One fundamental principle that I think is correct is that the combination of science (weapons of mass destruction) and religion is a toxic brew. Add in high population densities, and you have a good prescription for disaster.

How bad that disaster gets depends on whether it is possible to prevent the big powers: US, Russia, China, Europe from being dragged into one of these sores festering in the former British colonies. The US is already dangerously involved.

Its like Rabin told Sharon a long time ago: don't worry about one person blowing themselves up in a marketplace, understand that the technologies for weapons of mass destruction are spreading, and if there is not an agreement acceptable to both parties, then disaster is inevitable.

Given the current state of things, th eonly way out appears to be UN deployment.

EP