Every time we run a raid on Iraq we
cash a chip with every other country in the Middle East. This means
that we incur a debt to a bunch of mostly no-good rulers who are as corrupt
and venal as can be. Whether it's the democratic dictatorship of
Turkey or the personal dictatorship of the Sauds or Assad in Syria, we
owe each one of those jerks every time we drop a bomb. Because of
the Roman circus we present to ourselves in Iraq we lose the ability to
do anything serious about Afghani and Pakistani heroin. We cannot
pursue the embassy bombers with full vigor and cooperation. We cannot
push harder for an Israel-Palestine settlement. We cannot do anything
about the human rights abuses in Sudan and Afghanistan. Syria's reward
for its silence is a continued free hand in Lebanon. Iran's reward
is continued effective non-interference in its missile development program.
The Sauds continue to receive the benefit of our garrison, without whose
presence there might be a fundamentalist insurrection in progress at this
very moment. Turkey's payoff is obvious and ongoing.
This is more of a so-called policy
than a real one. It is built on ignorance and complete fixation on
short-term goals. The benefits all accrue to Western oil interests,
which is why Europe (less England who marches in lockstep with us) confines
its opposition to low-key squawking. But the long term effects of
the two-timing game we're playing will hit us back hard one of these days.
Over there, where the results are obvious, they know what we're doing.
What else can they do but meet cynicism with cynicism and take what they
can get?
At some point the Iranian scheme will
repeat itself in a Sunni version. Sudan and Afghanistan are sort
of a practice run. You guys juggling fire over at State better do
what you can to make the next Islamic revolution happen in Egypt or Syria
or Iraq, or maybe you'll sacrifice poor little Jordan. Even Saudi
Arabia. At that point Israel would emerge clearly as the pawn it
is. And you'd better pray to your gods it doesn't happen in Turkey.
If it does you can kiss your Middle East "policy" goodby.
)-;