The Current situation in Iraq demostrates how the Bush administration has not miscalculated political events there.
But that they have totally missed the point of most Arab States cultures at this present day period.
Iraq was the most secular state in the Arab world before the U.S. takeover.
Now we are seeing the effects of Moslem Religion that had been tried to set aside by the previous government and the lack of an existance of a civil society in Iraq.
  Geting Iraq to a relative stable civil society will take at least a generation or more of influence from the U.S. and Great Britain.
That is a very long period of time -- at least 25 years or more to police a nation state.
  Do you want U.S. troops stationed and on combat duty in Iraq for the next 25 to 50 years?

yours truly,

Stanleverlock

The Iraq Civil war has begun. It actually started two weeks after the declaration of cessation of hostilities.
    THe Bush administration has demonstrated a kind of hap hazard approach or total lack of preparedness for the whole civil and military situation in Iraq.
    This is going to rapidly degenerate into some kind of endless nightmare unless the Bush administration gets lucky.

30 august 2003
      Kim Jong Ill has several options now.
  He can allow his atomic scientists to build / or test their first atomic bomb.
    If he allows a test to be conducted, The reaction of the five powers that surround his country could be very unfavorable.
  possibily China might invade with the tacit permission of Japan and Russia, South Korea, the U.S..
    He can hold off from that course of action and try his bluster on the United Nations into giving him money to prop up his regime. (highly unlikely)
  He can continue to sell his version of the Russian SCUD and to allow his diplomats to smuggle Heroin around the world.
  He can try to bluster and threaten the South Korean government into giving money and support.
(his most likely avenue of success, but a
tough sell)
It will be an interesting to watch what happens over the next two years or three years.-?

6 june 2003
This is my first Journal entry on Slashdot.
This very new to me.
1. i have never kept a journal
2, i have never entered a journal entry on the internet.
3. As a part- time historian, i realize the importance of keeping records.
4. since as Slashdot pre-suposes correctly, i am invisible to most of the world, i wonder wheather to be glad or sad?
5. i am wondring what the power and/or priviledges and/or limitations and bad things to come with my presence on this site.
6.Time and experience will tell.