More strange bed fellows

The Middle East is a part of the world where many odd alliances appear. One is never sure who is allied with whom and whatever one thinks may all change tomorrow. After George Bush’s State of the Union speech in which he declared Iran part of the “Axis of Evil” and after the well documented Department of Defense plans for war with Iran it became clear that the US government considered Iran an arch enemy. Ongoing saber rattling and deployment of forces were designed to intimidate the Iranian government. (For the latest episode, click here.) We now seem to have a new ally in our efforts to intimidate Iran and perhaps an ally in any war effort with the Islamic Republic. Our old friends at Al Quada have also decided that Iran is an enemy. They have declared that unless Iran ceases their support for the Iraqi government they will begin attacks against Iran. (For this story, click here) Since the US Armed Forces are over stretched in Iraq, perhaps they could use the help of Osama bin Laden in any military adventure against Iran. We should, however, think about the unintended consequences of supporting the objectives of Al Quada in the Middle East. As one of my friend said to me after a presentation on my trip to Iran “I don’t agree with everything you said, but you made me think”. Thinking is good. Our government should try it some time. It might help.