Hi Rob,
On , you wrote me:

 RM> MG~The problem with replacing Saddam is that the visible possible
 RM>   ~replacements are expected to be as bad or worse.

 RM> I'd agree since the 'visible' replacements are all part of the same
 RM> machine..  What we don't see are the invisible ones, necessarily
 RM> so because anyone on the radar meets with an untimely death.
 RM> Ultimately a democracy might put someone less bloodthirsty into
 RM> power but, as you say, that's not what Bush is advocating.

One must wonder what Bush is advocating.  It seems the best scenario, at
least from what would appear to be his point of view, is a puppet regime
which offers the lutre of democracy to the people of Iraq while ensuring
that democracy will not in anyway prevent the USA from access to oil
reserves.

 RM> MG~I might see it differently if the common rhetoric was that the
 RM>   ~USA was going to free the opppressed Iraqi people, but that
 RM>   ~is not the major flavour of the Bush Residency's media machine.

 RM> We all saw how 'loyal' his subjects were in the Gulf War with
 RM> the Iraqui army tripping over each other trying to surrender
 RM> first, so it's not like they don't Know they are oppressed.
 RM> Hard to say where this might go..

Good point.

 RM> MG~In fact, holding Iraq not only helps to put a new wrinkle on world
 RM>   ~oil supplies, it is also in a particularly good position from a
 RM>   ~military point of view: close to America's prime enemies.

 RM> Who knows?... I can't see the region ever being stable.
 RM> ('The region' being the entire middle east.)
 RM> Probably the best plan would be to take the defence budget
 RM> and put it into finding a cheap replacement for Oil...   B)

That would not occur to Bush, being an oil "man" frmo Texas...

 RM> I understand they can do almost anything with Soya and
 RM> Canola (Rape Seed) oil these days...
 RM> "Fill 'er up.. and put some on my salad.."   B)

A lot of conservatives in another echo have poopoo'd the idea that solar
power is viable, and that hydrogen fuel cells are not viable, and yet I saw
something on TV just two weeks ago which leads me to believe that this
poopoo'ing is more protectionism for oil than it is actual good sense.




From the desk of,

  Michael

--- DevilPoint  6.66