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.

Unsolicited Advice for Hamas

(Cartoon/Courtesy of youngcons.com)

Egypt tried to broker peace inside the Gaza Strip.

Israel stopped shooting but Hamas just let 'er rip...

Not just "accidental" missiles - they've shot 35 -

So, Israelis' war machine is shifting back to drive.

I can't say I blame them, either...  I'd be pretty mad

If my government did not use everything it had

Making sure that people shooting missiles at me stop.

What's the matter with the Hamas leaders at the top?

Don't they care that their civilians are the ones who've bled?

Can't they see it's Palestinians who end up dead?

They can't win the shooting war they're fighting now, so why

Won't they give a brokered peace with Israel a try?

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.

Egypt - Just Say No

Egypt sentenced journalists to 7 years in jail

Despite lacking any evidentiary trail.

Claimed that they were working for the Muslim Brotherhood.

We'd planned on resuming aid; now, I don't think we should.

To be fair, I didn't think we should have anyway.

These men aren't the first the government has locked away.

Al Jazeera's journalists may have to serve some time;

Hundreds of Egyptians received death for the same crime.

General el-Sisi, who is now the President,

Isn't someone we should send a single, U.S. cent...

Led the revolution, seizing power in a coup,

Calling for the deaths of leaders that he overthrew.

Journalists are under threat and so there's no free press.

Why on earth would we go wading in to such a mess?

Egypt's military's doing fine without our aid.

If we really want to help we ought to foster trade.

In A Democracy You Get What You Deserve

Weekend saw a few elections held across the pond...

Politicians who would like to loosen ties that bond

European Union member nations won the day.

Tired of austerity, the voters voted "Nay!"

Half of Ukraine voted; not much turn-out in the East.

Faced with armed militias... Don't blame voters in the least.

In the West the winner was a candy billionaire.

Putin said he'd honor the results if they were fair.

Egypt held elections, too; the outcome no surprise.

Winner is a former Army General in disguise.

After leading Egypt's coup, took off his uniform.

In the region, that's not the exception, it's the norm.

U.S. will hold mid-terms soon but most of us won't vote.

By default, we'll let the special interests steer the boat

All the while complaining...  We have got a lot of nerve.

People only get the government that they deserve.

Middle East Update - Bad Timing for a Visit

Secretary Kerry doesn't seem to be enjoying himself on this trip.  (Photo/Presstv.ir)

Secretary Kerry has been in the Middle East;

Pretty awkward timing for his trip - to say the least.

Many of our "allies" in the region aren't thrilled

With our current policies and so relations chilled.

Kerry went to Cairo first; he'd not been in a while.

Next day, Egypt put its former President on trial.

Military overthrew his government and now

Claims that it was not a coup...  But I cannot see how.

Even though it's clear from all the evidence we've got,

State Department hasn't said if it's a coup or not.

U.S. law forbids assistance to a government

Which has come to power through a coup. The law is meant

To promote democracy, so now we're kinda stuck...

'though we'll send them aid, their military's out of luck.

Kerry went to see the Saudis next; they're also mad.

Feel the U.S. backed out on agreements that we had.

They've turned down a Council Seat 'cause we did not attack

Weapons sites in Syria...  Ain't chutzpah that they lack.

Any place where radicals are bred goes back to them;

They're the ones who fund those mosques and schools (which costs a gem.)

Now they're scared those angry chickens may come home to roost...

Here's an idea for you; just stop giving them a boost.

I wish Secretary Kerry luck - which he will need -

'cause the only thing on which the region has agreed

Is that the United States is, somehow, all to blame...

I guess it is comforting that some things stay the same.

Middle East Update - Making Friends Wherever We Go.

Iraq isn't better with us gone; in fact, it's worse.

Sunnis and the Shia are both fighting to reverse

Any signs of progress that their country may have made.

Now, it seems, they're wishing that our weapons systems stayed.

Sharing common borders with the Syrians, Iraq

Is a frequent target of a suicide attack.

Someone blows themselves - and others - into bloody bits;

Almost every single day some random violence hits.

Saudis are unhappy we've not played a larger role;

Don't believe it's possible that we'll achieve our goal

Of a peaceful Middle East until Assad is stopped.

Israel's not thrilled Iran might get its sanctions dropped.

Egypt's mad at funding cuts (because they had a coup.)

Pakistan and Libya are angry with us, too.

Nation building's not our strength so, once a war gets won,

We should not just walk away from countries...  We should run.

The 113th Congress - What Kind of Example is This?

Do we want to show the world that we'll negotiate

If the threat is big enough?  Well, isn't that just great?

Less than perfect timing (just to understate the facts)

Threaten world economies until the Congress acts.

With a common enemy the Arab street unites;

We're that common enemy - ignoring sovereign rights.

