DMcG: "One thing that has struck me about this is how the UN resolution hasn't learnt anything from the way the remarkable way in which these rebellions were organised and has a concept of war that is still frankly 19th century."

What's just as bad, is that WE (the Allies), are not learning, either. We are getting entangled, and getting bogged down all over the Mideast, sorta like Tar Baby and the brier patch, and very much like the Roman Empire, who got spread all over the place, in a series of small wars, which was the final blow, to them(along with their decaying morals). We, like the Romans, cannot afford to be enforcing 'peace'(?), in every place we have trading interests, and the Muslims in the Mideast, with their goals, may have created 'quicksand' to lure us into, much like a repeat of Rome.
Also, I'm sure we have to repay the Europeans, for their participation, in the Iraq, Pakistan, Afghan (etc) excursions.

But, alas, we shortsighted, short memory span, Yanks can get all whooped up emotionally about the politics of it, and all too often forget the common sense of it, as long as the 'news' media can keep us 'entertained with it'.

History teaches us, that man never learns from history!!!

Bush had his, Obama has got his..but were either of them, really in charge?

Meanwhile, Israel is getting fired on by missiles. When they finally get pissed off enough, without the U.S. to restrain them, this whole thing could EASILY ignite to a full blown, massive human catastrophe, that could spread everywhere!(Depending on whom is going to ally with whom).

I very much question the wisdom of this, and other Mideast excursions into the brier patch, to visit the Tar Baby, (or 'Oil Baby', if you will).
If we need oil, get it from here, while transforming our energy sources.....but the overly left, get all pissy about drilling....but love their gas, and plastic etc.   

Charley Noble: "Note that the Republicans in the States have now shifted their critique from "intervention was needed yesterday" to "too much intervention too late."

I just heard a person who worked in the Reagan White House, express some of the same concerns that I just posted....she ended with "I don't know about this one, its all too fuzzy, to know what's really going on."

I agree with her, coupled with the fact, that this Administration is acting like, the people here don't matter, nor need to be told, nor would support an 'up and above board' effort.

This is not good.........but then, ..I read the Book, and have a clue how it ends! So far, its accuracy is more astounding than I even previously imagined!

GfS