[A Jovial Cad]

I pretty much endorse what you say as far as I know about the matter which, I must stress, is not all that much. I do know that the fuse which sparked the conflagration of WWI was lit in Serbia, with the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand, and that the Ottoman Empire was pretty much shattered after that conflict. I *didn't* know that they'd been there for 400 years--thanks for that info.
The entire area just seems to be a troubled--and troublesome--region, all the way back to the times of the Roman Empire. A place best avoided, IMHO, unless critical U.S. interests are at stake.
Hope you don't mind me changing the subject, but I just noticed your tag line. How good a chance do you think Thune has? I've never been to South Dakota, but I'd sure consider sending his campaign a donation if it looks like it's going to be close. Thanks.

[Agrarian]

Thune can definitely win. Daschle is worried, and should be. Money is important, but at this point I think that a Bush visit to SD (not to campaign for Thune so much as to campaign for himself and motivate the Republican base to turn out) will do the most good of all. That, and pray...

A Daschle defeat would help create the impression of a larger Bush mandate, that's why it's so important, I think.