[VRW Conspirator]

A Kuwaiti government official said: "If America asks for support Kuwait will give it. I expect the same response from all Gulf states. There may be the need publicly to be anti-war, but under-the-table deals are being struck."

Do I sense a crack in the "sand coalition"?

[Texasforever]

Maybe there is a small pocket of honor left in that God forsaken region afterall

[Right To Life]

Kuwait needs to chat with the Taliban about the wisdom of opposing the USA.

[GVnana]

Do I sense a crack in the "sand coalition"?

I was going to say a break in the iceberg, but yours is the better metaphor. I've been thinking all along the public is having to endure a waiting game while ducks are getting counted and deals struck. We do, after all, have to leave Iraq in a stable condition and this will require much change in the ME. If we pull this off, we might live to see a world at peace.

[maryz]

Do I sense a crack in the "sand coalition"?

I don't think the "sand coalition" (nice phrase, BTW) has ever put anything ahead of self-interest.

[sam_paine]

Do I sense a crack in the "sand coalition"?

Since the physical stick-slip properties of sand can emulate a quasi-liquid phase, it might be better to characterize the chasm as a "shift" in the sand coalition, rather than a crack... Even though this would be cliche..... (Just drinking lotsa coffee this morning...)