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Edited on Sat Sep-09-06 09:03 PM by LuckyTheDog
1) In Afghanistan, warlords have turned most of the country into an ungovernable narco state and the Taliban are making a strong come-back.
(2) Iraq is engaged in a three-way civil war and our president won't even declare whose side we're supposed to be fighting on. We didn't think things could get worse there, but it did.
(3) Iran, once run by a semi-radical is now run by a complete nut, thanks to the potency of anti-American rhetoric these days.
(4) Pakistan is probably our biggest problem. That nuclear-armed state is in severe turmoil thanks to an unpopular dictatorship and a growing radical Islamic movement. The term "powderkeg" comes to mind.
(5) Saudi Arabia has been and is still a primary source of money and recruits for terrorism. It is run by a bunch of idiots with more money than sense. And, instead of leaning on them for real change, Bush holds hand (literally) with members of its royal family. But then, why shouldn't he? His family owes the Saudi royals a lot of favors -- and he values personal loyalty above all else.
(6) None of the small Gulf states is really stable or pro-American. Ever hear of al Jazeera? It's based in Qatar. Dubai (the country Bush wanted to trust with U.S. port security) is a major trans-shipment point for drugs and illegal arms and a money-laundering center.
(7) Kuwait's security should not be our priority. But, that said, I doubt that a the civil war in Iraq and Iraq's new pro-Iranian regime gives Kuwait much comfort. Same for Jordon.
(8) Syria is as dangerous and anti-American as ever.
(9) Lebanon is a mess. The fact that Hezbollah recently kicked Israel's butt and is now paying for reconstruction will only make it more popular. And the situation on the ground is still unstable. The cease-fire might not hold.
(10) The Israeli-Palestinian situation is as far from a settlement as it has ever been.
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