In the same way Captain Renault was "shocked" that gambling was going on in Rick's Bar as the good Captain was in the process of picking up his winnings.
So too with Libya - The Allies are "shocked" that Muslim extremists have taken over the government from mad-man Dictator Muammar Qaddafi. And that they have installed the hated Sharia Law. Oh my.
In the case of the latter - Sharia Law, was it not our esteemed Premier, - the Right Honourable Dalton McGuinty who wanted to see that Law in force in Ontario? So why the surprise that real muslims would want the same in a majority muslim country like Libya?
As readers will know, I did not support the Allies in their efforts to depose M. Qaddafi. That he was a bad man - to be sure. But that he kept worse men in line - ie the Extreme Muslims cannot honestly be argued; Al - Qaeda, Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah, the Taliban and so on.
And sadly, it sends a message to other Qaddafi types that they too can expect the same treatment from the West should push come to shove. And this is most worrisome in regard to Saudi Arabia.
What is certain here is that the Arab Spring is quickly turning into an Arab Winter with Jews and Christians alike facing more and more persecution, injury and death. Moderate Muslims too, who cherish freedom and human liberty, are facing their countrymen's wrath.
When President Bush Sr. pulled back from Iraq during the first Gulf War - leaving Saddam Hussein to live another day - the brilliance of his move was immediately obvious. It was Hussein and company who were keeping Iran in check and without him, Iran would quickly move to fill the vacuum. This is exactly what has happened as a result of Geo. W's impetuous act a decade later.
Again, there is no doubt that Hussein was a very evil person but when compared to the alternative, the Iranian Ayatollahs, he was much preferable. These Ayatollahs who are on record as promising to obliterate Israel from the face of the earth.
So with Libya gone and Egypt and Iraq before them, things are getting much worse than better.
On the positive side, rumblings are now being heard about a possible Israeli attack on Iran's Nuclear Facilities. Hopefully this will come to pass. If it does not and when Iran's insane leaders finally obtain a functional nuclear arsenal all bets for peace are off and the imminent danger of all out nuclear war will be once again upon us.
As I see it....
K.D. Galagher'
