[Thinkerbell]

What do you think is going to happen in the MidEast? All out war? Will things calm down and go back to normal?

I think what we're seeing now is the result of the Bush policy of bringing aggression and more violence to this region. I'm very queasy at the thought of this administration having to deal with these events.

Jimmy Carter, where are you when we need you?

[TriptreysNJ]

I foresee lots of bombs and explosions in the near future. Actually, Isreal just last night sent planes and bombed a southern part of Bairut! Insanity!

[iceberg]

I think there will be some fighting and skirmishes, but hopefully nothing major. It's making the stock market very nervous. Good thing I pulled out earlier.

[Lytspeed]

I'm very concerned about the stability of the Middle East, and about our country's tendency to stir the pot over there. I agree, Think, that the Bush administration deserves some of the responsibility for the instability, but I don't think that's all there is to it. The Middle East has been unstable since it came into existence; considering the combination of religious importance (to multiple religions), historical importance, and natural resources in the area, it's no surprise that it has always been a battleground.

What scares me is that the weapons are now powerful enough to destroy the battleground itself, not just the soldiers (as Truman proved in Japan.)

Remember when India and Pakistan were rattling nuclear sabres a few years back, and President Bush stepped in to try and bring some stability to the situation? The Onion, a satrirical newspaper, asked about the situation in its weekly "Man on the Street" question. One of the responses was, "I would feel a lot better about how President Bush is handling this nuclear brinkmanship if he actually knew how to pronounce 'nuclear.'"

[Thinkerbell]

I agree that the MidEast was a mess before we showed up to take over Iraq. In fact, that's one of the reasons I think it's foolish for an outsider to think he can come in and "bring democracy to the region". That's like the marriage counselor saying he can make a troubled marriage work. The only way it can work is if the two people in it want it to. You can't impose a principle on a country from the outside, especially in that region.

People have been in conflict in that region from the get go. (don't even get me started on the topic of religion and the damage it has done to people thorugh the ages) I don't believe it will ever end. Not when you have pervasive poverty, lack of education, and closed societies. To believe a couple of white guys inside the Beltway can direct the future of that part of the world is ludicrous.

I don't believe the MidEast would be all fine and dandy if we hadn't gone into Iraq. But I think it wouldn't be in the worse mess that it is now.

[sensei24]

I'm quite close to the area. I'm a little scared of what happens on this planet.
All the countries fight eachother for a piece of land .
This is the result of the first world war.

[dovla]

i think the situation in the middle east be always be the same..as the situation here in Balcan. it is a political topic, and i don't want to ofend anyone.. but it is so obvious, when earth exists, there will be wars..

if there is not wars, weapon factories will be closed.. and that is a big money loss for somebody..

for my 23 years, i lived in 4 wars,and 3 months of bombing, and you must admit that is too much.. and the situation here is not improving..

[iceberg]

There is too much fighting for land, oil and nuclear disarmament. Next it will be for food and water. I think that all of this was foreseen by Nostradamus, even 9/11/01. Am I a nutjob? Wait, don't answer that one (lol). Just imagine if he played poker (hmmm).

[Thinkerbell]

Iceberg, I don't think you're a nutjob. But everytime I see your picture I do want to get a hair dryer and thaw you out. You look soooooo coooooold!

[iceberg]

Global warming will fix that PDQ. We're plenty HOT down here in Houston .