sent by my neice, Reutie

Very impressive, now all the Israeli's need to do to equal all these accomplishments is to get a government which gives them what they really want-peace, MB
Monday, January 29, 2007 Comments (1) | Permalink

Impeachment: A Note of Caution

Beware of actions of revenge. We have just seen such in the killing of Saddam Hussein. Impeachment should only be the last course after all others have been exhausted. It is a real shame we don't have the parliamentory system as they have in the UK. Bush and his cabal would be out by now. Pursuit of the truth should be the mantra. Let all the dirty laundry be hung out without a washing for all to see. It probably be so bad that we will have all learned some serious lessons of what to clean up now and avoid in the future. Why not take a page from the Greeks-ostracise them. MB
Saturday, January 27, 2007 Comments (2) | Permalink

Economist.com: Israel and the Jews - Diaspora blues & Jimmy Carter’s advice

Interesting and serious reaction to this subject has brought about some additional articles worth reading. For over six decades this problem has soured the world and our relations with most of the Middle East. The problem is not solved by the governments involved-they are too captive of the radical right on both sides. Even worse is the responsibilty of the American and Russian governments who have used this conflict for their own agendas. In particular America can make this happen. The Saudi's made a proposal to Bush in 2003. It should be taken seriously rather than his off-hand dismissal. From Carter on our rulers have made attempts to bring peace to the area. Bush II has done nothing for 6 years. MB
Sunday, January 21, 2007 Comments (0) | Permalink

Book Review: Palestine Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter

Carter's Inconvenient Truths by Paul Craig Roberts is better than any of the many reviews I have read. Again someone is reviewing Carter's writing on this subject. The book is easy to read and well documented. It clearly presents a picture of the situation in Palestine which is the prime cause of troubles in the Middle East. Anyone who really wants to know about the situation should read it. For decades I have been warning about this tragedy. I learned some more by reading this book. MB I have never been a fan of Carter as I consider him resonsible for Iran. It was on his watch that the rug was pulled out from under the Shah. Reza Pahlavi was the best friend America and Israel had in the Middle East. Yes, he had some warts but compared to what followed him he was the best for Iranians and America. Another personal story - everyone I knew in Iran either fled the country or they were killed. M
Thursday, January 18, 2007 Comments (0) | Permalink

Who Rules America?

REALLY SUGGEST YOU READ! This is a most interesting article forwarded by Dagmar and Anton. In some ways it reads like a conspiracy theory. However much of its contents ring bells not to be ignored. Descriptions of the "New Rich" bring forth thoughts of the Russian or Chinese revolutions when the canyon between the haves and have-nots had become so great. Their middle classes, as now in American, had been so denigrated that they were no longer politically as effective being squeezed between the poor and the rich. When you see executives taking 500 > 1000 times normal salaries something is askew. The retiring Chairman of Exxon receiving a 'golden parachute' of $400 million. Yes, the reason given is Exxon's earnings increased 42% over 2005, their assets over 46% since '04. During his tenure Exxon value increased over 500 %. That is great for Exxon. What about the minimum wage worker who has to commute 50 miles to a job on $3 gas? I wish James Petras, the author. had made it more apparent that Jews, Zionists and Israel are not exactly of the same political philosophy. There are many Jews who do not agree with Israel and many are not Zionists. There is no question that the Israel Lobby has tremendous clout in Washington. Going back to the creation of Israel we have seen increasing influence by its lobby on the positions and actions of both American political parties. The actions influenced by Israel have frequently been to the detriment of our national interests. In 1958, I was on a Middle East assignment for the then Senator John F. Kennedy. I warned orally and in written reports that “the Palestine refugee problem is the grounds for WWIII”. We are on the verge of such a horror. MB
Sunday, January 14, 2007 Comments (0) | Permalink

The Economist : Don’t Do It

An interesting article which needs some serious reflection. What choices have we? Talk of a surge is much in the news today. We have already had a so called surge. It totally ignored the "Powell Doctrine" which calls for overwhelming force and numbers. The recent increase in Baghdad was not sufficient. We do not have the numbers available to do the job. Papa Bush had 500,000 available with his allies. Those numbers would probably be able to make a surge successful. Our rulers are hooked on military solutions though Bush, Cheney, Rice never saw active service. Rumsfeld was the only one who had any idea of the negative side of war-if there is ever a positive side. Perle, Wolfowitz, etc sat out active duty so they could armchair the whole plan. The solution needs to be political. Diplomacy is not the winning suit of this administration. Also what do they have to offer the most important players in the region? Almost all Mid East hands will agree that the best solution is to offer a federal form of government, giving Kurds, Shia and Sunnis guarantees of fair treatment. These three really want nothing to do with one another. The only way Iraq was kept together was with strong men, starting with the Ottoman Sultan and eventually Saddam Hussein. The British could not do it. All of their satraps were wiped out. Fifthteen of the sixteen people I knew in Baghdad were assassinated when the Baathists took over. My host was castrated, feet wrapped in barb wire, dragged through the streets behind a jeep to be hacked to pieces. A nice place we are trying to turn democratic. MB
Saturday, January 6, 2007 Comments (0) | Permalink

Thanks for the Memories

In case you have not recalled, a trip down Memory Lane. MB
Wednesday, January 3, 2007 Comments (0) | Permalink