Lines In The Sand

The Middle East and northern Africa circa 1914. (Courtesy of/www.clas.ufl.edu)

Middle Eastern borders, once imposed, are breaking down.

Saudi forces bombed another Northern Yemen town.

Libya has splintered; there are Syrians "in hell."

I can't name a single country where it's going well.

ISIL's killing refugees who've fled from Palestine.

It's not safe no matter where you draw some borderline.

Mix religion, history and tribal loyalties

And you get a situation where no side agrees.

I predict it won't get better 'til it's gotten worse

Meanwhile, we're the common enemy that many curse.

Every time we pick a side we make the others mad,

Angering established allies we might once have had.

 

We aren't winning hearts and minds and I have little doubt

Only if the countries in the region sort it out

Will they make a peace that has a chance of being kept.

Wish we'd thought of consequences there before we leapt.

Failing in Yemen

(Courtesy of/news.yahoo.com)

No one wants to say that Yemen's failing as a state

But the situation on the ground ain't looking great.

President has fled the country; Houthis hold the streets...

I'd say the criteria for failing's one it meets.

Saudis and Iranians engaged in proxy war;

Former leaders want to loot the country even more.

Sunni fighting Shia with al Qaeda in the mix

Yemen's problems may yet prove impossible to fix.

On the brink of civil war - the final coffin nail -

What else would you call this if it's not an epic fail?

U.S. forces left already; writing's on the wall

As another sign of Arab Spring becomes its Fall.

The Pottery Barn Rule - Belabouring a Metaphor

"If you break it then you've bought it;" so we've all been told.

Even though the cost is high (and I ain't talking gold.)

Even when the thing was damaged long before we came;

Even if it isn't - ever - gonna be the same.

It's not like we were not warned 11 years ago

That the thing could shatter into pieces...  Now we know

It's not just a single item that we went and broke;

We've brought down the whole damn store in flames and toxic smoke.

Now the rats are scurrying throughout the neighborhood;

We're obliged to go back in and clean them out for good.

But, while we are hunting them, let's try hard not to make

Any major purchases of something else we break.

The Middle East - Ready! Fire! Aim!

When I hear someone suggest the U.S. get involved -

Send our military in and get the problems solved -

Treating war as if it's just another kind of game,

I can't help but think they're shouting: Ready! Fire! Aim!

Arab Spring's resulted in a bitter Arab fall;

Adding yet, more weapons to the mix can't help, at all.

There are quite enough of those, but...  Refugees need food.

Starving people with no hope just sit around and brood.

If we want to see real change and want to play a part,

Giving all those displaced people aid would be a start.

I don't want to arm the rebels - gladly'd feed the poor...

But, until we care for vets we have, don't make some more.

Syria, Still.

Syria keeps grinding on with still no end in sight.

Civil wars are battles where nobody wins the fight.

It's the kind of war that has a tendency to spread;

Gaining new recruits in search of vengeance for their dead.

Syria is shattered - half its population's gone

And, still, the atrocities continue on and on.

There are more than 2 sides now (perhaps as much as 5)

Seems like they'll keep fighting until no one's left alive.

There are calls for intervention by the USA,

Like we have the power to swoop in and save the day.

If we have those kinds of skills we haven't shown them yet.

Plus, it's hard to get involved with Russia saying "Nyet!"

I'm not Isolationist; at least, I never was...

But I'm leery of the situation there because

Following the Arab Spring the Middle East has changed;

Focused on religion and fanatics are deranged.

Islam's in a Reformation like the one we had.

Students of our history can tell you - ours was bad.

Can't impose a reformation, can't force compromise.

Muslims have to be the ones who finally stop these guys.

Syria - Can It Get Any Worse?

Syrian parents are living in a nightmare. (Photo/The Guardian)

Watching as civilians thrashed then died - my stomach turned.

But, I don't know what to do where Syria's concerned.

Some have called this apathy...  In fact, it's the reverse;

I am too afraid that we will only make things worse.

How much worse, you wonder, could this situation get?

