Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

Glenn has posted a great email from a soldier who attended a speech at Fort Hood by MG Pete Chiarelli, the Commanding General of 1st Cav.

Said that of all the money appropriated for Iraq, not a cent was earmarked for agriculture. Said that Iraq could feed itself completely and still have food for export but no one thought about it. Said the Cav started working with Texas A&M on ag projects and had special hybrid seeds sent to them through Jordan. TAM analyzed soil samples and worked out how and what to plant. Said he had an E7 from Belton, TX (just down the road from Ft. Hood) who was almost single-handedly rebuilding the ag industry in the Baghdad area.

Them damn Texas farm boys. And Aggies!

Makes a Texan proud.

Hugh Hewitt has a transcript of his conversation with Claudia Rosett, who is currently in Beirut.

People at the rally today were saying “Please ask the Americans, please ask President Bush not to forget us. We want democracy. We need help.” And they do. They are dealing with Syria. That’s not easy. They are dealing with Hezbollah, that’s not easy. They’ve just been infested with this for years. They were saying please keep us in mind. There was somebody holding up a sign at the rally today that said “Thanks Free World.” They are asking over and over, keep the spotlight on this place. It is very important.

For those of you unfamiliar with the most diverse country in the region, a history is available, and current up to recent events bringing about change.

We can help keep the spotlight focused.

Neal Boortz echoes some things we’ve heard elsewhere:

All of a sudden it would seem the Arab dictators in the Middle East are singing a different tune these days. Could it be because they have seen the United States liberate two enslaved peoples in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing about free elections? Just as was the case with the fall of the Berlin wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, once people have a taste of freedom, it can’t be stopped. It’s contagious.

Not so fast. Although the Arabs as a group are pretty inept in military terms, and are failing to deal with their own internal issues, they still have clout in the world’s marketplace. OPEC talks about oil reaching $80 per barrel within two years.

Can they do it? It depends on a lot of things, not the least of which is their willingness to forego some of their luxuries to balance the economic impact on people in their own countries. At first blush, many would view the price increase as a windfall to oil producers. Historically, that hasn’t been the result. OPEC often loses unanimity with big increases as one or more members strike sweet deals and sell more than their quota. Selling less, even at higher prices, can play havoc with an economy based on a single commodity.

Can the oil-rich nations of the Middle East balance the issues? With cries for democracy growing, and increases in oil prices possibly creating more economic problems within those same nations, the future could be democracy or anarchy. The desire to employ their only weapon against the West and the dynamism of western political ideas could lead to their own destruction.

Wallace, get that well of yours producing!

Back in August I wrote about where the invasion of Iraq might take us. I laid out my personal view of what the outcome would be if we stayed the course, and I expressed my hope that all in this country would support the effort that we had. Being for or against going into Iraq should have made way for a unified America working toward the goal of success. The potential for change in the Middle East was, in my opinion, enormous.

Later, in October, I wrote an imaginary history of this time. Dubya understands his own legacy will be written long after he is gone. I took some license.

The changes in the world dynamic were a direct result of America’s decision to end Islamofascism. Beirut is once again a thriving international city. Iraq has become the economic center of the Middle East with oil and food exports supporting the entire region. Jordan’s agreement with Israel to build a pipeline and desalination plant promises to turn the desert area east of Amman into a green zone. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are now having to make some tough decisions, and are moving more toward the model in Turkey. Iran has redirected its nuclear efforts toward energy generation, and now exports more oil than any country in the region while still providing adequate electricity for its own consumption and sale across borders to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Syria still struggles with no oil and little farm land, but is considering water importation through a pipeline to mimic Jordanian efforts.

I’ve not written anything about the events in Lebanon and Egypt, but have been watching closely. We send a lot of money to Egypt each year, still making payments on the agreement Sadat made with Carter. Lebanon is a sad tale–a once-thriving nation overcome by civil war and takeover by Palestinian terrorists and the Syrian army. Things are changing in both countries.

The Bush Doctrine. It is on the threshold. It can still fail. Some in this country and abroad–“allies” I think they are called–still want to see it fail. If it fails, the imaginary history I wrote will not come to pass. Instead, a much greater war will ensue. For those of you who are still anti-war, consider that potentiality.

I have no claim to prognosticative power. But, I hope I was right in my guess and assessment of the situation in both of those posts.

****UPDATE****

And now I find this. I think the answer to my question is “Yes.”

You know, I doubt seriously whether Dubya, or any other American President, would look at this as anything other than something to laugh about.

The piss stickers, specially made to be used in urinals, can be seen these days in the public toilets of Belgian schools, youth clubs, and pubs. They were designed by Laurent Winnock, president of the Young Socialists, the youth branch of Vande Lanotte’s Socialist party. Winnock did his creative work during his office hours, which would not be worth mentioning if Winnock did not work in the offices of Vice Prime Minister Vande Lanotte, as one of his press spokesmen.

Boy, aren’t those European Socialists creative?

Here is coverage from adifferent perspective, and a look at what lies ahead. No bed of roses, but progress that will continue only if we hold firm in our commitment.

Stay safe, Wizz.