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2006-02-18 Iraq
Iraq wants to join the NATO!
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Posted by Croter Jeatch1565 2006-02-18 12:52|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 So maybe we need to let France and Germany drop out and add Iraq and eventually Afghanistan.

It'll need a new name, tho. Suggestions?
Posted by lotp 2006-02-18 15:38||   2006-02-18 15:38|| Front Page Top

#2 His heart is in the right place, but the times, geography and practicality may not be. First of all, NATO is moribund, and remains almost solely in case Russia decides to become pestiferous again, which could still happen.

However, geography dictates that a similar treaty organization, like NATO, would not be a bad idea.

Right now, the Middle East could be poised for a window of opportunity that I had previously mentioned--like Europe was just after WWII. That is, to form regional organizations of several kinds: a "METO", like NATO; and a Middle East Common Market (MECM), intent on evolving into something like the European Union, call it the Middle East Union (MEU).

As in the EU, only true democracies with popular and transparent governments and a willingness for unrestricted trade could be members. And as with the EU, the advantages of doing so would be so great that countries would contort themselves to be able to belong.

Right now, Iraq and Turkey are about on a par as far as their ability to be founding states to such a union. If the two got together to take advantage of the most liberal character of both, they would match France and Germany as nexus countries for a MEU. Smaller countries, such as the UAE and Kuwait, would be irresistably drawn into such a union, and already are showing signs of making some of the changes they would need to make to do so.

Grand enlargements such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, even Syria, Lebanon, etc. would come in phases over decades. Israel might be like Switzerland to the MEU, friendly, but not a member.

Iran, however, is just too dominant in the region to belong, as such. But, if it were to be partitioned into smaller states, with representative governments, things might change.
Posted by Anonymoose 2006-02-18 15:48||   2006-02-18 15:48|| Front Page Top

#3 include India - call it Middle East Asian Treaty Organization. MEATO...we should apply this principle to all treaties: Only if the acronym sounds cool
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2006-02-18 16:26||   2006-02-18 16:26|| Front Page Top

#4 Non-Asshole Treaty Organization.

Won't have to re-do stationery.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-02-18 16:27||   2006-02-18 16:27|| Front Page Top

#5 lol
Posted by Frank G">Frank G  2006-02-18 16:34||   2006-02-18 16:34|| Front Page Top

#6 Costs would really drop if we moved HQ from Brussels to Baghdad.
Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-02-18 16:36||   2006-02-18 16:36|| Front Page Top

#7 Non-Asshole Treaty Organization

Like it. But the name would require permanently excluding France. The Canadians would have to work hard to stay in, too.
Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford  2006-02-18 17:18|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/]  2006-02-18 17:18|| Front Page Top

#8 New American Treaty Organization? Coalition of the
Willing? Make it a free trade zone as well as a mutual defense pact. Include nations that have stood and will stand with us like Britain, Australia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Denmark, Italy, Ukraine, Iraq, et al. Exclude the pathetic Eurolosers like France, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Russia etc.
Posted by RWV 2006-02-18 22:53||   2006-02-18 22:53|| Front Page Top

22:53 RWV
22:28 RWV
22:24 Frank G
22:23 trailing wife
22:22 .com
22:18 trailing wife
22:18 Frank G
22:15 .com
22:12 Ebbemble Cleque3924
22:09 BA
22:04 Ebbemble Cleque3924
21:57 buwaya
21:56 Skidmark
21:26 doc
21:12 Frank G
21:11 Frank G
21:01 Anonymoose
21:00 Nimble Spemble
20:55 .com
20:46 .com
20:44 Frank G
20:39 .com
20:38 Redneck Jim
20:22 3dc









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