3 posts tagged “politics”

And I have eventually succumbed to the high-waisted trend; of the skirt variety. Only because Rohan thinks it's really pretty and "it'll make my boobs look super good." Argh, men. Why will I ever learn? *winks* And I bought the cutest belt... a little patent red number with a heart for a buckle! Well, what I really wanted was a mustard coloured one with a giant bow buckle but they didn't have one in my size. Darn it. Speaking of which, I am getting back to my itsy-bitsy 2005 figure... wheeeeeeeee! How superficial.

**

A political rant.Before I go on another further, let me clarify something. I am not an idealist; and I am not a leftie. Neither am I a rightie (although some might disagree... you know who you are!), but I am a realist. Very ol' skool realist in the sense that I believe security and national interests come first. Now that I've made that clear...

I was reading something in my US Foreign Policy class, and I have come to the conclusion that the US must stay its course in Iraq. Look, I was never for the war to begin with, but for the greater good of the Middle East, a US-led Coalition withdrawal will only lead to more bloodshed in the region. (Hah, this sounds like empty Bush rhetoric, but whatever). There is already a probability of civil war in Iraq, and the so-called government is too weak and fragmented to handle the situation (as per Afghanistan).

This is where the US has made its biggest mistake. Democracy CANNOT simply be uprooted and transplanted. A country must be ruled with an iron fist before democratization can take place. Democracy in democratic countries did not start overnight; democracy is not a bloody miracle. Yes, regime change has taken place in Iraq, but it hasn't been secured. The situation in Iraq is dangerously spiralling out of control, and the emotions that are running high are being manipulated and exploited by groups/ organizations/ etc who will only contribute to more bloodshed. Think about it. A Coalition withdrawal will more than likely lead to a full-blown civil war, and other countries in the region will take a helluva interest in that region. A civil war in Iraq is a Shiite- Sunni war. A Shiite-Sunni war will eventually descent into a religious war; a war between Muslims (not unlike the Thirty Years War between the Catholics and the Protestants). The other Middle Easterns will not sit around twiddling their thumbs counting their pennies from their sales of oil. Iran, with its Shiite majority, will intervene. Once that happens, the other Middle Eastern states will, naturally, intervene. A war between Muslims will involve other Muslims in the world. Sure, the Coalition doesn't really care about what happens to the Muslim world, but a civil war in Iraq will only lead to something bigger. World War III, perhaps? This is why the US cannot afford to withdraw. This is why the other Middle Eastern states cannot sit around on their arses getting fat from the sale of oil. This is why the Iraq government cannot afford to pander to the different groups clamouring for voice. Religious differences must be set aside, not only for the country, but for the region.

Which brings me to the issue of Israel/ Palestine. Officially, Palestine is not a country. So if someone holds a Palestinian Authority-issued passport, s/he will not be able to travel to countries with diplomatic ties to Israel simply because countries with diplomatic ties to Israel, more often than not, does not recognize Palestine as a separate state. Further, the current political climate makes it even harder for such countries to recognize Palestine. So tough luck, you ****... your beloved will not be able to visit Singapore. Heck, he doesn't qualify for a social visit pass. Singapore has a lot of ties with Israel, and it will not jeopardise that relationsip just because one of its harlots is in love with a Palestinian.