Avalanche in the Middle East

No matter what the issue is, it always becomes an avalanche in the Middle East, as the present Lebanon-Israel conflict. It was the abduction of two Israeli soldiers the spark that lit the fires, the whole world held its breath at the showdown: “Return the soldiers or else…” asked Israel, “Only as a prisoner exchange,” Hezbollah replied.

Both sides deny negotiations, the basis for the on going clash becomes Israel’s “right to exist” and an "opportunity" to disarm Hezbollah, murder of the innocent, destruction and horrible devastation in the name of democracy. But who in Middle East makes war to achieve piece? Only fools and criminals…

So it was with Iraq. Great suspense while the USA gathered support to start a war: to save the world from Saddam Hussain's weapons of mass destruction, to liberate the region of a ruthless dictator, to create instant democracy…? or was to secure oil reserves and to complete the 1991 unfinished business…?

And all that carpet bombing in Afghanistan, what was that about? To get Osama Bin Laden? To get the Taliban? To unite the country’s war lords under one USA delegated flag and call it democracy? And still the poppies grow…

The Old World Order

And so 15 years later there is no talk of New World Order, it died at its inception. Now the task to clean up the New-Middle-East-Mess is more uncertain, more complex. And ALL SOLUTIONS only temporary anyway, for no amount of “democracy in the region” can obliterate the hatred and distrust caused by centuries of quarrels, recent violent disputes and devastating military activities.

Israel’s 1948 birth and its aftermath was achieved by a series of deceptions and for such, it will always be threatened by those seeking to avenge themselves, their forefathers, their dead, their dispossessed and traumatized. Israel’s wants recognition, security and a universal ‘right to exist’. A right that will not be achieved by military force, coercion and bullying, that it feels threatened and surrounded by hostile neighbourhoods, it’s true, but then it did not place itself there to behave like Father Christmas either…

The New Middle East

What does Ms. Secretary of State Rice imply by the New Middle East?

She descends on Rome from her private plane, a smiling Nubian Goddess clad in white robes, the no-cease-fire envoy of the USA. She announces that she has no desire to return in a few weeks or months to the same old thing, with a frozen gaze she delivers Washington’s warning for those who will not like the New Middle East: “We will prevail, and they will not”

Ok…
But who writes her lines? Does that not sounds suspiciously like G W Bush the 1st 1991 post Gulf-War “New World Order?”

Israel in the Middle

The existence of Israel in the Middle East is a supreme example of history repeating itself. In its Biblical Era its presence fermented violent emotions and the rise of endless confrontations with the original inhabitants of the land and with its neighbours, In the 21st century nothing much has changed except that God seems to be silent and less involved. Perhaps he abdicated in favour of the USA.

Oh Israel...

Israel, your reaction agaist Lebanon resembles Zidane’s headbutt at the World Cup. As conflicts continue in the Middle East I view you with increasing distrust and diminishing respect.

Ever since Theodor Herzl’s conception of “the Jewish State”(1986) you were maneuvered into existence, deliberately choosing to place yourself between the fire and the frying pan of the Arab world where with over 4000 years of historical hostilities your “Right to Exist” will forever be disputed.

Doubtfully will a universal “Right to Exist” be secured by military force. Persistent belligerence, aggressiveness, colonial dominance, moral and physical dispossession of existing tenants has, and will backfire.

Hizbollah, may be neutralized for awhile but not forever. It, Hamas or other “terrorist organizations” will rise in opposition… a never ending cycle never ending in peaceful co-existence. Like in the old days, fighting Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Philistines…

Take a break, this is the 21st century! With poverty, famine, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, disease, crime and all the other woes of humanity, with the exception of merchants of weapons who needs wanton damage, destruction and disruption when and where we all crave for a bit of peaceful sunshine?

An Atheist's View

What went wrong? Maybe there was never anything right with the human race, certainly the biblical claim that a god named Jehovah created mankind in his own image makes Jehovah a lot less than perfect, even if the rotten disposition of Adam and Eve’s descendants was caused by the incitement to disobedience by a serpent named Satan.

If Jehovah is THE - supreme – SUPREMEST CREATOR -- the FIRST CAUSE - - the eternal before and after – the always has been, always will be THE ONE and ONLY maker, nothing therefore exists, existed, can exist or will exist without this primary matrix, resulting in that this one indivisible force or essence, being all and everything, both positive and negative, also manifest itself as good AND evil --- as observable in the human race -- a touch of good and a hell of a lot of evil…

The Search For God

The concept of the divine has been my obsession, yet I never believed in Gods. Growing up a Roman Catholic I was amused but not devout. In church I did not pray, just looked at the paintings in the ceiling. Spiritual was the odour of burning incense, holy the light that filtered through stained-glass windows, I abhorred confession and was embarrassed by communion.

Biblical stories I could not separate from myths or fairy tales, Jove and Jehova held equal status, clad in her white gown and blue mantle the Madonna could have been Cinderella… both Christ and Sisyphus were chastised for helping out the other fellow.

Because I did not feel, I neither feared nor loved the biblical boss. One day I walked for God with pebbles in my shoes, I experienced physical pain but nothing more… so I sat on the pebble ground under a chestnut tree, rays of sunshine flickered through the leaves, in the distance floated fluffy clouds … I flashed on a bloody Roman arena, early Christians and African lions facing each other... right there and then I knew religion was not for me, I just didn’t have it…

Off the Road

Yes, I have been out, away, gone... Hitchiking 0n the road to nowhere. Searching, seeking but not finding, barely looking where I was going, anyway I could'nt see... or hear, and cannot tell where I have been because I don't know where or what it was. It was dark, I know that... Dark and foggy... black and white...

Suddenly she came out of the mist... Mrs. Hoffman gave me a lift and disappeared... I am back, but am I really here?