Will the chaos in the middle east soon be resolved?

[Philosoraptor]

I don't want to pick sides here, just ask if anyone thinks that this will all be resolved soon diplomatically?

Condi keeps saying that it'll all be fixed up in a few days, and folks over at the U.N. also keep saying that they think that there might be some way to settle these disputes amicably.

I wish that it could be, but I just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel, being a full time gloomy Gus.

[GR]

1. Well You''ve Got To Consider Who's Doin' The "Diplomatin'"

And with Condi and George shouldering the heavy load, we're in deep trouble.

These people have no understanding of what diplomacy is. They are used to telling everyone, whether it's on domestic matters or foreign policy matters, "Do it my way or you're with the terrorists." The neocon dream is a unilateral dream. They don't want to have to consult with anyone or consider anyone else's wishes. They simply want to dictate to other people and rule the world with threats backed up by military might.

[fujiyama]

2. The best thing to hope for

at this point is a temporary cease fire, but that depends on whether Israel has felt it has done enough damage to Hezbollah. Either that or some significant change of course in the way the US operates with Israel. The US is the only nation that can convince Israel to pull back. The rest of the world however may have more luck in convincing Hezbollah to stop firing rockets into Israel.

But with necons in power that have more or less given Israel carte blanche over the last few years, and with no opposition of that policy from any politicians, I expect the Israeli operation to slow down eventually, leaving behind a once again shattered Lebanon, just as it was in '80s.

For Israel however, the aftermath could be worse than the last time. With Hezbollah already being stronger than they were in the '80s, the current Israeli incursion will buy them some time at best. And I would guess Hezbollah would be even stronger, ideaologocally at least later.

[whistle]

3. The Bush administration has no interest in diplomacy whatsoever

...BushCo follows the neocon philosophy completely and to the letter which states: "Do what we tell you to do, give us what we want, be exactly as we expect you to be or we will wipe you off the face of the earth."

Does that help answer your question?

[Skidmore]

4. Not as long as the peoples involved see themselves as

chosen by God.

[kentuck]

5. I can hear it already...

"Those damn Arabs just don't want to come to the peace table." and that will be true.

[chimpymustgo]

6. They can't get to the peace table: the roads, bridges, airports bombed out

Most assuredly "those damn Arabs" want peace - and for the massacre of destruction of their families and homes to stop.

[kentuck]

7. They don't want the "peace" that will be proposed by US and Israel...

this time around. Iraq has changed the way "Arabs" think, in my opinion.

[Deja Q]

8. Will the chaos in Louisiana soon be resolved?

Same answer applies, I should think:

1. No government that gives a fuck to assist.
2. No corporation that gives a fuck either. In short, nobody in positions of influence and clout gives a fuck.

And most damningly:
3. The people are so selfish they'd rather kill each other than help each other. (doesn't make America look very Christian as a nation, now does it...?)


Well, I don't know what the Iraqis are doing, but have you heard of Iraqi-on-Iraqi crime? Well, apart from their impending Civil War, that is...