I have generally been critical of the Bush Administration's policies

[KlatooBNikto]

in the Middle east and elsewhere.I have also been critical of the DLC's go along silence with these policies.But I am equally against the policies of the Islamic World ( Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan,Syria and others). They have chosen the path of war,terrorism and hatred instead of reconciliation,reasoning,understanding.The big difference is that we hold the cards with our vastly superior technology and economic power.Someone of the stature of President Carter,Hans Blix,President Chirac should bring the Muslim nations to a table and ask them to abandon confrontation and terrorism.Without that fundamental change,we who do not want wars to be the way to settle disputes would have a hard time convincing even our own supporters.

[murielm99]

1. I think you stated that very nicely.

You should write something to that effect, and send it to members of the DLC.

[izzie]

2. It sounds good, but I do not think that Bush thinks that way.

He does not seem to want any one that does not think like him with in sight. Even people who are really for America. I guess they only want to hear what they think is true. I get the feeling that people are really un-sure of what they think when you think that way. Frankly I can not see how we are ever going to get to peace in the middle East until it is a place where people can vote for their own gov. and I do not think we can kill them into setting it up.Since so much of the world has picked a gov. they wanted in this day and age, look at it when I was a child in the 40/50 and it looks like the world liked what we were doing and wished to do as the voting states. They almost all pushes powers out of their countries and here we are going into countries. It is like know one looks at history.

[xchrom]

3. maybe if the west would abandon it's centuries

of exploitation they would find a receptive audience.
arab countries are simply not fooled by western colonial ambitions -- whether in the form state control or corporate bilking of resources.

the west needs to get the log out of it's damn eye!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. the west needs to get the log out of it's damn eye!

Aye.... true true... and a large one it is....

[Pepperbelly]

5. For this to work, wouldn't the terrorism have to be state sponsered?

I mean, it seems that there are many independent subcontractors out there doing bad things. Do the governments of the Middle East control enough of them to significantly reduce the risk to the west, even if they wanted to?

[KlatooBNikto]

6. Without the tacit support of the governments involved the independent

subcontractors would have a hard time doing what they are doing IMO.

[Pepperbelly]

7. true ... it would make their lives more difficult. nt

[distantearlywarning]

8. I agree with this post. These are my feelings as well.