"Christians for Cheeseburgers." wrote in message . net...
"Michael Petukhov" wrote in message
m...
French block airlift of British troops to Basra 16.09.2003 [06:41]


Sooner or later there will need to be some serious payback for France and
Germany.


Not while US forces in Iraq are still dying and the new election year
is looming ahead. President Bush has recently praised German forces
for their participation in Afghanistan and their evolving role in the
region.
Berlin for its part would be willing to send German troops to Iraq
should the US properly cede military and political control of that
nation over to the UN. The US could still have the biggest piece of
the peace dividend/restoration contracts... but Berlin wants a share
plus the reestablishment of its business contracts and monies owed.
Sounds fair enough to me. But then again, we live in the US and
consume an awful lot of gas. Iraq currently holds the second largest
oil reserves and when its industry and resources are properly
developed will surpass Saudi Arabia. For the US to relinquish control
of such a strategic asset now in the midst of unprecedented
international terrorism and national vunerability makes that proposal
unlikely.
Despite the rising death toll we will still probably arrogantly refuse
to budge until Bush's numbers start to seriously fall or another
conflict breaks out that requires calling up all the reserves.
US troops are already grumbling and we still have no exit strategy.
This can't go on forever with Bush merely asking Congress for
ever-increasing funds for a failed mission. We can't go it alone no
matter how powerful we are and we look foolish on the international
scene with the conspicuous absence of any WMD proof or link of Saddam
to 9/11. Simply waving a flag and invoking 9/11 memories won't last
forever. The US is still vunerable, our missions in Afghanistan and
Iraq are failures (no Osama, no Saddam, no WMDs, no restoration),
Saudi Arabia is not our friend and seeking nukes now, Iran is right
next door to our forces and has a nuclear weapons program, and the
DPRK situation remains unresolved... not to mention the Mideast
roadmap is in ruins.
So when do you propose payback on France and Germany? And why?
Shouldn't we be striking Syria, Iran, and the DPRK first? Shouldn't we
find Osama and Saddam? And shouldn't we stop meddling in Israel, allow
them to rid themselves of Yasser, and sit down with a real Palestinian
PM candidate willing to disarm Hamas and accept reasonable terms with
Israel that guarnatees them a state and Israel security?
I think you have your priorities mixed up.

Rob