Lifeofthemind – If the virus of democracy that the US has introduced eventually produces regimes that are willing to ally with all parties, meaning with Israel, then a stable system could take root. Anything the US can do to encourage those changes, especially in KSA and Iran would be a step forward.
There are plenty of stable democracies that do not feel obligated to ally with nations they detest.
The idea that the longer-lived and stable a democracy is, the greater their love of Zionism is, is pretty hokey.
=======================
Mike Sylwester:
Spain became rich by digging gold and silver out of the Americas during the 1500s but then wasted most of its wealth fighting economically, politically and militarily against the Protestant Reformation throughout Europe. Eventually Spain became one of the poorest and least influential countries of Western Europe.
A pretty good thing to remember. Bin Laden said he did not seek to militarily defeat the US. Just discombobulate it so it lost it’s economic priorities and place in the world then squandered it’s wealth attempting to put out low cost ideologically and religiously inspired resistance movements with hugely expensive military adventures until it was impoverished, then bankrupted.
He had the Soviet Union in mind, but what happened to Spain squandering its immense wealth and dominant place in the world fighting an ideology rather than co-opting it – is an even better example.
I think the Americans are quicker learners than the Catholic monarchs. It looks like the people of America have pretty much rejected the Neocon vision of endless, spreading American wars to defeat “evildoers” and keep our “Special Friend” doing what it wants to do.
Obama being elected slams the final door on the Era of the Neocons. And if McCain wins, he will have a near impossible mission if he re-embraces the Neocons and wants 2-3 new wars of choice. Congress and the People and of course the (arrogantly) dismissed community of other nations – will not support it. Only an imminent threat to the USA itself will allow a 3rd, 4th war to start.
And the news in Israel, from Ha’aretz, is Bush has nixed any Israeli attack on Iran. No big pile of JDAMs to that country, no tanker planes, and no air corridor through Iraq will be granted. Unless the Iraqi gov’t approves.
