Pa Samba Jow:

 Over the past 10 years or so, the Iraq has been subject to endless sanctions
and attacks from the USA and its allies.  And with the current state of
affairs things do not look to good for Iraq's prospects.

I hope the UN Security council can somehow override American and British veto
power to lift the sanctions off Iraq. But this simply will not happen until
Sadamm is no longer in power.  The Iraqis have paid an extremely heavy price
for the misdeeds of Sadamm and this is simply not fair.

One thing to take heart from is the fact that America does not appear to have
the military capability to wage a simultaneous war on both Iraq and
Afghanistan.  In the absence of a wide ranging coalition, their options are
limited.  The Iraqis might be subject to a few military strikes to
temporarily cripple their military infrastructure but this should be the
extent of what happens to them

I have a feeling that their military options are limited this time around
even when it concerns Afghanistan.  There has been much saber rattling but
aside from tightening domestic security and seizing that assets of a few
terrorists, nothing has been done to significantly disrupt Al-Qaeda.

The Americans know what awaits them in the treacherous mountains of Hindu
Kush. I mean what are the going to do?  Bring a 1500 mile stretch of
mountainous terrain to the ground?  The diplomatic option seems to be the
alternative here but Bush has already drawn lines in the sand as it concerns
negotiations, and it is simply not the Texan way to compromise.  This
notwithstanding the fact that any concessions made to the Taliban will be
seen as a sign of weakness.  Bush, Powell, and Condolezza seem to be boxing
themselves into a corner as a result of this tough talk.

What do you think?

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