The Bread Basket Of The Middle East

It just occurred to me, in addition to being one of the wealthiest states in the world in regards to it's oil reserves, Iraq could well revert to it's ancient status as a land of fertility and abundance, with just a modicum of help from us. Of course, first we have to ensure a peaceful existence for the people before any kind of economic vitality can take hold. But Mesopatamia, Sumer, ancient Assyria and Babylon, was long noted as the "Fertile Crescent", as the rich soil that lay between the Tigris and Euphrates provided the nourishment for the developing of the worlds first, most ancient of civilizations.

Three thousand years later, of course, the land may not be that fertile, through centuries of overuse, and out and out abuse and neglect. But this fertility might be restored, with scientific and technological aid from the U.S. This is an important point to consider, as well as the prospect of resettling what may hopefully be left of the so-called "Swamp Peoples" so brutally displaced by Saddam throughout the years of the tyrants reign, despite the fact that these were indigenous people to the land between the rivers since time immemorial. If at all possible, care should be taken to revive this ancient and time honored tradition, in addition to restoring the abundance potential of the region.

This would be important to us, as well. As it would provide an agricultural trade base for Iraq throughout the whole of the Middle East, and serve more than anything to demonstrate the benefits of economic as well as political reform, and could provide a partner in the much needed relief efforts in regards to the famines that, at one time or another, seem to ravage the general area of Africa and South Central Asia.

Of course, efforts have to be made to get this off the ground, after peace and security is established. A good start would be in opening up contracts to companies outside the U.S., and others in the U.S. Caterpillar, for example, as well as John Deere, in addition to other agricultural and construction corporations. By allowing contractual bidding between different corporations, the U.S. can still assist the Iraqis in providing security and oversight, and in more importantly ensuring that the people of the country don't get hosed by crooked would be robber barons who might make crooked back-room deals with the inevitable corrupt politician. As well as providing potential havens for would-be saboteurs and political buccaneers. These problems taken into consideration, it could only be beneficial to opening up the bidding for business contracts, and perhaps more importantly, opening up the flow of capital in the form of loans and grants to qualified entrepreneurs within Iraq, who might help to build the nations economy for the benefit of, first and foremost, the Iraqi people.

I can even envision the return of the ancient splendor of Nebudchadnezzars "Hanging Gardens of Babylon", and maybe even a return to the old days of paganism, in it's more positive aspects. Of course, I realize that would doubtless be expecting way too much. For the time being, at least.

Third World Debt Relief

I know that Bono means well, and I am aware that what I am about to say is probably going to sound harsh, and a little cruel. By the time I am finished, it will probably still sound harsh and cruel, and maybe even a little selfish, and possibly a trifle paranoid. But I think America and the EU might possibly be jumping the gun here, just a little bit. When you stop to think about it, just who are the Third World nations in debt to. I know that it sounds all good and altruistic, relieving these nations of the crushing burden of debt, and therefore helping them to pull themselves out of poverty. But will that really be the result? Shouldn't there be some insistence on some hard changes in return? When you consider the history of the process, it is true that they have been put into this position by years of abuse by the "civilized" nations of the world, with all their machinations and manipulations. They have been used, in some cases raped for all practical purposes, and then, like some worn out whore that has been all used up, just left by the side of the road, abandoned, to fend for themselves. They have been pimped, used up. But in a good many cases the "leaders" of the Third World have been the worse offenders. To an extent they have been the pimps, the civilized nations have merely been the johns. In the worse cases, the Third World Thugs, as I like to call them, have been blood thirsty tyrants, who have raped their nations treasuries, to the tune of millons, and even billiuons, of dollars, and left their own people destitute, and we have allowed it, on one pretext or another, usually for our own national security interests. In by-gone days it was to form bulwarks against the encroachment of communism. Partly as a result of the poverty and destitution of illiterracy and hopelessness that has ensued due to this, we have fostered the encouragemnt of terrorist enclaves.

It is good, and well past time, that we have acted in this small manner to address this. But there are still potential downsides, even in this best intentioned undertaking. For one thing, it could cause an explosion of pent-up hostility, once the masses see it is now safer to vent. Their demands could well exceed any sense of reasonable accommodation. There could be sudden uprisings, and potential blood baths, directed at those perceived to be the offenders, yes, but in the meantime there could be a loss of much inncent life, and mass destruction of property.

Finally, in the event that big business, and multi-national corporations, have to as a result of this relief, take a loss of any prior investments, who is going to make up that loss? The American and European consumer would seem to be the obvious answer. I will readily admit I am unaware of what role, if any, they play in this process, or what they stand to lose if they do. But shouldn't this be an issue that should have to be addressed? Otherwise, the price of goods could rise in unexpected ways, and the increase could be considerable. It would obviously cause quite a bit of grumbling. Look at how just the recent increase in the price of oil has affected the American economy, for just an example.

It is unfair, of course. The American and European consumer had little, very lttle, if any, say in foreign investments vis-a-vis America and Europe into the Third World. Yet, it will be they, doubtless, who will be expected to bear the brunt of it. It shouldn't be that way. The politicians and the multi-national corporations should have to take it on the chin. After all, it was their little chess game. We were all just strung along, spectators in a sport we had no role in, and little if any say, and what say there was was maniplated by emotional appeals to patriotism, God, and our basest fears. So they should bear the burden.

But don't expect it to be settled quite that way. Not when the debt, like the buck, is all so easy to pass.