From: George Sherwood 

I have been asked before where I think the Middle East is heading and this
article is close to some of my thoughts.  Not very PC, but not clear where
it is wrong. Of course Adam with laugh it off since it doesn't fit his
pan-Arabia vision.

George

http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=9302

Adam falls into this trap particularly with his boasting of the
"powerful" Iranian military.


"Now the Mussolini syndrome is at work over Iran. All the symptoms are
present, including tabulated lists of Iran's warships, despite the fact
that most are over 30 years old; of combat aircraft, many of which (F-4s,
Mirages, F-5s, F-14s) have not flown in years for lack of spare parts; and
of divisions and brigades that are so only in name. There are awed
descriptions of the Pasdaran revolutionary guards, inevitably described as
"elite," who do indeed strut around as if they have won many a
war, but who have actually fought only one—against Iraq, which they lost.
As for Iran's claim to have defeated Israel by Hizbullah proxy in last
year's affray, the publicity was excellent but the substance went the other
way, with roughly 25 per cent of the best-trained men dead, which explains
the tomb-like silence and immobility of the once rumbustious Hizbullah ever
since the ceasefire."

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5