Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Friday, December 01, 2006
Regional Civil War
Are we on the verge of a Middle Eastern regional civil war?
The Los Angeles Times leads with news that the Lebanese government has doubled the size of its security forces in recent months, mostly with Sunni and Christian troops. These troops, who were given weapons donated by the United Arab Emirates (a Sunni state), are meant to counter the growing influence of Iran and Hezbollah.
Let's add it up.

Iraq and Lebannon in turmoil. Israel and the Palestinians at each other's throats. Afghanistan on the verge of a civil war with the resurgence of the Taliban. Pakistan's government barely hanging on in the midst of Islamic fundamentalists unrest. Saudi Arabia summoning the U.S. V.P. warning it will take sides. The region is becoming polarized between Sunni and Shiite with all sides positioning for conflict. What does that all add up to for you?


George Bush, like a naive small child, has opened pandora's box in the middle east.