Arabian peninsula = Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Leb¬anon, Oman, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

MERS is the viral infection that's causing severe respiratory disease in lots of folks over there. There have been just a few cases in the US, starting in May. I'm wondering if military personel are coming back sick? Apparently pretty much all of the camels on the Arabian peninsula have this virus. We don't know if it causes chronic infections, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did, considering what we are learning about viral DNA mingled with our own.

Just yesterday I finally stopped ignoring the Middle East and looked up a few things. Like who is Shia and who is Sunni. And who has nukes and where. And what exactly an Islamist is. It was....a useful exercise. Anyone else out there taking an interest in this juncture of history? I'm ready to be educated.

It just seems to me, after one *ok a fraction of one* day of looking into it, that the majority Sunnis in most of the Middle East have been supremely frustrated trying to deal with their less conservative, more secular Shia neighbors. And it seems clear to me that America has at least attempted to enact a separation of church and state, even though those words do not appear in the constitution. It was in the First Amendment to the US Constitution that Congress was to "make no law respecting respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". As wikipedia points out, lots of nations have this idea in their code, and there is a great range of shades of gray in its execution. Here in America we do fairly well, but nowhere near a perfect score. For one thing, the constitution has no control over the states and what local laws might be passed. Which may be how we have gigantic crosses along Interstate 5 in Washington State. Not so different from other places, where religion is supposed to guide personal and political life. Here we seem only able to elect Christian presidents. We like to think that we are above it, but we are surely not.

So I know I am rambling and I will call it quits. If you have an opinion about what is the crux of what is going on--in Syria, Turkey, Kurdistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia or any other involved party, feel free to comment and tell me! I'm building a mind map.

**Created Syria tag.

The all-volunteer military has enabled America to fight two wars while many of its citizens do not know of a single fatality or even of anyone who has fought overseas. Had there been a draft, the war in Iraq might never have been fought. George W. Bush didn't need your body or, in the short run, your money. Southerners would fight, and foreigners would buy the bonds. The U.S. has become like Rome or the British Empire, able to fight nonessential wars with a professional military. Ultimately, this will drain us financially, and spiritually as well.
--Richard Cohen, in the Washington Post

I like Hillary more and more in her new job. In this clip see Ron Paul speaking broady about the change in tone, but the lack so far of visible change of foreign policy action, by the Obama administration. Hillary's response is well considered and she actually compliments Ron Paul at the end. Someone off screen says "You're going to encourage him," and all laugh.

Can you tell what kind of tree is growing from the shoe?
Image of the "goodbye kiss" to an American "dog", made immortal:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/middle_east_enl_1233258254/html/1.stm
The article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7859444.stm
Video:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/opinion/11rich.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
It's an op-ed piece by Frank Rich, replete with interesting links and a straight-on look at what we have allowed to happen in our nation. The reconstruction of Iraq cost $117 billion that went....where? Into Cheney's pocket? A few others must have gotten rich too. I was a stockholder in Haliburton for a while, and kick myself sometimes for getting out. It just seemed so immoral to keep making money off the taxpayers. Madoff only made off with $50 billion, and it was investor money, not taxpayer money.

ABC News: Ron Paul talks with Tom Abrahams (6/13/08). In this interview Dr Paul re-confirms that he won't be endorsing McCain until/unless McCain changes his positions on the war and the economy, expresses his continuing surprise and gratitude at the outpouring of support, and at the fact that the youth of today are ready to act to bring our government back into adherence to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.