Hello, You Still There?
Little wonder President Jacques Chirac seemed preoccupied, absorbed in his thoughts, elucidating his perceptions about a dreadfully serious issue before the world body. His insightful statements bespeak a mind troubled by so many vexing situations the world faces today, little wonder that he seemed not quite there. Given the number of crises facing the world today one wonders at times how a world leader of any responsible government can absorb any more news of troubling events, let alone the stark prospect of future alarms.
He spoke in a manner surely indicative of his private musings, turning over in his mind issues discussed at length in private meetings with his ministers, with his foreign counterparts, representing issues that stand first and foremost in a world teetering on the edge of chaos. One garners the impression, reading his words, his unequivocally stated opinion, his confidence in outcome that these perceptions result from those discussions with other world leaders.
Everything from climate-convulsive and ongoing natural events where nature keeps informing us that all is not what it once was and we've got to pay attention. To the dire cataclysmic clashes between those countries representing Western style of governance and values on the attack from Islamist jihadists who blame the West and everything it represents for the lack of technological advance, economic advantage and social progress in Muslim countries.
Irrespective of the undeniable evidence that the jihadists represent those very backward interests that keep Muslim economies in thrall to an unenlightened, unprogressive mentality guaranteed to halt progress of any kind. The branches of Islam themselves are continually at war. And whenever Western interests step into the internecine fray of embattled foreign countries the result is never benign and helpful but rather results in incendiary defiance and rage against foreign interference.
When President Chirac was musing about the fact that Iran dare not unleash nuclear weapons against Israel, since to do so would result in an instant counterattack, and Tehran would be "razed" he was stating the obvious. The world has seen such stand-offs before, during the Cold War, when the USSR and the USA faced off against one another, each convinced the other had the desire, the intent and the capability of unleashing nuclear winter on the other.
But on that occasion the human dimensions were different; each administration, although bellicose to the extreme, held back because their basic intelligence and common humanity forced them to do so. The situation was one of mutually absorbed defence, leading to mutually assured deterrence. Neither side was prepared to launch a first-strike advance for the certain knowledge that the response would be swift and deadly was the effective deterrence.
This is a different world. Although the USSR and the USA shared some values albeit seen through the lense of a different history and culture, there was room for agreement (read former President Nikita Kruschev's memoirs if you have any doubts there could ever be a meeting of minds). At the present time fanatical Islamists represent a large contingent within the greater Islamic empire whose elemental rage against the West assures undying enmity.
Previous belligerents facing off against one another were mentally-balanced individuals with their particular axes grinding between them. They were realists whose ideals, priorities and above all, politics were anathema to one another. Here in the cinderbox of the Middle East, always threatening to explode in a firework of hostile regimes and overarching ambitions, a more sinister element is revealed.
Iran's steely-minded theocracy has convinced itself through the divine intervention of their leading Ayatollahs that Allah has given permission to use nuclear devices - for any and all purposes - including, as was clearly stated, against their enemies. Furthermore, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has demonstrated amply that he is apocalypse-obsessed, a delusional madman.
This head of state delivered an incredible address at the United Nations speaking of the imminent appearance of the "hidden Prophet" - and as he spoke, Allah surrounded him with a heavenly glow of divine light. When this revered prophet reappears on earth, everything will collapse. If Ahmadinejad is convinced that Muhammad al-Mahdi's return is linked to the Armageddon which he promises to visit upon Israel, what will it matter if Tehran is destroyed?
That welcome event, after all, is promised in the ancient scriptures which Shi'ite Iran venerates. There is therefore, no deterrent factor here. A promise fulfilled, nothing less. Whereupon all faithful will rise to Paradise and a just and faith-filled place of beauty quite unlike the earth which they so unreluctantly quit. So, is this rational, does this demonstrate intellectual acuity?
Little wonder Jacques Chirac is so rattled. The truth of the situation is not beyond his comprehension.
He spoke in a manner surely indicative of his private musings, turning over in his mind issues discussed at length in private meetings with his ministers, with his foreign counterparts, representing issues that stand first and foremost in a world teetering on the edge of chaos. One garners the impression, reading his words, his unequivocally stated opinion, his confidence in outcome that these perceptions result from those discussions with other world leaders.
Everything from climate-convulsive and ongoing natural events where nature keeps informing us that all is not what it once was and we've got to pay attention. To the dire cataclysmic clashes between those countries representing Western style of governance and values on the attack from Islamist jihadists who blame the West and everything it represents for the lack of technological advance, economic advantage and social progress in Muslim countries.
Irrespective of the undeniable evidence that the jihadists represent those very backward interests that keep Muslim economies in thrall to an unenlightened, unprogressive mentality guaranteed to halt progress of any kind. The branches of Islam themselves are continually at war. And whenever Western interests step into the internecine fray of embattled foreign countries the result is never benign and helpful but rather results in incendiary defiance and rage against foreign interference.
When President Chirac was musing about the fact that Iran dare not unleash nuclear weapons against Israel, since to do so would result in an instant counterattack, and Tehran would be "razed" he was stating the obvious. The world has seen such stand-offs before, during the Cold War, when the USSR and the USA faced off against one another, each convinced the other had the desire, the intent and the capability of unleashing nuclear winter on the other.
But on that occasion the human dimensions were different; each administration, although bellicose to the extreme, held back because their basic intelligence and common humanity forced them to do so. The situation was one of mutually absorbed defence, leading to mutually assured deterrence. Neither side was prepared to launch a first-strike advance for the certain knowledge that the response would be swift and deadly was the effective deterrence.
This is a different world. Although the USSR and the USA shared some values albeit seen through the lense of a different history and culture, there was room for agreement (read former President Nikita Kruschev's memoirs if you have any doubts there could ever be a meeting of minds). At the present time fanatical Islamists represent a large contingent within the greater Islamic empire whose elemental rage against the West assures undying enmity.
Previous belligerents facing off against one another were mentally-balanced individuals with their particular axes grinding between them. They were realists whose ideals, priorities and above all, politics were anathema to one another. Here in the cinderbox of the Middle East, always threatening to explode in a firework of hostile regimes and overarching ambitions, a more sinister element is revealed.
Iran's steely-minded theocracy has convinced itself through the divine intervention of their leading Ayatollahs that Allah has given permission to use nuclear devices - for any and all purposes - including, as was clearly stated, against their enemies. Furthermore, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has demonstrated amply that he is apocalypse-obsessed, a delusional madman.
This head of state delivered an incredible address at the United Nations speaking of the imminent appearance of the "hidden Prophet" - and as he spoke, Allah surrounded him with a heavenly glow of divine light. When this revered prophet reappears on earth, everything will collapse. If Ahmadinejad is convinced that Muhammad al-Mahdi's return is linked to the Armageddon which he promises to visit upon Israel, what will it matter if Tehran is destroyed?
That welcome event, after all, is promised in the ancient scriptures which Shi'ite Iran venerates. There is therefore, no deterrent factor here. A promise fulfilled, nothing less. Whereupon all faithful will rise to Paradise and a just and faith-filled place of beauty quite unlike the earth which they so unreluctantly quit. So, is this rational, does this demonstrate intellectual acuity?
Little wonder Jacques Chirac is so rattled. The truth of the situation is not beyond his comprehension.
Labels: Crisis Politics
posted by Pieface | 12:47 PM
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