Now the Westernisation of the Middle East begins in earnest..
Not to say Islam is going to be threatened, or the Islamic way of life.. far from it in fact, as the west will be seen bending over backwards to ensure the religious card is not played by any other than those known to be zealots.. extremists.. The sanctity of personal faith is guaranteed in the American Constitution itself.. and that point will be underscroed heavily..
This however, will not stop whose within the Shi'ite and Sunni communities motting.. to understate.. how government will be formed..
But for those particularly in Iraq these next few months, years, will see a marked change in the lives of the everyday man. This is the Western goal.. and If this is done well, and one would think the American plan is indeed to make this as close to a model community as possible, there will be surges of unrest among the youth of those other countries who's wealth is by far in the hands of the minority..
When it becomes apparent that an Iraqi man or woman, remaining true to their religious convictions, can still depend on that which lies under the sands of his own country to provide food, shelter, comforts, disposalble income.. there will be a ripple effect in Iran.. in Syria.. in Egypt.. throughout the Levant traditional 'rights to rule' will become increasingly under question..
Certainly this will not be an effect seen with customary Western speed.. but will be an insidious process that will weave it's way into what is the traditions of the area..
Nothing in the Q'ran says you cannot have sattelite television, and a state pension for those incapable of work, and free education for those who have the ability, and a tax free existance.. and the best medical treatment money can buy.
The Iraqi's are wealthy people..
When they realize this.. and the fact the Americans and British are only too willing to give them full control of this wealth.. that indeed they can become yet another consumer base..
Well what will the Iranians think..
Perhaps for once the British and American planners have taken a page from the politics of the Middle East.. and turned it against them..
Perhaps the impression of 'ride-em-cowboy-shoot-em-up' was more of an act that was indeed expected.. not intended..
And perhaps Western diplomacy has finally begun seeing political changes in terms of decades, rather than days..
Will wonders never cease..