Saturday, December 30, 2006

Can you blame people in the Middle East for being drawn to conspiracy theories? I mean, look at it. Here was a dictator who was supported and supplied back in the 1980s--and who warmly received none other than Donald Rumsfeld, the same Donald Rumsfeld, and then he was opposed but not overthrown by the US in 1991. He then is overthrown by the US, and his execution quickly arranged and choreographed, and the oil of the nation is taken over by private companies closely aligned with US economic interests. And here was a Palestinian leader, `Arafat, who suddenly fell ill, and the investigation of his death was clearly covered up by gangs loyal to the Israeli occupation. And you look at Lebanon and the succession of assassinations and bombings, and the foreign interferences in its affairs. I mean, do you blame people in the Middle East for being drawn to conspiracy theories? Attraction to conspiracy theories is merely a reflection of the sense that political affairs are clearly and heavily influenced by outside powers. It is logical to be drawn to conspiracy theories--and I am not talking about kooky conspiracy theories of course.