Two raids into Africa; a city street, a beach...

One man's being questioned but the other's out of reach.

Egypt doesn't like the fact we can't support their coup.

In Afghanistan their President is angry, too.

Karzai says he won't agree to sign a long-term deal

'cause we never stop to ask the Afghans how they feel.

Pakistan and Yemen hate that we use unmanned drones;

All the world is mad the NSA is tapping phones.

Now they get to watch and see our government not work...

Anyone who'd sign up for this kind of thing's a jerk.

Egypt - Call Me Cassandra

The Egyptian military has imposed a month long State of Emergency following yesterday's massacre of pro-Morsi demonstrators. (Photo/TheSaint41.com)

6 weeks after Egypt's coup, cops fired on the crowd

Saying Muslim Brotherhood protesters weren't allowed

To continue demonstrating out in Cairo's streets.

Now, instead, the city's filled with corpses under sheets.

Islamists felt victimized and took it to the square

(It's become the custom to hold demonstrations there)

Said it's illegitimate to overthrow a man

Just because you disagree... Only elections can.

Seems to me they had a point and, 'though I don't agree

With the Muslim Brotherhood, elections there were free.

Thousands wounded, hundreds dead, Vice President resigned

And the former President's still very hard to find.

There will be no compromises now - Not after this.

Population's fracturing.  The cracks are hard to miss.

Now, with mounting bloodshed, Egypt's in a downward spin.

It's a situation where America can't win.

Egypt - When is a Coup Not a Coup?

The riddle of the Sphinx -When is a coup not a coup?

I go on vacation - the Egyptians have a coup...

Not the 1st time this has happened, either. This makes 2.

Last time that it happened Morsi led one of his own.

This time it was him the military's overthrown.

No one's seen the President. The Muslim Brotherhood's

Started leading protests throughout Egypt's neighborhoods.

They say they're prepared to die if Morsi's not restored.

Civil war is one thing that Egyptians can't afford.

Neither can America 'cause Egypt is the key;

Central to the Middle East throughout its history.

Which is why we're being careful - watching what we say.

U.S. law is black and white but Egypt's shades of gray.

We are not allowed to give a country foreign aid

If there's been a military coup.  Bills don't get paid.

Egypt wants another chance to get its problems solved;

Thus, we've called it something else so we can stay involved.

Dear Secretary Kerry... Sincere Sympathies on Your Dream Job

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry...  Poor bastard.

Secretary Kerry has his work cut out for him;

Situation in the Middle East is pretty grim.

Civil war in Syria; the circumstances dire.

Innocent civilians getting caught in the crossfire.

Plus 2 million refugees have packed their things and fled.

Assad's neighbors have to try and keep those people fed.

War's been dragging on for 2 years now; no end in sight.

The United States stayed on the sidelines of the fight.

Now - so rumor has it - CIA is helping out;

Shipping arms to rebels so the battle's not a rout.

Trying hard to pick and choose who's gonna get the guns

In a region that's known warfare since Attila's Huns.

Egypt's on the brink of a collapse...  They're out of cash.

Thus, their fragile government may hit a wall and smash.

Even with intentions that are pure as driven snow,

Morsi's in a bind if the economy won't grow.

And, of course, there's Israel and Palestine, as well.

You call that the Holy Land?  It's more akin to Hell.

It's no wonder Hillary decided that she'd quit;

Let poor Secretary Kerry try to deal with it.

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 - Israel: A Conversation With My Son

Graphic credit/homran.wordpress.com

Yesterday my youngest son and I were in the car

And (as is per usual) were tuned to NPR.

With the news about Hamas and Gaza on the air

He asked me if I'd explain the problem over there.

Sure, my love...  No worries - and we'll do string theory next.

Once upon a time there were these three, religious sects...

And, depending how far back in history you go,

They all have a claim to land.  Who's right? I do not know.

And, it's hard to say exactly who owned what stuff last.

Many folks want vengeance there, for wrongs done in the past. 

Israel believes they face an existential threat...

That, my son, means it's as big as these things ever get.

Problem is that threat applies, as well, to Palestine.

Both sides shooting missiles; each has crossed the other's line.

Israel's surrounded by a troubled neighborhood.

I'm afraid there may be war and that, my love's, not good.

They must find a path to peace - there has to be a fix.

Find it fast before Egypt and Jordan join the mix.

Don't ask me what they should do.  I haven't got a clue.

Should have gone with quantum physics darlin'.  I warned you.

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.

Race for the White House - President Obama Enjoys The View

The President and First Lady sit down with the women of The View. (Photo/ABC)

President Obama's being criticized again;

Didn't meet world leaders who attended the U.N.

This has knocked important, foreign noses out of joint;

'though I wish he'd met with some, I guess I see his point.

