Muse – State of the Opinion

It’s been an eventful time in the world.. still.

The repercussions of 9/11 continue to rumble. A strong catalyst like that is hard to quiet down once it’s started things off running. It might take decades before things calm down again, but it’s inevitable that things will eventually.

Recent heated discussions of Israel and Palestine on Gaia have have me musing the various topics part of the situation over there. An annoying hybrid of religious disagreement and political instability make it a thorn that will be long jabbing the world in the side.

One of the most annoying parts is trying to unravel the various intents and agendas involved. Which terrorists are intent to destroy Israel utterly and which are more likely to stop attacking once Israel has ceased the aggressive pushes. Assuming, of course, that Israel will stop military aggression should Sharon’s plan to withdraw be implemented. But even then, does Sharon plan to tighten his grip on the West Bank in return for giving up Gaza? If so, how many more attacks will this spawn? What will be the net benefit or effect? Will we just be moving the flashpoint from Gaza to the West Bank?

Will this withdrawal ultimately leave the situation unchanged as Sharon continues to push for the Wall to be built, cutting through even more disputed territory? Can one truly be fully sympathetic to Israel when it’s leaders seem intent to ruin every PR advantage they have the potential to grasp and exploit?

How long ’til Arafat croaks? Will someone more moderate take charge or has he a groomed heir to take over and keep the same BS cranking? Will Sharon finally be ousted by his own policy, upsetting the settler factions who don’t’ want to give up their settlements?

So many questions, so few answers. And that’s only plumbing the recent strife. Who do you root for when you observe a conflict with no clear ‘good guy’. Just a munch of people with shady agendas squabbling over dirt because an old book supposedly inspired by the divine says X people are supposed to get it? Sometimes I wish it were all just over with so I could go on to analyzing the results and not have to stress the suspense.

Bah.

The June 30th date is approaching. Only 15 days until the CPA is officially kaput and the interim guys get to show if they have the guts to handle a country assaulted by steady attacks. One thing is for sure, anyone accepting significant political post is either bold or naive, cause those positions make them ripe targets. I’m sure every militant is musing just how much damage they could do by icing an interim president. And I’ve no doubt the Coalition will watch him like a hawk to make sure he lives through his brief term in office.

The Red Cross Ultimatum brings up an interesting quandary. Will the US actually cement some charges before then? If not, what will the Red Cross do? Seek to bring charges against the US? Unlikely, but the possibility is intriguing. If not them, some other group is sure to leap on the possibility. Perhaps the US will turn Saddam and the other loyalists over to the Iraqis and let them handle it entirely. It would be a deft way to pass the buck, though might not end up as the Administration desires.

Hard to be sure just what might happen in that case. Where do you store them? Is the judiciary mature enough to handle such cases? Is there an impartial jury in Iraq that could handle the Saddam case? I might volunteer, but I don’t envy that stint of jury duty.

Especially if I had to go to Iraq. No thank you.

Meanwhile politics at home are as divisive, if not more so than after 9/11. So much for disaster bringing Americans together. Perhaps 9/11 was too brief and not cataclysmic enough to bring out true unity. Where are the aliens in city sized disc ships when you need them?

We need an energy plan. But one hasn’t been offered that isn’t chock full of partisan bias and bullshit. Thus one side won’t pass it and the other won’t trim the bull despite their disparaging of the other side for not going along, using the opportunity to paint the opposition as evil for not bowing to the unnecessary parts of the bill. Meanwhile cars pollute, people continue to pay big at the pumps and the Saudi Princes chortle as they rake in the cash, safe in knowing that it will be decades in the least before the US realistically considers a serious move to renewable and locally grown fuels.

The death of a debated president gets big, national coverage while the death of a talented and inspirational musician gets no more than the normal momentary blip that most other celebrities get. Meanwhile, Ren gets just a little tire of hearing about Reagan, but notes the descent in the number of broadcasts and mentions as time goes on.

Fortunately the hype, just as the president, will eventually pass on.

Then we can get back to our normal arguments as the distraction of high profile events passes and people remember what they were incensed about yesterday. Just in time for the next attack ads to amble up to the TV screen for the next political shootout.

Yeehaw!