Jimmy Carter, The Most Respected Man In America? Naaaah!....

All this about religion. Not really, it's just an excuse.
You can see this struggle in the microcosm of a work place. It's all about "with" and "without". The people without are not willing to do what the people with have done to be with. Like the American Revolutionaries kicking out English rule. The people in these extremely impoverished counries are led by Talliban or some other extremist party(I know, The US installed the Talliban). Sadly, you may die trying to do what it takes to be with, but that's the risk you take. Also, I do not believe real democracy can be installed anywhere, it has to be wanted by the people willing to do what it takes to be with, and they have to win. You, my English freind, are right, this is to be a war on terrorist extremist, not Muslims, or any other religion. BTW, you can keep Madonna, PULEEZE!

I go along with your wishful thinking on mideast peace, and no, I don't have a crystal ball, but I believe any peace between Israel and Palistine will be brief at best. Historically, they both feel that their people are entitled to the land promised to Abraham because of the family line. In this case, the sin of Abraham and Sarah to see God's plan their own way, out of lack of faith, led to a split blessing of a large line of decendants. I can simpathize with both sides, but my alliegence is with US/Israel because I read the whole book and know how it comes out. If Bush's road to a Nobel Prize, which was politically levered against him by being given to Carter, is realization of mideast peace through his administration of mediation, then he can tie up his trophy case with something else.

You have yourself and yours a Merry Christmas too.

My good English friend, no disrespect taken. You have good manners and I detect no animosity.
I agree that Bush's plan in action could be the solution for peace in the mideast, but I disbelieve the ability of the leaders of the region to accept a comprimise that would pacify the people long term. Just for the sake of this discussion, let's say Israel pulls out of the West Bank, maybe gives up a little more land, call it Palistine and (here's the fantasy part) the suicide bombings stop. Palistinians keep making babies, immigrating back from around the globe and growing, ultimately they will need more land. What's to stop the people from being rallied up with "we want back the land that is rightfully ours".

Here in the US we have a lobby group called "Sierra Club" that is a very dedicated and effective bunch. Their agenda is to conserve as much land in its natural state as possible. This includes restoring as much land as possible. Seems like a great cause, doesn't it? This means reversing man's development or use of the land for residential, commercial or recreation purposes. (unless your recreation is of their purist taste) So they petition the closure of millions of acres, "compromise" for a fraction of that, and then petition again. It's an incrimental advance of their agenda. They have their extremist sympathizers too. Criminally violent groups like ELF, Earth First and PETA. Back to the war on terrorists, these are terrorists.

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