Quote:
Originally posted by Undertoad
There is one neighbor that absolutely fears Saddam, as it works on nationwide smallpox innoculation and announces again and again that any bombing of its nation will be answered with full and determined retaliation.
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And that one regional nation is not a neighbor of Iraq. Iraq's neighbors - Iran, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. All most likely have spies in Iraq. Many would also be primary intelligence sources for the US. None find anything in Iraq that is a threat to them or to the US. No 'smoking gun' exists to justify war on Iraq.
Israel, however, is a worried nation because its current administration has done almost everything possible to incite 1) Intafada II and 2) Islamic nationalism (from Morroco to Indonesia and deep into Africa) to the destruction of Israel. The first was done intentionally by Likud. The second is an unavoidable consequence of the first. The scary part would be that Israelis are too arrogent to understand the dangers of point 2.
No such anti-Israeli hatred has been so widespread since before days of Carter. But then too many Israeli people unfortunately inspire hatred starting with the assasination of Rabin - as was all but directly called for by Likud party members. Hate becomes business as usual among too many Israeli - something that did not exist in the days of Rabin. Hate is just what Sharon has used throughout history to promote himself - every time.
Israel is now in the unenviable position of becoming an emotional target of hate if only one Arab nation attacks it; and Israel responds. Ironically this is why American Evangelical Christians so want the current administrations (of Israel and America) to make things worse - even by openly advocating military explusion of Palestinians from the occupied territories in direct violation of all UN Resolutions.
Yes, Israel does have much to fear from Iraq. But mostly because their elected government wants Israel in that position and because powers external to Israel see this as the last chapter in the New Testament. Still, Israel is not a neighbor of Saddam - which is why I did not say (with care) 'regional powers'. Israel's government has setup Israel up to be a perfect target for Saddam. Israel has much to fear because of how Likud party has so enflamed the entire Arab world in the past few years. Even worse, the Arab world is completely justified in being so angry.
None of these Israeli events is good news for any American. Christian right wing extremists would not disagree with this analysis - except the part that says an Arab-Israeli war is bad for the world. Evangelical Christians look forward to such a war - as a good thing - with the death of most Jews and the conversion of those that remain.
BTW, would a smoking gun be necessary to start such as war? Unfortunately, it may already exist. Events in the region - well beyond Iraqi's neighbors - could avalanche quickly. Warning to those so quick to advocate unjustified war in any regional nation.