The Davy/Silvio and Nico show has gone awry. What was supposed to be a quick and easy victory, over the "vilified' Gahdafi, winning them kudos at home and a revival of political fortunes has instead become a war of attrition, losing support at home and abroad. This was never supposed to be protracted, what with American purse, leadership and smart bombs. Instead it has become a fiasco and has exposed the weakness and disarray of NATO, without America leading the way, financing and directing the war.
America has been overextended both financially and militarily and Congress and the people are tired of paying for wars that have no end and cost hundred of billions, money which they feel should be spent at home to deal with their financial woes... reduce the deficit, create jobs, save homes etc. At the beginning, all was well. The war was well funded (America picked about 75%, with help from the Saudis and Bahranis) and coordinated, but with America's pull back and with NATO in charge, the funds have been limited and the coordination has gone to "hell".
Europe with its financial problems (especially in the PIIGS...Portugal Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain), and with Germany, its biggest and most stable economy more interested in saving the Euro, cannot pick up the slack. Furthermore, Berlusconi has had two "slaps" in the face from voters, losing in the local elections and in the past week's referendum and with his personal problems is distracted and severely weakened. Sarkozy is trailing badly in the polls to both the Socialists and the "le Pennists, and really needs a quick victory and an end to the war, and thus the rush to kill Gadhafi (could win some kudos, as Obama got for bin Laden) and Cameron faces a fractious Coalition and growing criticism.
Russia and China sensing an opening has begun to court Gadhafi again and Turkey , with Erdogan easily winning a third term in power an an economy performing well, is increasingly becoming the major player in the Middle East. Hizballah has taken over power in Lebanon and the severe clamp down in Yemen and Syria has exposed the limitations of Western "power and influence".
The political map of the Middle East is being redrawn. Turkey, Russia and to a lesser extent China are the leading players. America is handicapped with its "preferred" support for Israel and the old colonial powers, Britain, France and Italy are a shadow of their old self, clutching with desperation at the coattails of a diminished America.
America has been overextended both financially and militarily and Congress and the people are tired of paying for wars that have no end and cost hundred of billions, money which they feel should be spent at home to deal with their financial woes... reduce the deficit, create jobs, save homes etc. At the beginning, all was well. The war was well funded (America picked about 75%, with help from the Saudis and Bahranis) and coordinated, but with America's pull back and with NATO in charge, the funds have been limited and the coordination has gone to "hell".
Europe with its financial problems (especially in the PIIGS...Portugal Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain), and with Germany, its biggest and most stable economy more interested in saving the Euro, cannot pick up the slack. Furthermore, Berlusconi has had two "slaps" in the face from voters, losing in the local elections and in the past week's referendum and with his personal problems is distracted and severely weakened. Sarkozy is trailing badly in the polls to both the Socialists and the "le Pennists, and really needs a quick victory and an end to the war, and thus the rush to kill Gadhafi (could win some kudos, as Obama got for bin Laden) and Cameron faces a fractious Coalition and growing criticism.
Russia and China sensing an opening has begun to court Gadhafi again and Turkey , with Erdogan easily winning a third term in power an an economy performing well, is increasingly becoming the major player in the Middle East. Hizballah has taken over power in Lebanon and the severe clamp down in Yemen and Syria has exposed the limitations of Western "power and influence".
The political map of the Middle East is being redrawn. Turkey, Russia and to a lesser extent China are the leading players. America is handicapped with its "preferred" support for Israel and the old colonial powers, Britain, France and Italy are a shadow of their old self, clutching with desperation at the coattails of a diminished America.
