very interesting indeed

that the Ottoman empire stopped at the borders of Montenegro. I was there last week and the Pro Serb sentiment is blatant everywhere. I suspect "business" is far from over here.

With regards to the US occupation of Iraq, that really was a ballsy move by the yanks given the emergence of China as an economic and military power and not discounting Russia. The real deal over the invasion was not the tired cliche of Bush Jr's payback over Saddams threat over Bush Sr or really Oil but the ability of the rest of the Middle East states ability to equalise the unstable power of Iran. When the US toppled the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddams regime in Iraq, it took out the mullahs' two most dangerous enemies in the region. Iran continues to exert influence over much of the unrest in many of the other gulf states, not least Palestine. At the heart of all this is the Nuclear capability of Iran. Iraq cannot and will not exist without the Americans now. Hopefully they have the mettle to see it through.

Posted By: Tomblander, Apr 23, 21:11:03