what is scary in the so-called War Against Terrorism is that both sides are controlled by religious fundamentalists, (and both are sons of billionares).
not to mention the mutual oil basis of their wealth, plus the connections between the two families:
The younger Bush made his first million 20 years ago with an oil company partly funded by Salem Bin Laden's chief US representative. Young George also received fees as director of a subsidiary of Carlyle Corporation, a little known private company which has, in just a few years of its founding, become one of Americas biggest defence contractors. His father, Bush Senior, is also a paid advisor. And what became embarrassing was the revelation that the Bin Ladens held a stake in Carlyle, sold just after September 11.
full transcript
So it's fairly clear that the Bushes and binLadens have mutual interests in Saudi, possibly in Afghanistan, and certainly in Iraq/Kuwait. It would seem strange if Muslims and Xians could be so chummy in the 70s and so opposed at present. Prince Fahd of Saudi has generated to most press about that mystrious country since the Gulf War with his 'peace treaty' for the region. While many regional politicans seem to endorse the tried and tested 'land for peace' initiative, I doubt many Muslim clerics would be happy with the arrangement. It would be interesting to see exactly what the relationship between the Saudi royal family and the bin Ladens was.
The original purpose of this thread has been subsumed as always into my current uber-conspiracy. However to get back 'on thread': where does this leave Israel and the Palestinians? Despite it verging on a taboo subject most people are aware that there are powerful jewish lobbying groups, and that jewish influence in academia, the media and industry is significant. So on the one hand we have Islamic influence in the realm of oil (and islam, like judaism, has a history of both looking after their own, and charity) and on the other a US government who's ears are turned towards the Anti-defamation League, Hollwood, the mass media etc. Bush needs the jewish community on side if he's to win his 'war on terrorism'; both for votes, influence in hollywood (for propaganda purposes) and the support of Israel as a 'friendly country' in the WaT. However he also needs the support of Arab countries if he's to seriously contemplate removing Saddam (why is anyone's guess - or could it be for the oil?), not to mention the support of the OPEC countries he needs just to run the war on terrorism (imagine if the OPEC countries stopped selling oil to the US!!!).
All very confusing (both my desciption and the actual situation
) but you'll agree that there's no clear cut path for BUsh - he's damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't. Kinda makes you feel sorry for him... NOT!!!
I'm afraid I must say that I'm not a fan of the Israeli state, it seems to have been an ill thought out plan in the first place, and I'm sceptical of any real claims that Jewish people put on 'ownership' of the holy land. By all means they should have the right to live in the region they consider their ancestral home, but simply handing them a load of guns and telling them they can have an area that's inconveniently full of indingious arabs, who can lay claim to the area for a span of centuries, seems somewhat short sighted.
Why do jewish people deserve such special dispensation? The Navajo have been hounded, murdered, shattered by disease, had there livelihoods destroyed, been forced into alcoholism and abused for centuries, yet they don't get there own arms budget, country and world recognition - neither do the romany who were equally dispised by Hitler (though not as many died in the gas chamber).
Other people have commented that it's none of the Us or Uks business what happens to Israel or the the Palestinians, but that's completely wrong - it's us who drew up the post war plan, us who armed and created the country, us who continue to subsidise their failing economy, us who consistantly back Israeli claims over palestinan ones, and us who refuse to inforce UN resolutions relating to Palestine and Israel.
Only if the US did something radical like withdraw their subsidies would Israeli policy change. It's ludicrous to think that these two groups are in any way equal. The palestinians live in shanty towns, are undereducated, undernourished, suffer daily humiliation from civilans and 'security forces' alike and are, rightly, very angry about this - however it is not there poverty which is exposed to the press, but the destruction caused by a few suicidal 'martyrs'. The Israelis live a cafe society life, often are fair weather citizens (living only part of the year there) are well cared for, well educated and have a private militia which can enforce the policies of increasingly deranged politicians in the most brutal way without the batting of an eyelid from the western media or politicians.
God I enjoy a good rant! - I'm nowhere near to resolving what I was trying to get at (whatever that was) but feel alot better for it. Appologies to any Jews who feel I've insulted them - it's the state of israel which annoys me, not israelis.