With our moral suasion having reached its lowest ebb -

Owing to some weird film that's been posted on the Web -

What could he accomplish; have we not already said

Syria's a travesty?  Too many people dead.

Why sit down with Netanyahu (who he doesn't like)

When he won't agree with him on a preemptive strike?

Why have talks with Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood?

Right now, our relations with Egyptians are not good.

Only thing you get from meetings?  Headlines FOX can use;

Something they can spin about, in keeping with their views...

Which folks did he meet with?  Why did someone get the snub?

Who is in and who is out of that exclusive club?

At the risk of running long, I also have to say

I don't think world leaders would expect it anyway...

Not in this election year - not if they read the news.

I would also choose The View if in Obama's shoes.

Across the Pond - Or, According to FOX News; Race for the White House

Best way I can tell I'm wrong? When FOX News thinks I'm right.

That's the situation I was in on Thursday night.

What with all the protests spreading through the Middle East

I thought I should give the folks on FOX a chance, at least.

Then I watched Sean Hannity...  They really call that news?

Interviewing Palin for her "expert" Mid-East views?

She cannot see Egypt when she's standing in her yard.

Tried to find the logic in her arguments...  Too hard.

FOX News blames Obama; 'though, for what?  I can't be sure.

Something about doing some apologizing tour.

Then they played a clip montage and still I never heard

President Obama use the dreaded "sorry" word.

FOX seems more concerned about how Romney is perceived;

Playing petty politics while all the nation grieved

At the tragic loss of life; 4 people lying dead.

Spare me the excuses for the stupid things Mitt said.

Yes, I am still angry at the news from overseas

But, to take the word of those on FOX about it?  Please.

Think I'll stick to NPR with experts I can trust.

Trying to get any facts from FOX News was a bust.

Across the Pond - U.S. Embassies Attacked in Cairo and Benghazi

Egyptian protestors storm US Embassy. (Photo credit Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

Yesterday our Embassies were subjects of attack;

Stormed the walls and tore Old Glory down - hung flags of black.

Cairo and Benghazi...  Our Ambassador is dead.

Libyans blew up his car as he and others fled.

What would be the cause for these two "allies" fighting us?

What's behind the outrage?  What's the reason for the fuss?

Seems that there's some movie that nobody's even seen,

And Muhammad comes off looking bad from what I glean.

Guy who made the movie is American and so

That appeared to be enough for angry mobs to grow.

I would say that's quite enough of this and screw them all.

Leave us out of it and kill each other.  Have a ball.

Islam needs a Reformation and it needs it bad -

Speaking from experience about the one we had.

But, until they drag themselves from ignorance and fear,

I think the United States had better just steer clear.

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.

Dear Occupy Wall St.; WTF? (Want To Finance?)

(Photo credit: Sacha Lecca for RollingStone.com)

Heard about an old idea that's morphed to something new,

People helping other people - this is what they do;

Rather than a painful trip to beg some giant bank

For a loan, they're asking strangers.  Internet's to thank.

Someone with a good idea will post the thing on line

Looking for investors and - so far - it's going fine.

Catching on in Europe, where it's known as "Peer to Peer".

Wondering if Occupiers ought to try it here?

I believe the movement, if it wants to change a thing,

Has to now agree upon a single song to sing.

(Maybe it's not peer to peer but fixing our campaigns...

Super PACs are dangerous.) We have to use our brains.

I know smarter folks than I - more actively involved -

Must be trying very hard to get this problem solved.

Hope that they're more organized than first impressions seem;

That the Wall Street Occupiers don't run out of steam.

Pick a single issue.  Stay on message.  Talk it up.

Find a worthy Kool-Aid and then pour us all a cup.

...

(Want some proof we need to have a single message sent...?

Ask the poor Egyptians how their last election went.)

Across the Pond - Middle East Update

Cartoon Credit: Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press

 Looking to the Middle East, the news is pretty grim.

Breaking story; hopes for talks with Iran growing dim.

We will not lift sanctions - not until they compromise.

They want some concessions first, but we don't trust those guys.

Syrian regime continues shelling with their tanks

As its citizens begin to join the rebels' ranks.

Tighter that he grips his fist, the more folks slip away;

Assad's growing strangely more like Vader every day.

Pakistan has sentenced a physician who they said

Broke the law by helping us to see Bin Laden dead.

Gave him more than 30 years and then they wonder why

We don't tell them when a drone-strike mission's gonna fly.

Egypt - there's a ray of hope - election's underway.

Voters lined up in the streets to have a chance to say

Who will be the President...  I hope their choice is good.

(I am rather fearful of the Muslim Brotherhood.)

Overall the region's still a powder keg and we

Would be well advised to not forget the history...

Yes, I know it's ancient and our grasp is incomplete

But, if we don't learn it fast, we're destined to repeat.