Fundamentally that region needs to see stability emerge. Throughout it's history stability wasn't a common thing. At least not without brutal oppression of it's citizenry. And let's not talk about the ceaseless murdering of each other based on religion. A study of the middle east shows an awful lot of posturing and precious little real effort or support. It seems like they're all hell bent on keeping the Palestinians under duress. It keeps their own people from realizing what shitty conditions they're being handled.

At some point nations rise up from the chaos. I'm proud to recognize the US has been a powerful agent in helping quite a few now prosperous nations recover from horrendous conditions. We certainly can't fix them all and have undoubtedly made more than a few mistakes along the way. But at some point I'm hoping to hear the leaders of these newly freed peoples say "a grateful nation thanks you for your help". Once upon a time the peoples of Europe knew what it meant to be grateful to have the US help them out. My how soon they forget, it seems.

Here's a thought, Afghanistan is a THOUSAND miles from a seaport and has, fundamentally, precious little natural resources. Building a nation that interacts internationally on trade will be a tough challenge for them. Contrast that to Iraq. A country with a seaport and *very* navigable routes between it's neighbors. What sort of pan-middle eastern prosperity could emerge from it being a truly democratic nation? Think of the possibilities. To see stability in Iraq raises the potential of considerable benefit to the entire *region*. And not just cheaper access to oil.

Wake up people and imagine what the peoples in those countries could do for themselves if they had the same environment and infrastructure that you now enjoy. And not just bullshit like fancy sneakers, soda pop and SUVs. Please, life is more than television tries to brainwash you into believing.

Having to raise conflict against anyone is always something to avoid. But realistically, where was there another option that wouldn't have just left these peoples and that region up shit creek?

At the same time, South Africa comes out with word that they can't afford to follow up on the Truth and Reconciliation trials. Isn't that just peachy? Everyone put effort into setting aside seriously horrendous animosity under the premise of T&R and now it's not going to happen? How soon will that situation spin out of control again? But hey, it's no longer fashionable to posture about apartheid, right? Fuck 'em, we're too busy railing about the US, right? Hypocrites.