JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
Don't forget Pakistan. Nut cases from that country seem to be behind the
increased levels of violence in Afghanistan.


Yep.

For that matter, we shouldn't forget Indonesia. One thing
that the Bush Administration has gotten right, Muslim
fanaticism is a world wide threat. But their approach (More
& bigger guns, but only when our dearest cronies make a
profit on it) has made the whole issue much worse.


We'll also need to deal with the fact that huge numbers of middle-class
skilled professionals are leaving Iraq. That's a bad thing in any country -
just look at the number of hospitals here that offer hefty signing bonuses
and other perks to nurses. But, why would anyone want to spend 8 or more
years becoming a doctor, only to return to Iraq where just walking down the
street is like playing Russian roulette with 5 rounds in a revolver?


Agreed, but that prolem will solve itself when we take away
the Russian Roulette game *and* give them middle-class
professions that they can work at, staying in Iraq.

Right now, the only job most Iraqis can get is working for
the police. That's very limited, exposes them to the risk of
suicide bomb attack while they're waiting in line, and also
puts them in touch with the fundie militia recruiters... in
other words, it's not solving the problem.

DSK