Gee, you think?
Posted on 09/14/2006 12:53:44 PM PDT by Froufrou
Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger warned that Europe and the United States must unite to head off a "war of civilizations" arising from a nuclear-armed Middle East.
In an opinion column in the Washington Post, the renowned foreign policy expert said the potential for a "global catastrophe" dwarfed lingering transatlantic mistrust left over from the Iraq war.
"A common Atlantic policy backed by moderate Arab states must become a top priority, no matter how pessimistic previous experience with such projects leaves one," Kissinger wrote.
"The debate sparked by the Iraq war over American rashness vs. European escapism is dwarfed by what the world now faces.
"Both sides of the Atlantic should put their best minds together on how to deal with the common danger of a wider war merging into a war of civilizations against the background of a nuclear-armed Middle East."
Kissinger wrote that the big threat lay in the erosion of nation states and the emergence of transnational groups. Iran was at the centre of the challenge, he said, with its support for Hezbollah, radical Shiite groups in Iraq and its nuclear program.
Washington must accept that many European nations were more optimistic about talks designed to convince Iran to halt uranium enrichment -- a process Tehran denies is aimed at making weapons, he wrote.
But in return, he said, Europe should accept the process must include a "bottom line" beyond which diplomatic flexibility must not go and a time limit to ensure talks did not become a shield for "developing new assaults."
In the article, Kissinger, national security adviser for former president Richard Nixon, and secretary of state for Nixon and his successor Gerald Ford, warned the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah was still dangerous, after its month-long conflict with Israel.
"Hezbollah's next move is likely to be an attempt to dominate the Beirut government by intimidation and, using the prestige gained in the war, manipulating democratic procedures," he said.
He concluded by noting that observers wondered whether, after the Cold War, trans-Atlantic ties could survive the loss of a common enemy.
"We now know that we face the imperative of building a new world order or potential global catastrophe. It cannot be done alone by either side of the Atlantic. Is that realization sufficient to regenerate a common purpose?"
It's about time he caught up to what we were saying here on FR nearly FIVE YEARS AGO...
Geeee.....Ya think!!!
He's wrong on one point, Islam is not a civilization.
Gee, you think?
Agreed; Islam is more of an anti-civilization. And we all know from "The Rules of Star Trek" when Civilization and Anti-Civilization collide...
Kirk gets to score another hot alien babe, while his subordinate officers always get the leftovers...
Kissinger is the ultimate globalist.
Has Islam been used to become the common enemy of Western Civilization against which to unite to push us into The New World Order?
Geez, Henry, get with the program! This war has been on for twenty years!
Do you think we could join the EU?
Don't forget the death of one red-shirted security guy...
Prepare to dip your weapons, projectiles, hands and fingers in pork blood and lard.
>Do you think we could join the EU?<
I certainly hope not. But we could be manipulated to do so if and when the enemy grows in strength and ability. That is when we will find out what men are men, or which are submissive curs. Awareness and prayer are essential today, for the dark ages will look like broad daylight compared to the dark ages which could come if we lose.
Two hundred years since we sent US Marines to the shores of Tripoli. Much longer for Western Civilization in general.
If we manage to suppress Iran without destroying Iran and the Wahhabis into the bargain, it is likely that we will be fighting the European Saracens in another 20 years.
I think the pirates were skimming a 10% fee on all inter-sea trade, here in the US it was just considered a cost of doing business.
What makes you think they aren't? Have you seen the price of gas?
Hillary is at the top of my list of One Worlder's. Due to her statement that we must give up our lifestyle to help those that are less fortunate, or some such statement.
We give Billions to the rest of the world and it all ends up in their leaders pockets!
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