Interesting politics.

Well, since I’m not using that politics filter right now, I’ll just hide things behind a cut instead…


Another interesting report, this one from debka, about exactly what we’re offering Britain in exchange for joining in the war. If this report is correct (I’d give it about 80% odds, but Bush is prone to changing his mind at a moment’s notice about these things) then we’ve offered them a chunk of land of their own in southeastern Iraq, including Basra and a good number of oil fields.

Now, the first instinct of a lot of people might be to say that this is horribly corrupt, but I’m actually thinking it may not be a bad thing. Put plainly: If we’re going to be trying to hold an empire in this area, I’m going to feel about 20 times better if the British are around. Because they know how to keep an empire functional, and having their good sense around and right in the same place as we are may be the thing to save our ass if things start to go bad – a word of advice from a provincial governor in the right place may be the thing that staves off World War 3.

So I’ll mark this as a temporary good thing in my book, and cheer on the Union Jack. I sincerely hope they come; it’ll be good having at least one world leader involved in this who isn’t a total lunatic.

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Published in: on March 12, 2003 at 22:55  Comments (5)  
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5 Comments

  1. On March 12, 2003 at 23:12 anthologie said:

    Not a total lunatic, no.
    I don’t envy Blair’s position. If he refuses to go along with the US plan, he risks losing American alliances. If he goes along with the US, he loses the respect and vote of his populace. Either way, he’s sort of up shit creek.

  2. On March 12, 2003 at 23:13 moof said:

    China II – the revenge!
    I can’t wait for the Boq’zar Rebellion in 2065.

  3. On March 12, 2003 at 23:23 zunger said:

    Well, unless he joins in successful conquest, and brings loot and bounty home…

  4. On March 13, 2003 at 00:30 jephly said:

    Um, since when do the British know how to keep an empire functional? Okay, maybe they once did, but they’re probably a bit out of practice by now…

  5. On March 13, 2003 at 11:46 s33k3r said:

    The sun set on the British Empire because of poor management. Taxation without representation, looking down on colonials, killing off a few inconvenient peoples, etc.
    Very much the same history of the fledgling United States in certain aspects, and much much worse in other aspects.
    Still, I have to agree. If we’ve got to be there, it’ll be good to have the Brits along with.


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