to the North and Shi’a in the south.

Then, along came Bush II and his war on terrorism. What a boom! Saddam was taken down and with that came an emboldening of the Kurds and Shi’as. And just take a look at the mess we have going a the presnt time.

There have been those who say that the key to curbing the violence is the formation of three states, each faction will have its space. One major draw back was that the oil reserves werein Kurd and Shi’a territory and that the Sunni would not allow the partitioning to go on. The concern would be that the Sunni would have no bargaining power within the loose federation. So the whole idea has been on the back burner.

WOW! Guess what? A oil reserve has been located in al-Anbar provence near the Syrian border. This now gives the Sunni some clout, something they lacked for awhile. But will this lead to the break up of Iraq? Not right now, but the option will be considered. As the violence continues to grow and the deaths amount up and up and as the refugees continue to stream over all existing borders; something unconventional will have to be considered.

And that consideration will be–partitioning Iraq into three separate entities.

Will this curb the ever grow violence? Not at all, it will however, be a talking point to try and obtain a peaceful Iraq. Once that breaks down, the violence will return and only God knows the outcome.

So the predictions are: Iraq will be partitioned. Peace will be short lived. Violence and civil war will return and more deadly than before.

CHUQ
20/02/07