Bush and Iraq

After careful considerationI have concluded Bush is not the Anti-Chirst. The idea is appealing and does have some merit but it just does not bear up under careful thought and analysis.

What I think we have in the middle east is a direct confrontation of fundamentalists. The Christian fundamentalists againt the Islamic fundamentlaists. A conflict I fear both sides are fueling for their own purposes. At least I think we understand the Islamists goals: retain power and advance Islam which mean destroy us. Our goals, as a county, are somewhat more opaque to me. Oil certainly plays a major role. I tend to believe the other gola is to secularize the USA. Why I do not fully understand. Every theocracy, of which I am aware, ends up destroying itself and its people. But then I suppose the theocrats reap the benfits.

At the core are we witnessing the inevitable result when two opposing extreme views collide with neither side able or willing to discuss and compromise? If so God or Allah please help us.

The Anti-Christ

Today I was walking thru our local book store. Books and bookstores are a weakness of mine. Anyway my path took me thru the section dealing wiht the Iraq war and the war on terrorism and then thru the religion section.

As I perusedthe titles and read the covers I was struck with an epiphany: Is George Bush the long anticipated anti-Christ? The constant steam if "all is great in Iraq" that flows from the Bush adminsitration does not seem to square with comments from the local Generals or the world press. The religion books varied from the right wing evangelical that supports Bush to the moderate, No liberal religious books in SC -at least in our small town. But seems except for the evangelical right wing the view is US policy is not conducive to reconcilliation with Islamic fundamentalists.

Therefore the question is Bush the Anit-Christ who will bring devastation.

Flat World

Been reading a most interesting and thought provoking book. "The Wrold is Flat" by Thomas Friedman.

Friedman explores what he call the flattening of the world. The "leveling" of the playing field for commerce enabled by several factors. Mainly by communication. The internet allows instananeous communication by anyone anywhere. This is really what allows outsourcing and offshoring. When one adds the education factor- the US is lagging the rest of the world ,mainly Asia, in producion of scientists and engineers our ability to compete in this "flat world" will become severly compromised.

All is not lost. However, our politicians must reverse the lack of incenitves to those interested in a scientific or mathmatic or engineering career. And reverse the continued cut in funding of basic research.

As long as the present adminsitration and its policies remain in control I fear the situation will continue to degrade.

New Blogger

Trying to get Blog established. This is test to see if I have done anything right.