[Sabertooth]

"If now is not the right time, when will it be? Who cares about the coalition. They are just holding us back. "

I'm not sure that's the case. My thinking is that President Bush has adopted something of a "rope-a-dope" strategy.

By maintaining a "coalition" with Islamic states, inclucing some like Syria and Iran that sponsor terrorism, even Arafat's little nest of vipers, and then picking off the most immediate threats like bin Laden, the Taliban, and Hussein's Iraq, we are defusing a rapid escalation of the War on Terror (which I think will prove to be World War III) at a pace not of our choosing. That's what we're waiting for.

We just made some very important arrangements with Iran, which, if you read between the lines, allow us some use of their airspace. You think we're doing that just for Afghanistan? Hardly. This is to close off one of Sadaam Hussein's back doors.

Sooner of later, most of these terrorist states will peel off from the coalition, putting their necks in the noose as they do so. And each, in turn, will set itself up as the next target in the war.

Perhaps this is wishful thinking on my part, but I've reached this conclusion after watching the President's methods since taking office. He thrives on being underestimated. He makes "moderate" noises to get his foes to drop their guard enough to give him the edge. Once this happens, he usually returns to a position not too far from that of his base, thus keeping them in line by not allowing them to take him for granted.

The Arab Islamic states will betray us first. We'll hang them as necessary. Then perhaps Pakistan, the Turks, and the ethnic Turks of the Central Asian republics.

Russia and China will abide longer, as the War on Terror affords them the opportunity to put down Isamic zealots in their own territories.

Most of NATO, especially Britain and Italy (Berlusconi is dynamite) will stay firm with us.

At that point, their will be nothing to prevent us from overtly lining up with our natural allies in this, Israel and India.

I think the picture is far larger than we're giving our team credit for.

[PRND21]

Good analysis.

[richwolo]

Hi Saberetooth. your analysis is very good and I agree almost wholeheartedly with all you have to say. I am however dismayed by the shortsighted so called "Hawks" on this board. I sometimes wonder how many of them are from the liberal left, and posing as Freepers on this board. Why in heavens name would a Freeper (If he really were one) be against our President and his strategic plan.

[cgbg]

I agree that is the strategy. I hope it works.

[EricT.]

I believe you have nailed it.

[pgkdan]

I hope your analysis proves to be correct. Everyday I read something that Powell says that totally sets me off and I have to remind myself that he is President Bush's SOS, not a freelance and Bush is a good man who can be trusted. I believe that the coalition exists for expediency only...it's not born of a shared set of values, morals and beliefs. We'll see what the future holds.

That being said...there is no honor in abandoning Israel, and I'll scream like a banshee any time I think we're heading down that road. Israel is one of our most faithful ally and should be treated as such.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Shame on you Sabertooth, there was a perfectly good thread going here and you had to inject good sense into it. Consider yourself scolded.