Wed 18 Nov 2009
In an op-ed yesterday on why he has grown so pessimistic about the prospect for Israeli-Palestinian peace, Roger Cohen quotes Israeli author David Grossman,
We have dozens of atomic bombs, tanks and planes. We confront people possessing none of these arms. And yet, in our minds, we remain victims. This inability to perceive ourselves in relation to others is our principal weakness.
Does that sound familiar? Our endless war in Afghanistan? The entire War on Terror? And although I don’t like Iran either, as pointed out by Juan Cole,
Iran’s military budget is a little over $6 billion annually. Sweden, Singapore and Greece all have larger military budgets. Moreover, Iran is a country of 70 million, so that its per capita spending on defense is tiny compared to these others, since they are much smaller countries with regard to population. Iran spends less per capita on its military than any other country in the Persian Gulf region with the exception of the United Arab Emirates.
Yet we continue to threaten them with bombing and obliteration, and a media that is salivating for more war – oh so reminiscent of Iraq.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Ummmm, Iran’s “official” military is definitely small.
But the problem with editorials; they too often miss the mark of facts. Other than nuclear devices, Iran’s official military is a joke that no one could care less about … it’s those groups of rogues running around IED’s and Russian made Kalishnikov’s and RPG’s that are the real issue.
The Palestinian issue is such a joke. Funny how many ME peoples I have talked too, and they can’t stand the Palestinians … they are universally known as wackjobs and lunatics.
How do you make peace with insanity?
November 19th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Excellent post Eric
November 19th, 2009 at 11:49 am
There is that saying about arguing with a fool and you too become a fool. I suppose the same would be true for going to war with the insane. It is insanity.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
No, actually the two aren’t tantamount. Looking like a fool is merely a social perception.
War actually kills people, especially when it is being continued, ad infinitum, by criminally insane peoples.
There can be no peace with Palestine. Give them what they want, and they will continually ask for more. Like I said, even within Middle Eastern culture and society, Palestinians are the idiotic, red headed step child that no one can stand.