[Arktwo] What is happening - Three

[Bruce Beach]

This is Part Three
and the conclusion
of a series on what is happening
in the Middle East.

In part one I pointed out
that the Strategy of Israel
(as it is being guided
by those in control) -
understood that the withdrawal
from Lebanon, Gaza and the Territories
would result
in rockets falling upon the major cities
of Israel.

In part two I pointed out
how Israel is not facing
a single unified Enemy -
called 'Islam' -
and in this concluding presentation
on this subject -
it becomes apparent how that effects
Israel's strategy -
since it usually leaves no entity
with which to negotiate.

While there are numerous Islamic sects
that are attacking Israel -
and hardly a day goes by
that we do not hear the name
of some new one taking credit
for some atrocity -
they all actually fall into
one of three spheres.

Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims,
or Muslims who are in some sense
'secular' Muslims -
that is those who
while giving honor to Muslim customs,
and respect for Muhammad and the Qur'án -
in actuality are more concerned
with stabilizing their governments
and the social milieu of day to day life.

That third group actually make up
the bulk of Muslims
and certainly the governments of Muslim countries.
The exception to that rule is Iran.

Iraq had a very secular government -
and today most of the Muslim deaths
in Iraq and elsewhere -
are at the hands of other Muslims
arising from the old Sunni / Shiite rivalries
in the face of the collapse of
Saddam's secular system.

All the Muslim governments
(with the exception of Iran)
face their greatest challenge
from within -
from extremist Islamist groups -
who wish to overthrow
any semblance of secular rule -
and replace it with Shariah Law.

This is true of
Pakistan
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
and even Syria.
It is also emphatically true for
Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority.

Fundamentalism is on the rise -
throughout much of the world and
not just in Islamic countries.
It is a force to be reckoned with
among Hindus in India,
Christians in the US,
and  others elsewhere.

Nor is it always religious fundamentalism.
Sometimes it is political fundamentalism -
through the established PTB
(Powers That Be)
such as in Russia and China.
Sometimes taking the guise of Communism
and other times under the guise of Fascism
as in the US.

What this means -
for existing governments -
if they have not already given over
to some extreme of
religious or political fundamentalist belief -
as have Iran and North Korea -
is that their first concern must be in controlling
those dedicated forces from within -
dedicated forces whose goal is
to take over control of their country.
(I will not belabour the opinion of some -
about the status in the US.)

In many ways -
these forces do not seem to be such
that they can in any way be appeased,
and they are too strong to be controlled.

The countries immediately surrounding
and confronting Israel -
all face religious fundamentalist types of crises.
Egypt, and to some degree Libya,
appears to have the situation under control -
although substantial internal threats
face them also.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are barely holding on
in facing the Taliban
and the same is true of Saudi Arabia.
The extreme fundamentalist groups that they face
are Sunni based -
and one can say somewhat the same for
the Palestine Authority in its battles with Hamas.

Lebanon on the other hand
faces Shiite Extremists
in the form of Hezbollah -
and we can now say that full Civil War
has broken out in Iraq between the Sunnis
and the Shiites.
None of these extremist groups -
in their religious fervour -
are willing to compromise.

Thus it is that Israel
is facing adversaries
that are themselves threatened
from within.
It is for this reason -
that it cannot reach a true truce with them.

Lebanon may well wish such a truce -
but it is impossible for it
to control Hezbollah.

The same is true for Syria,
which is even more impacted by the actions
of radical elements within.

Therefore - we have that very strangest
of all situations -
where Israel is saying -
we recognize that the source of the weapons -
and that the leaders instigating the conflict -
are in Iran and Syria -
but our battle is not with Iran and Syria -
and we have no intention of attacking them.

At least not at this time.
And that is certainly okay with Syria -
because it doesn't want to be attacked
by Israel.

Iran is a different story.
There the fundamentalists are
already in complete control.
There they believe they have
their manifest destiny .
There they are trying to urge all others
(Syria,
Shiites in Iraq,
the Palestinian Authority,
Hezbollah and Lebanon)
to press on the attack with Israel.

