Historians have noted the “lifting of the veil” in 1973, where the nuclear-capable Jericho-1 missiles were wheeled out of their secret silos in Israel to ward off Egypt and Syria. A panic situation in Washington saw the shipment of conventional arms to Israel to prevent a catastrophic flare-up between the Jewish state and the Soviet-backed Arabs.

These are merely the facts Bushbred (have spent years in the bush myself – not born under a she-oak though). The “ambiguity” policy of Israel will no doubt change in response to Iran gaining nuclear capability.

Like America, Iran spins its own form of deceit. It is the world's fourth largest oil exporter and says its nuclear programme is for energy needs alone. There is speculation that Ahmadinejad might welcome an apocalyptic confrontation, meaning the idea of any deterrent would not work.

The chess board is far more advanced than we might imagine.

Nice critical thinking, as expressed in the article by Schubert, and in the comments by bushbred, relda and others above.

It's good to read some gentle, direct and rational ideas - as distinct from the waspish and intemperate rants we get from some of the 'usual supects' who seem to swarm around certain issues in these forums.

Schubert makes some very salient points that resonate well with what many of us have known for a long time. That these are uncomfortable for some only reinforces their veracity.

Get rid of the theologians and bring back the humanists. Then we all might have a prayer.

Bushbred,

You have a sharp mind for someone of your age, I really hope that I maintain my interest in International affairs right up untill Im 80, i think its great.

My interest at the moment spawns from genuine concern for my future, I am only 22, and i always thought I was living in a great age, but the past 5 years seem to have sent the world back about 10 steps.

The Cheney regime is incredibly arrogant, its like they have never read a history book in their life. They might have all the guns in the world but 'full spectrum dominance' can never work, people will never accept it.

America has too many internal problems to be so outward focused, people talk about China or the Middle East as the next major battleground, but I fear the next major battles could be waged within the US itself, their country has been hijacked by extremists, and I dont think they will put up with it forever.

Anyway, thanks for wise posts Bushbred.

The result of an ideology is to often bring about a result at all costs.
The Roman historian Tacitus had the British chieftain Calgacus declaim before a battle with the invading Romans: "They make a desert, and they call it peace." – sounds familiar.

There seems deep ambiguity toward seeking a just world – those on ‘left’ often miss this with simplistic remonstration, whilst those on the ‘right’ merely show martial pronouncement. If we are to get to to the nub, is there a certain given justice that may actually require sacrifice – whether it be personal or other?

“International morality is weak because international society is fractured. Powerful states are generally `satisfied powers' which uphold the status quo. The weak are revisionists, agitators who seek change. Common to both is the task of devising an agreed world order, which is thus invested with legitimacy.

Harmony in the national order is achieved by this blend of morality and power. In the international order, the role of power is greater and that of morality less. When self-sacrifice is attributed to an individual, the sacrifice may or may not be purely voluntary. When self-sacrifice is attributed to a state, the chances are greater that this alleged self-sacrifice will turn out on inspection to be a forced submission to a stronger power. Yet, even in international relations, self-sacrifice is not altogether unknown... .” Frontline India, Jan 2006

I think there has been a lot of good points made; and I'm very glad to have helped facilitate this. The moderate, balanced view so often gets drowned out by accusative tags such as "left", "right", "progressive", "liberal", "conservative" etc, that I think "moderates" (and I think that, overall, I am one) need to be more aggressive in putting their views -- a case for a new category of "aggressive moderation"??!!

CHILDREN must be allowed to grow up and develop in an environment of care and respect, not constant concern and anxiety!

Intergenerational Change. What does it mean?

What does this say for the "Emotional Life of Nations"?

Try Lloyd deMause, whose depth on pycho-history is riverting.

http://www.primal-page.com/godwin2.htm

And from here, who knows perhaps it is to gaze closely at Australia's role, by critically doing something about it.

ie: The constant exposure of children to such violence ought to worry everyone. (meinmuk!)

According to UNICEF, school attendance rates in Iraq have fallen to roughly 65 per cent as many parents do not consider it safe enough to send their children to school.

A report issued by Iraq's education ministry earlier this year stated that 64 children had been killed and 57 injured in 417 attacks on schools within a four-month period. More than 47 youngsters were kidnapped on their way to or from school in the same period.

The report also noted that 311 teachers and government employees had been killed and another 158 wounded in attacks.

We only need to reference organisations like reliefweb to find the impact war has on children, and their families;

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-6TM4GU?OpenDocument

As the article states, in Iraq there are few institutions and doctors in Iraq trained to treat the children of war, so parents often have no one to turn to for help if they recognise the symptoms of trauma, which include lack of initiative, anxiety, insomnia, poor concentration and bedwetting.

Psychiatrists are rare and none exist at all who specialise in children's mental health.

We surrender these children to war while we fail to communicate on conditions in human survival.

What we are asking these young people to prepare for, as adults, is unreasonable.

This a critical and addresses the way we run the world.

http://www.miacat.com