starting this thread, which i hope will be short-lived, to keep the board up to date with latest reports gleaned from the net

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Its French , did you mean c'est la guerre

Aids,

Jesus, got it wrong again.

(I didn't.)

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C.

I suggest you read my postings again.

Firstly,

Brief revue of the some recent ME events :

Tunisia seems to be a relatively successful peaceful revolution, but as Bi Ca Essebsi said : We will see to it that this election be the first one in Tunisias history to take place in total credibility and transparency.

Also, I hope that a continuing egalitarian democracy results.
Egypt revolution appears relatively bloodless, up but I await the outcome of the proposed elections later this year.
I also await the withdrawal of the military force from its present governing role and the evaluation of the Judiciary.

I hope that the changes in society evolve quickly and bloodlessly into a democracy relevant to the needs of the majority of Egyptians.

Libya,

I have watched the revolution evolve and surprised that such a headless group of revolutionaries have been successful.
If the information that has been in the media is relatively accurate, I hope the revolutionaries are successful.

I would like outside agencies to help the majority of that country to succeed in removal of Gaddafi and move to democratic form of government representative of the wishes of the majority of that country.

Whether, the New Coalition with its United Nations mandate is the appropriate body, or not, I dont know. However, it does seem to be the only gun in town at the moment.

In that it has the authority of the UN, (the interpretation of the mandate is open to discussion) I accept it and I am glad but not happy for the military actions which are taking place at the moment.
The so called No Fly Zone is going to cost a far high death toll than is realised by many.

My anxieties are the outcomes of the actions and at what are the future costs, financially, politically and on humanitarian bases.
I dont know, it could turn out far better than I think.

Like NM I dislike violence for violences sake and would prefer a stronger UN with powers to intervene at earlier stages in such dilemmas.

Also, I would have prefer less delays before actions, but understand the organisation which was going on behind the scenes.

But, even with the removal of Gaddafi, the formation of a democratic government representative of Libya is going to be tortuous.

Again, why not Syria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel.

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I wish like NM that there were better ways of dealing with international problems and greed and power were not the motivators of actions.

Also, wish the hypocrisy of the "political" spokesmen and women was not so evident.

oh yawn .... try living in the real world nm and not in some airy-fairy make-believe place where all live by confucian teachings .... the lion has never lain down with the lamb nor is ever going to, unless he has already supped well

M

I find your musings quite interesting to read, but I must admit to generally failing to grasp the point you are trying to make. I do not delude myself to believing I am above average intelligence, or even just average (some would no doubt say below) but most of your posts seem an attempt to use bullshit to baffle brains.

As Cynic states you appear to be of the opinion the Libyan rebels (or patriots?) have made their collective beds and should therefore reap the consequences? Incidentally, every situation is different and I don't think useful comparisons can be drawn with China, Iraq, Bosnia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda or anywhere else.

Idealists bemoan kinetic action but have no alternative solution.

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mnamreh

Are you perchance a/ex academic ?

i have never been an academic or similar, so have never lived in one of their ivory towers, and nor have i ever been in the services of any kind, though often i march to my own band ...... my band tells me loud and clear that MN lives in cloud-cuckoo land where they think his nebulous musings pass for wisdom

NM,

"It appears that not just testosterone is overly affecting the attitudes both you and Cynic are displaying - "

It seems to me they are over compensating for their own realities.

my testosterones are very comfortable thank you fred!

I would not trust any of them. Look at Bahrain. The people in power will try to retain it at any cost, as for their population to them they are mere expendable pawns.

Or even prawns

the bahraini monarchy may not be the most enlightened, but it's certainly no worse than say the saudi bunch nor even that in dubai ..... though there was a facade of all sorts of alleged repression and/or discrimination against the shiites, i wonder how much the "cause" was subverted and fomented from outside (iran!) ..... many of the protesters also came in from saudi, and they will have now been well marked

just for general info, the airport re-opened for biz on saturday and ditto the causeway

this below causes me some consternation, as it implies land forces of some kind, even if only small contingents of SAS or similar ..... i was under the impression that neither the un mandate, nor more importantly, the arab world (AL) nor the "rebels" themselves wanted anything to do with outsider-soldiers on the ground

British Prime Minister David Cameron will seek lawmakers' support in London on Monday for military action in Libya, as ministers refused to rule out targeting Moamer Kadhafi himself.

Only way to get rid of Gadaffe once and for all. Who cares how it is done.

i do .....

as with iraq, having weighed up everything, i came to the very reluctant conclusion that if SH had womd that could be deployed within an hour, then there was no option - it was a lie of course .....

libya is somewhat different, and much as emotionally i would like to see MG disappear in a puff of smoke, on the info to hand, i would not go along with sending in troops

Agreed! Was also of opinion rebels wished to do it on their own and that's the way it should be!

amr mussa is a complete idiot! ...... within 24 hours he has turned a full 360 degrees ....

The Arab League got back behind international military strikes against Libya on Monday after comments by its leader had indicated divisions over the campaign against Moamer Kadhafi.

It is good to see that Cameron have got the economy into good enough state to wish to lead the West into another war.

What is the cost of the latest escapade so far?

What will the next cut backs to pay for this ill-conceived, ill-thought out escapade without a command structure?

(Bit like his cabinet.)

What will be the ongoing cost after 12 months, when the America may pull out.

What will be the cost of the grandstanding by Cameron and Osborne.

Where is the command system.

Is Cameron standing for post of overall commander.?

Was he trying to distract attention by his Libyan adventure or cock-up, from the failing economy he is continuing to create.

In that say the foresaw the impending Banks Crash, but at the same time wished for less legislation prior to the fiasco, why couldnt they foreseen the ME flare up and had a policy in place for it?

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UK inflation rate rises to 4.4% in February
Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation - which includes mortgage interest payments - rose to 5.5% from 5.1% in January, the highest rate for 20 years.

The CPI measure has now been one percentage point or more above the 2% target for 15 months.

Government borrowing up, Income down.



Unemployment over 8%

Was it over 15% under Maggie. Suppose it has to go higher under Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum.

This PM should try walking water.


Preferably deep water.