[Valin]

It has been years since any Arab state in the Middle East took the U.S. seriously. The U.S. would flaunt its power and throw its weight around and make grandiose statements, but the U.S. was regularly ignored. Most Arab leaders thought that the United States really wasn't interested in them or in what happened in the region. They thought American diplomacy was empty bellowing. They thought that the United Sates had only one overriding interest for their region -- protecting Israel's interests.

As the old saying goes, That was then...this is now.

[Valin]

Palestinians have been hit hard. Palestinians never assumed that they themselves were strong enough to crush the enemy Israel and her protector the United States. They relied on the strength of their brothers and neighbors.

"Ye Gad! What fools these mortals be!"

They relied on the strength of their brothers and neighbors.

Bridges for sale! Get your bridges here.

[Kip Lange]

Title of the article says it all. Great find.

To those that doubt the slumbering giant is fully awake -- I would suggest you stay tuned to the TV for further evidence we are most DEFINITELY awake. ;-)

[patricia]

Thanks for posting this very interesting article.
There is another article at this site about how the liberation of Iraq has lead to a realization the media serves their own agenda, rather than relaying the facts ... I do not know how to post, or I would have posted the article ... hint, hint ........

[FreeReporting]

Saddam's strength was that he believed in his own invincibility. So did the West. Everyone was prepared for a long hard war though hoped for a short one. We should have remembered that in the Arab culture lying is acceptable behaviour. Fortunately for us they deceived themselves this time.

The Palestinians use lying as ammunition and the Western media, particularly CNN and the BBC, are their patsies, eagerly believing every lying word about massacres and Israeli atrocities. Their trouble is that when they speak the truth nobody believes them and they don't know when to believe each other. This becomes a society built upon sand and is the reason that democracies can't succeed in the Arab world. Politicians in general make (shall I say) exaggerated statements and Arab politicians feel free to say anything at all, knowing that they aren't expected to follow through.

This is bad news for the future of any Arab state and I hope that Iraq has learnt its lesson and that Iraqis have learned that in the long run real armies defend their countries in fact and not by lying and exaggeration.

[cynicom]

The arab world has awakened to the reality that clinton and his fellow socialists are no longer in charge.

[valkyrieanne]

Hang one, teach a hundred.

[LuisBasco]

The U.S. would flaunt its power and throw its weight around and make grandiose statements, but the U.S. was regularly ignored.

But things are different now that Billy-Goat Klinton is no longer president.