[alloysteel]

Now nobody can say, with any shred of objectivity, that there is any redeeming social benefit to Iran, Iraq and North Korea, for the existing regimes to remain in power. Given, that if any kind of meaningful election is possible, that fact alone would not necessarily mean that these regimes could be turned out of office. Maybe a majority of the populations in these countries WANT the kind of government they have. But would we want to do business with them? The fact is, we still do some back door trading with Iran and Iraq, their oil for our goods and services intended to provide humanitarian aid to their civilian population. Only in the case of Iraq, most of this aid is diverted to the military uses. North Korea is, well, a stalking horse for China, in which the North Koreans express the rhetoric and probing actions, that China does not want to be seen doing themselves. Iran has the external trappings of a representative electoral republic, but it is clear that nothing is allowed in that country except at the permission or direction of the theocracy. And none of the three countries has expressed much love or respect for the US, for some time now.

[nothingnew]

William Pfaff

Arsehole puffwad.

...puff?....hey, where's francisandbeans?!

FMCDH