First of all, the Russians have continued saying "Nyet!"

They will use their UN veto; blocking any vote

Even if there's evidence of gas, and that's a quote.

Syria is friendly with Iranians, as well...

Now that hopes and dreams for Arab Spring are shot to hell

Judging by the chaos in Afghanistan, Iraq,

Pakistan - with Yemen fearing imminent attack

Why are we assuming if we start another fight

We have any guarantees, this time, we'll get it right?

Yes, we must do something! Let's help fleeing refugees.

Look before we leap into another quagmire, please.

Across the Pond - Pharaoh Morsi

Figured that Thanksgiving was ideal to take a break.

Thought it would be quiet; that was clearly a mistake.

Egypt has a Pharaoh now; the Muslim Brotherhood

Placed itself beyond the law and that, my friends, ain't good.

Morsi says his actions won't be subject to review...

Neither judges nor the law can tell him what to do.

Says it's only temporary; his intentions pure.

Demonstrators back in Tahrir Square don't seem as sure.

Morsi was elected as the President because

The reformers couldn't choose which candidate theirs was.

Liberal choices split the vote; Conservatives stepped in.

Feels as if the Arab Spring released an evil djinn.

Middle East is frightening with Syria, Iran,

(Not to mention our poor troops still in Afghanistan)

Israel and Palestine and Turkey's bomb request...

Almost every one of them wants something from the West.

Across the Pond - Egypt: Be A Woman

Punks on the streets of Cairo...  This kid's mom must be so proud.  Photo credit/AP

If you visit Egypt - and you're female - be prepared;

Women walking through the streets have reason to be scared.

In a region that prefers to keep its women veiled,

Efforts to protect their wives and daughters there have failed.

Total strangers seem to feel they have the right to touch;

Pinch an ass or find a passing breast that they can clutch.

Cannot blame the Arab Spring, Mubarak's overthrow;

Not the Muslim Brotherhood that made the problem grow.

Feminists in Cairo now are few and far between

(Bet they didn't stand for this when Cleo was the Queen)

Now they have an issue with which many men agree

Even if it isn't, yet, complete equality.

There are roving gangs of boys out doing what they can,

Beating up offenders which they're calling "Be A Man."

I think that's the problem; now's the time to be a girl...

Make a change and give respect for other folks a whirl.

Across the Pond - Syria. Stop the Presses!

Syrian President Bashar Assad

Stop the presses! Assad says that Syria's at war.

After 16 months of heavy shelling I'd have swore

Anyone who's paid attention has to recognize

That Assad's announcement isn't much of a surprise.

He insists that terrorists who want him overthrown

Are behind the killings, yet protests have only grown.

Just shot down a Turkish jet...  That sounds like war to me.

Assad's on a pace to top his father's killing spree.

Now the Russians want to meet - including with Iran -

Turkey, the United States; discuss the Annan plan.

Problem is that they insist Assad should get to stay;

Something opposition fighters won't accept.  No way.

There's been too much killing.  There's too many babies dead.

No-one can forgive the way Bashar Assad has led...

Greeted Arab Spring by using bullets and some tanks.

If Assad's a precondition, have to say - "No, thanks."

Across the Pond - Egypt: Pay Attention!

Cartoon by Robert Ariail.com

 

Situation recently in Egypt isn't good.

If you haven't paid attention lately, then you should;

As go the Egyptians also goes the Arab Spring.

I'm afraid that you won't like the news this rhyme will bring.

Military has dissolved the Parliament and now

Won't announce the President...  They'd rather kiss a sow.

Probably because the Muslim Brotherhood has won;

Who, until a year ago, were not allowed to run.

Now, although there's uproar, it's more quiet than you'd think

Mostly because younger folks believe both options stink.

What was there to choose from? Either old way or far right?

Not the kind of candidates for whom they fought the fight.

We will have to wait and see by whom that country's led

(And how many more times that Mubarak will be dead.)

Don't know how much longer that the Generals can stall.

Hope the Arab season hasn't turned from Spring to Fall.