July 31, 2002

7:48 AM

Back from a vigorous and exhausting vacation of petty but life sustaining activities, I find this overview of our larger reality, without the noisy claptrap of narrowly self serving ideologies, yet worrisome enough to shake the world's boat I'm travelling in with some comfort and some reasonable concern spiced with anxiety. (NYT)
posted by semmi (5 comments total)

Yes, there's always that pesky Law of Unintended Consequences. Along with the oil there's the Kurds: an Iraq unable to stiffle them will undoubtably force Turkey, Syria and Iran to move against the Kurds. Untetherd Shiites in the south will get the backing of Iran. So, will we allow Iraq to be carved up like a Christmas turkey or help this 'democracy' we installed (a contradiction in terms) brutally supress its minorities and fend off its neighbors?
posted by Mack Twain at 8:46 AM on July 31, 2002

Is Iraq a member of OPEC?
posted by insomnyuk at 9:17 AM on July 31, 2002

Yes, of course.
posted by mediareport at 12:19 PM on July 31, 2002

I think Korea, Japan, Germany, and, to a lesser, less proven extent, Bosnia, all demonstrate that if the US is serious about advancing a civil liberties-respecting free market democratic system, in a country that has not recently experienced that form of government, years of occupation by western troops are necessary as a stabilizing force.
posted by pjgulliver at 12:22 PM on July 31, 2002

I promise to chuckle at the irony if we cancel the second Gulf War over oil prices.
posted by apostasy at 12:44 PM on July 31, 2002