Wirt writes:
>      o The middle east is a region in transition, caught 
> between medieval ideals and modernism, and it will be so 
> for at least the next half century.=20= Our=20 intervention 
> will only serve to intensify the level of conflict, not 
> mediate= =20 it. We are not at war with Islam. We only must 
> protect ourselves against a v= ery=20 small minority of 
> extremists who are at war with their own peoples.

If I may comment.  I think Wirt is absolutely right in this regard.  The
Islamic fundamentalists (i.e. religious zealots who seek to return all
(now corrupted) Muslims back into the fold of their religion) are a very
noisy minority who are fighting a losing battle against what they see as
the decadence and amorality of the Western lifestyle that, it would
seem, is the desire or natural progression of peoples in the Middle
East.  Note Wirt's last line "...at war with their own peoples".  

And remember, unpalatable as it may be, we were happy to be in league
with these very same fundamentalists when they were operating against
the Soviet occupiers of Afghanistan.  This is a revelation only to those
who have bought into the world viewed in simplistic good and evil, black
and white terms (a dangerous fantasy that your current President seems
to relish).
 
The "problem" isn't Islam, anymore than the "problem" with the US is
Christian fundamentalism, or Judaism with Israel.  I'm no expert but as
the big 3 religions all have the same roots and characters I doubt there
is too much difference - for the common man - between them.  (Aside:  If
there is a problem at all with these or any other religions, it's that
people still persist in following them at all, they're all superstitions
hungover from a less rational time offering explanations for the
complexities of reality.  I wonder what it is they provide that allows
them to still find an audience when not a shred of evidence can be
produced to verify their basis.).

It's unnecessary for policy makers to exaggerate the threat that these
criminal minorities present.  That they do is indicative of how they
want to control us, rather than solve the problem created by them.

Cheers

Richard


Richard Ali

































The contents of this email are confidential to the intended recipient
and may not be disclosed. Although it is believed that this email and
any attachments are virus free, it is the responsibility of the recipient to confirm this.

Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited - A member of M&A
International Inc. http://www.mergers.net Registered in England No.
4533970. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority 
Smith & Williamson Investment Management Limited, Registered No. 976145. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Smith & Williamson Pension Consultancy Limited - Independent
Intermediary. Registered No. 3133226. Authorised and regulated by the
Financial Services Authority.
Smith & Williamson Fund Administration Limited, Registered No. 1934644. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Smith & Williamson Limited - A member of Nexia International.
Registered in England No. 4534022. Regulated by the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England & Wales for a range of investment
business activities.

Registered Office: No 1 Riding House Street, London W1A 3AS
Telephone: 020 7637 5377 http://www.smith.williamson.co.uk

Nexia Audit Limited - A member of Nexia International. Registered in
England No. 4469576. Registered to carry on audit work and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales for a range of investment business activities.

Registered Office: No 1 Riding House Street, London W1A 3AS
Telephone: 020 7637 5377 http://www.nexiaaudit.co.uk

NCL Investments Limited, Registered No. 1913794.
Member of the London Stock Exchange authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Registered Office: Bartlett House, 9-12 Basinghall Street, London  EC2V 5NS
Telephone: 020 7600 2801 


______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email 
______________________________________________________________________

* To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
* etc., please visit http://raven.utc.edu/archives/hp3000-l.html *