Turkey's Faulty Economic Impact Argument

Turkey claims it needs roughly $32 billion to compensate it for economic disruption expected to be caused by the coming war in Iraq. They make this assumption based on their experience in the '91 war. However this time the likely economic impact will benefit Turkey. Most of the past losses are the result of the sactioned imposed on Iraq for failure to comply with its obligations under the cease fire agreement. After Iraq is liberated, the sactions will be lifted and the Turks will be positioned for a thriving trade relationship with Iraq. The overall impact should be positive.

Palestian Problems

A University of South Florida professor along with seven others has been charged with participating in a terrorist organization, Islamic Jihad. With this organization being squeezed in the US and Hamas looking at the loss of human bomb rewards from Saddam Huessin the Palestinians will find it increasingly difficult to operate. The Isrealis are destroying the Gaza metal fabrication facilities and attacking Hamas leadership targets. I would not be surprised to see a Sherman like march through the terrorist support facilities of Gaza in the coming days. Despite what critics of Isreal say, this would enhance the peace prospects for the Palestinians, because there will be no peace in Palestine and Isreal until Hamas is destroyed. The Iraqi liberation will also make it more difficult for Hezbollah to operate. Their supply lines through Iraq and Syria will be disrupted, and their ships will be subject to seizure by the Isrealis. The Palestinians still have to give up their fantasy of pushing the Jews out of Isreal. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the Palestinians dependency on contributions of food and aid through the UN. This dependency makes this conflict worse because the Palestinians have no incentive to reach an agreement with the Isrealis. At some point they have to decide they are no longer refugees and start making a life for themselves by working at something besides blowing up coffee and pizza houses. Like welfare reform in the US, continued dependency results in misery and squalor for the people it is intended to help. If these people were told they had to get a job because the aid package was over, they would ultimately be happier, and the UN terror subsidy would cease.

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