Not much in the news these days about Senator Tim Johnson. Reports sort of stopped about the 16th when it would seem his recovery was very hopeful. I hope his family is finding solice this holiday in realizing his recovery may very well be remarkable and he'll be able to continue this chapter as a USA Senator after all.
Defense Secretary Gates.
I don't have much hope for his role in this administration. It's a thing left over from Reagan and Iran-Contra. I think the guy has the "W"rong idea about the region. He needs to focus on the fact that radicalizing Shi'ites by killing off those that rather seceed from the Unity Government is a very bad idea. That is not a threat either. These people have suffered for a long time. This isn't a grab for power in order to carry out some grandiose plan as Osama bin Laden did from AFGANISTAN.
The Shi'ites although more than unsophisticated in their approach to international recognition have been an oppressed reality of the Islamic faith. As far as I am concerned it is a foregone conclusion that Middle East leadership not tied to a geneological tree leading to Mohammad is stimuli to and for rebellion.
It is why the Shah of Iran fell to the Ayatollah Khomeini. Prior to the Khomeini take over the Shi'ites were on their way to having their religious leadership distroyed. The lineage to their savior, if you will, was broken and they were upset about it. It is why the hostage situation that destroyed Carter's presidency that lead to the failed attempt at rescue by American helicopters in the desert.
Iran today is a direct reflection of a radicalization that has taken place because AGAIN the Shi'ites are feeling threatened. Before the Iraqi invasion by the USA, the 'tone' in Iran was very different and moving toward a more moderate government and a representative one. That has been put 'on hold' while the Shi'ites of the entire region reassess their future and the tenuousness of their ties to their religious lineage.
It is a huge mistake to kill any religious men as it not only indicates complete disregard for their religious importance but also places the very basis of their existance spiritually at a genocide proportion. I am confident when examing the definitions of genocide under the UN Charter there is a clear understanding of cultural genocide that adheres to the laws of World Court proceedings.
Putin and Assad Talk Middle East Peace
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/12/20/003.html
Syrian President Bashar Assad, meeting Tuesday with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, welcomed Russian efforts to play a bigger role in the Middle East.
"Our strategic dialogue with Russia is based on Russia playing a more effective role in the Middle East," Assad said at a news conference after meeting behind closed doors with Putin. "Russia has begun playing a real role in the region."
Assad plans to be in Russia for three days.
Fighting between Palestinian factions and the political crisis in Lebanon topped the agenda at the Assad-Putin meeting; Russian officials declined to comment on the talk. Russia has weighed in on both the Palestinian quagmire and Lebanon as it has sought to reassert its regional presence.
Assad, speaking at the news conference at the President Hotel, called the meeting "successful and constructive" but declined to offer any details.
Putin, for his part, noted that he had recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Lebanon Still Reeling From War, Assassinations
http://voanews.com/english/2006-12-19-voa51.cfm
The past year has been a particularly troubled time in Lebanon. The country wrestled with political instability following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, and the subsequent mass protest movement that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops. 2006 was supposed to be a landmark year, when Lebanon was finally run by its own government, on its own terms. But the sudden outbreak of war in July shattered Lebanon's fragile stability and exposed political rifts that had long lingered under the surface. Middle East Correspondent Challiss McDonough looks at Lebanon's problems in this VOA yearend report.
The arm sales to Syria is a direct result of Bush's escalating 'war chant.' Bush's war presence in the Middle East is a hazard in every way and will threaten the well being of Israel for some time to come. Bush is not a good ally to Israel. In the conflict over Southern Lebanon he was unable to arm Israel through the resistance of the British. If Bush cannot assure Israel wtih confidence WHICH HE CAN'T then Israel is better off negotiating with Russia as an intermediary to bring about peace between all the other nations of the region. I am sure Jordan and Egypt would welcome a continued summit to that effect.
Moscow and Damascus discuss Middle East
http://euronews.net/create_html.php?page=detail_info&article=396886&lng=1
An internationally isolated Bashar al-Assad is visiting Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin. Syria and Russia have long-standing political and economic ties. Last year, Moscow wrote off nearly three quarters of Syria's 10 billion euro debt. On the agenda are peace efforts in the Middle East, interfactional tensions among Palestinians and the ongoing political crisis in Lebanon.They will also discuss Russian arms sales to Syria which are strongly criticised by Israel. It says many of these weapons ended up in the hands of Hezbollah fighters during the recent conflict in Lebanon. Assad's visit follows Putin's talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.He claims to have secured Russia's backing in his struggle against the pro-Syrian opposition which continues to stage daily protests in Beirut demanding the government resign. Some are concerned opposition calls for early elections could complicate efforts to end the country's worst political crisis since the civil war.
By providing support to Syria's military, Russia is placing itself in a position of influence in an alliance that is stated to be based in a goal of peace. There is absolutely nothing to make me believe differently. The UN Peacekeepers are on the ground between Lebanon and Israel and there has been a peace maintained through those efforts. However, if these arms mean anything it is not about Israel so much as the potential border war with an escalation of violence in Iraq as Bush pushes his agenda of confrontation 'Surge.'
Israel needs to be prepared to defend itself at any rate. If the Shi'ites in Iraq are attacked there is no predicting the outcome elsewhere.
Joe Johns had a somewhat interesting message, but, it would have been better if the rest of the program reflected the economy of the country, the influence the USA has on it's economy in the policies it generates and the direct adverse effect those policies play. It is not just a matter of getting cheap sugar for the USA recipes for the season at hand, it is a matter of changing policy to reflect fairness in the market place. If there was fairness in the market place there would be room to complain to the conditions these people sustain to make some kind of living. This is not a consumer issue. It is a Bush administration issue.
The program goes on with a lot of Christian stuff and typical for the bigotry of this network. So, good of you all to mention Hanukkah at the beginning of the show to CYA. Will there every be a program that won't be some kind of Christian theme where Israel is actually the focus?
enough
