November 25, 2006
WRONG HORSE:
US diplomatic initiative in Middle East (Harry De Quetteville, 25/11/2006, Sunday Telegraph)
America has launched a week-long, high-stakes diplomatic offensive for control of the Middle East, rallying allies against Iranian influence sweeping through the region.Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, began the battle to stop the rising tide of Iranian power with a visit yesterday to Saudi Arabia, America's key oil-producing ally in the Gulf.
The Administration has lost track of its own narrative. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 25, 2006 10:24 PM
Both horses have real problems - but the Shi'a need to figure out if they will be led by homocidial messianic maniacs or by leaders who will take them forward into the reformation you keep writing about. The mullahs in Iran, their proxy Ahmadinejad, and the fat blobs in Iraq and Lebanon are the worst enemies the Shi'a have.
Posted by: ratbert at November 25, 2006 11:26 PMThe mullahs oppose Ahmedinejad, but we've done rather well as homicidal messianists.
Posted by: oj at November 25, 2006 11:42 PMThat's because when we perform homicidal policies we do it with cold efficiency instead of with an surfeit of emotion.
Smallpox-laden blankets are so much more efficient than Gatling guns, althought not nearly as emotionlly satisfying.
Posted by: ray at November 26, 2006 11:39 AM