Frater: Amen! If we can just keep Bush from going off to war in lieu of
his 2002 Nieman Marcus Christmas present I think we may be able to save
the region (and maybe the world) from a disaster from which it would take
many years to recover from. I personally believe that Iraq has no WMD
(and probably never had). The reality of nuclear weapons in Stalinist
North Korea is a far more likely reality but that apparently is not on
'Dubyah's radar screen. The problem lies in the fact that there is little
deep thinking inside the Beltway just now and given 'Shrub' (as they call
him in the UK) anti intellectualism isn't likely to be much for some time
only adds to my horrors. I liked your comment on the Domino/MAD theory of
the Kennedy Era that guaranteed the eventual election of Nixon (if it had
not been 'Tricky Dick it would have been someone like him) and all the
disappointments that brought! we need to concentrate on reviving the
slowly recovering economy, getting health insurance for the growing
number of people (even with large incomes) who cannot get it and doing
something to improve real educational opportunities (instead of
warehousing younbg people for 2-3-4-5 years to keep the unemployment
figures down). It was alwaysone of the real tragedies of my younger years
that ole LBJ who was a crackerjack at domestic policy(ironically Head
Start may be his only legacy) became mired in foreign policy whichhe
neither liked or understood. This is the case with Bush Jr. he is in over
his head and most of those around him, acc. to a great number of informed
people here and abroad,don't have a clue /could care less.Itmakes for
much thought as we round the corner to 2003. We need to count everyone in
the APA for 4th Advent and Christmas Day. Adding this to our earlier
figure made last year and averaging it out will give us a good idea of
our real strength. I think it will be a salutary tonic. In yur charity
please pray for Anna G. and for Claude L. who died after an illness that
lasted far too long.Blessings.GDVW+                                      
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                      Frater: Amen!  Fr. Wiebe:
>
> Your "if" may turn into a reality. President Bush, as have other
> presidents,  has begun to move from a political extreme towards the
> center. His rhetoric  regarding Iraq War II cooled as he sought allies
> to face down Iraq, and as  he sought support from the American people.
>
> When he faces the last months before the next presidential election, he
> may  well have to leave the right wing behind to hold on to the
> Democratic votes  that he will need. The man has political savy and will
> do what is necessary  to hold on to power.  I think he has listened to
> the Generals, to Colin  Powell and others who have cautioned about
> getting into a morass where  250,000 men would be required to execute a
> successful ground war with  hideous consequences for us and the
> inhabitants of Baghdad if we "go it  alone".
>
> If the Iraq War II does not occur in the coming 12 months, the eruption
> of  persecution of Christians and anti-U.S. attacks by Islamic
> extremists in all  parts of the world may well so absorb the attention
> of our political  leadership that they will be content to keep Iraq
> locked down as it has been  for the past dozen years.  That would not be
> a bad outcome.
>
> One of the ironies of history is that the peace-loving Kennedys promoted
> the  Domino Theory and got us deeply entrenched into a land war in Asia.
> The  irony is that is was the hawkish Nixon who won election on the
> promise of  extricating us from Vietnam.  President Johnson lost the
> election because  the war had gone on too long. It was obvious to
> everyone that there was no  long term purpose to be served by continuing
> it.  Had he extricated our  troops from that horror after JFK's death,
> he might have been elected to a  second term, but his obstinancy cost
> him the opportunity.
>
> If Iraq War II does not erupt soon, it will be politically inexpedient
> for  Mr. Bush to spring it as an October surprise on the eve of the next
>  presidential election.  Lyndon Johnson should serve as a reminder that
> after  a time our people will unite and  sing "ain't gonna study war no
> more."
>
> Charles
>
>
>
>>From: <gdvw@...>
>>Reply-To: faithandlife@...
>>To: <faithandlife@...>
>>Subject: Re: [FaithandLife] Powell Attacks Christian Right
>>Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 00:35:54 -0000 (UTC)
>>
>> > Charles:
> Pat (700 Club)Robertson and Jerry (I've Got A 'University' Now)
>>Falwell have an arrogance that is surpassed only by their arrogance. To
>> suggest the things that Robertson averrs on his TV show proves that.
>> If-and it is a big if-Bush will jettison the right wing
>> Fundamentalistic Puritans that got him into the White House that could
>> only be a good thing. Broadbrushing Islam is another example of what I
>> have said before  about insulting Arabic peoples (most of whomare
>> Muslims) though the  majority of Muslims worldwide are not Arabic, do
>> not speak Arabic and have  little in common with them.
>
> Blessings GDVW+
>
>
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