For Iran itself -
to attack -
would make Bush's day.
So Iran too is presently restrained.
The ball is in Israel's court -
but until Israel can get more playing room -
it is not in its interest -
to go after the other Team's home court.

However,
Israel is working on that.
Diligently -
and THAT is what is happening
in the Middle East.

Israel must defeat
(although not entirely eliminate)
Hezbollah and Hamas -
who have vowed to destroy it -
and Israel must destroy
their rockets and position
before it goes after Syria and Iran -
the main supporter and supplier of Hezbollah.

For those of us
who desire peace in the world -
we must then ask -
what other possible solution is there?
Is there some other way -
that Israel can hope to survive?
Can it sit and wait -
for Iran to bring its atomic bomb?
Will the world suddenly arise
and collectively come
to the protection of the Jews?
Will the Muslims have a sudden
and complete change of heart -
and seek to assure
the continuation of Israel?

Unfortunately,
for the present situation -
those in Israel see none of the above
as being likely -
and therefore none other solution
other than the strategy
that they are following.
Consequently, the die is cast -
so that events will play themselves out.
However, out of this catastrophe -
perhaps humankind will finally look for the solution.

This is not just a catastrophe
for the Jews
and the Muslims in the Middle East.
It is a catastrophe for the world.
When the event occurs -
Russia and the US will enter in.

And all the rest of the world
with their animosities also.
The Muslims in Pakistan
against the Hindus in India.
The Japanese Shintos
against the Korean Buddhists.
The Chinese Communists
against the Taiwanese Separatists.

Religious, Secular, Racial, National,
Patriotic, Class, Historical
biases, prejudices, hatreds
will explode throughout the world
and all will enter in -
to this Great Final Battle of Armageddon.

But, I look beyond all these events
of the moment -
the reports of this rocket falling on Israel,
those planes bombing in Lebanon,
these insurrectionists killing so many daily
in Iraq,
those terrorists doing this and that -
in this country and that -
throughout the world.

For we must see beyond the events -
happening at the moment -
to what is happening to humanity
and the planet itself.
For we are passing through the fire
of purification -
to the emergence of humanity
from its childhood and rashness of youth
to the maturity of the human race.

We must look for the solution
to build a better world.
It is for these reasons
that I call myself
a Reconstructionist
rather than a survivalist.
That I refer to myself -
as a DawnSayer
rather than as a Doomsayer.

While some wait for rapture
and others for Christ to return on a cloud -
I myself look for the solution
in the Baha'i Teachings.

The Baha'i Teachings say that
there is no other long term solution
but that humanity must form a world government.
And even that will not be enough.

"That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of
religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of
animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and
His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty
systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That
they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements
of the ages in which they were promulgated.

Gird up the loins of your endeavor, O people of  Baha, that haply the tumult
of religious dissension and strife that agitateth the peoples of the earth
may be stilled, that every trace of it may be completely obliterated. For
the love of God, and them that serve Him, arise to aid this sublime and
momentous Revelation. Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring
fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone,
deliver mankind from this desolating affliction

	(Baha'u'llah,
	 Epistle to the Son of the Wolf,
	 p. 13)

God is working His Purpose out.
Through His Permissive Will,
He is permitting humanity
to see the error of their ways.

Racism, religionism, patriotism -
all stages and systems of developing humanity -
must now be replaced by higher ideals.

"'We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations --
that all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that
all bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be
strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease and differences of
race be annulled -- and so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these
ruinous wars shall pass away and the most great peace shall come. Is not
this that which Christ foretold? Let not a man glory in this, that he loves
his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind.'"

	(Abdu'l-Baha,
	 Divine Philosophy,
	 p. 10)

Some see the events of these days
as the end -
but others of us
see it as the beginning.

One must have the proper perspective
in order to understand
what is happening.

Peace and love,
Bruce
DawnSayer@webpal.org