tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11788678.post3497532768585951798..comments2023-09-11T04:48:39.381-05:00Comments on South by Southwest: Confusing and confounding a fragile Middle EastCarol Geehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01477201611599486930noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11788678.post-46827237802990862142007-10-22T05:30:00.000-05:002007-10-22T05:30:00.000-05:00Granny, welcome! I visited Is America Burning and...Granny, welcome! I visited Is America Burning and your "family" blog, too. I was struck by what a warm and validating community you have built in this strange world we call the blogosphere. I will be back there, also. <BR/>Did "Future" think you and I are "birds of a feather?" We may be. <BR/>Thanks for your comment, and thanks to Future for sending you.Carol Geehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01477201611599486930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11788678.post-5181062088899132182007-10-20T16:47:00.000-05:002007-10-20T16:47:00.000-05:00The Future is Yesterday recommended your blog so h...The Future is Yesterday recommended your blog so here I am.<BR/><BR/>I'll be back.<BR/><BR/>Ann (aka granny)<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://isamericaburning.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow"> Is America Burning</A><BR/><BR/>(The link in my name takes you to my family oriented blog - quite a different story.)Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17283823157675990935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11788678.post-53320987365950224082007-10-19T22:13:00.000-05:002007-10-19T22:13:00.000-05:00"Is it worth a whole post?"Jeeze, I thought you al...<B><I>"Is it worth a whole post?"</I></B><BR/>Jeeze, I thought you already had half of it written in your reply to me!:)<BR/><BR/>Only you can decide what's worthy of your efforts. I will only say I've not yet seen anything, in the short time I've read you, to suggest any post would not be worth the time to read it. If you do decide to post regarding that subject, you can throw out the last question. I already know the answer: because we're led by a complete idiot! Check my (still to come as I write this comment) next post. Perhaps that'll help you decide.The Future Was Yesterdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06515544130113138363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11788678.post-68271114634815390082007-10-19T09:54:00.000-05:002007-10-19T09:54:00.000-05:00Future, I am going to take the liberty of also rep...Future, I am going to take the liberty of also replying to your previous comment re PAA & FISA - You could never come across as a dose of acid rain. You are a rational dose of reality. <BR/>I guess we'll know when the FISA bill finally goes to the president's desk. You know me; I am an optimist.<BR/><BR/>I am pleased to take on your challenge of giving you my take on the long-standing difficulty of finding peace in the Middle East.<BR/>I'll begin here, and perhaps then continue with a regular post later.<BR/><BR/>First I think of geography. It is a cross-through region on the path between Europe and Africa as well having proximity to South Asia. All colonial powers have had designs on the lands.<BR/>Second I think of religion. There is an unfortunate history of religious leaders being willing to fight to the death to predominate. The Middle East is the seat of some of the contending religions.<BR/>Third I think of terrain. Deserts breed fierce and wonderfully resilient people, who are not terribly border conscious. <BR/>And last, in the modern era you have oil - Black Gold - Dubai's coin of the realm. Oil in the Middle East has made incredibly huge disparities between the have's and have-not's, not a recipe for easy peace.<BR/>As for (why) we are always taking on the role of peacemakers, I'm not sure. There were times when we have had the credibility to be seen as honest brokers, though not in several years. There were leaders who seemed to have a penchant for peace, such as Carter and Clinton. And now the conflict is a threat to our national security if it goes regional. And, of course, now also for the U.S. it is "all about the awl," Black Gold as it was know in Bush's Texas and Cheney's Wyoming. Ugh!<BR/>Future, thanks for the comment and your idea. Is it worth a whole post?Carol Geehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01477201611599486930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11788678.post-16816662305287250862007-10-19T06:40:00.000-05:002007-10-19T06:40:00.000-05:00I know you're supposed to be asking the questions,...I know you're supposed to be asking the questions, and I'm supposed to be (trying) to answer them, but I'd really like to hear your take on something:<BR/><BR/>The centuries old inability of that region (the ME) to ever achieve any meaningful peace for any length of time? And what exactly makes us think WE can do it?The Future Was Yesterdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06515544130113138363noreply@blogger.com