NEW NAME The term "coalition" is again in use this morning and it seems
to be anticipated as the key word to be used in the immediate future when we speak of troop placements in the mid-east war areas. It is a welcome addition, for the simple term - a multi-national coalition - "shares the blame".
That, I'm sure, it may strike many people as a rather crude way to look at it, but it quite important that we maintain a level of confidence in our involvement in such "foreign" affairs. It is far better for nations - other viewpoints to be evident in any such attempt o alter the status quo among nations and peoples
In truth, the incursions of the recent past may well have involved troops of our own in excess of the precise numbers of other national troops in the action, it is still, in intent, a group action. It is good for us to keep it that way. It was not an easy thing for President George W. Bush to build a community of nations oppose Saddam Huessen's evil regime and had weaknesses which allowed it to fall apart under stress. It will be even more difficult to form such an alliance at the present stage when much more evidence of deadly costs involved are apparent. Some leading voices said this morning that "this will be a long war! " The difficulty in forming a visible and viable union of allied powers will add that delay tendency but not, of necessity to the length of the actual conflict. Public opinion is going to play a role in what takes place in Lebanon and other smitten locales. These elements seem to be stronger and potentially more influential than on prior occasions. Television coverage has been detailed largely because of new events to cover. Repeated showings of severe condition have resulted in stronger public awareness of some of the worst aspects of modern warfare.
The building of an alliance concept will take time and diplomatic skill. Care should be taken to look and listen for voices on either or both sides called for "Holy War". That is a step... a name be avoided at all costs!
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 7-28-06 [c381wds]
