 |
MideastWeb Middle East Web Log |
| log | archives | middle east | maps | history | documents | countries | books | encyclopedia | culture | dialogue | links | timeline | donations |
|
Search: |
|
|
Prophet & Loss Statement, 200812/28/2008 It's that time of year again - time to review last year's predictions against what really happened. As usual, the predictions missed the really big events, which are always, by definition unforeseen: the world economic crisis and the Mumbai massacre. But the other predictions were fairly accurate: 18 of the 21 predictions were right (and one "non-prediction" that doesn't count). That's 86%. Of the additional "non-predictions," none really came to fruition, but Pakistan was certainly a place to watch in 2008. In the list below,"+ means the prediction came true, - - it didn't happen, 0 - can't decide. Israel
Israel and the Palestinians +: Hamas remains in power in Gaza at least. +: Al Qaeda will show at least some presence in Palestinian areas. Palestinian sources report that Fatah al-Islam is established in Gaza. Bin Laden has mentioned "Palestine" as a target for his Jihad. +: Israel will dismantle at least some illegal outposts under US pressure. Outpost was dismantled - with a big show of violence too; settlers were also thrown out of house in Hebron. -: Israel will actually reduce, if not eliminate, settlement expansion. especially in areas outside of the security fence. +: Visit of President Bush will produce a great show of activity, but little real results. Who even remembers the visit? +: PA in West Bank will increase cooperation with Israel in security matters. +: Israel will relax security at some checkpoints in the West Bank.Not much, but some +: PA will not be able to eliminate terror groups such as Islamic Jihad in the West Bank. +: IDF will continue to arrest Islamic Jihad and other wanted people in the West Bank. +: Israel will not retake all of Gaza, Going out on a limb here - still two more days in December. - Not a prediction: Israel may undertake a major operation with the goal of cutting off arms supplies and eliminating Qassam rocket firing - short of retaking the entire Gaza strip. True, but I marked it not a prediction, so it doesn't count, does it? Iraq +: US troop "draw down" will occur as planned, regardless of objective security situation.Troops are going to Afghanistan, despite continued suicide bombings. +: Political situation will continue to be stalled and will be complicated by growing dissatisfaction of Kurds over Turkish incursions.First part is true for certain.
Iran +: Israel will not attack Iran. Sunday Times and other fiction writers lose again. +: USA will not attack Iran. Sy Hersh will write a novel about the U.S. attack on Iran. +: Iran will continue enrichment of uranium, but will not have or announce nuclear weapons capability. Lebanon +: Syria will not allow election of a president who does not reflect its interests, or a political settlement that doesn't guarantee a stranglehold on the government in line with the demands of the Hezbollah. This will preclude actual prosecution of guilty parties in the Hariri assassination as well as ensure Syrian control of important economic and political interests in Lebanon.This is basically right. There is no chance of any real Hariri investigation. Sleiman was tamed by Syria -: France and others may go ahead with prosecution in the Hariri case, but without Syrian or Lebanese cooperation, nothing substantive will come of this case. France chickened out. So did U.S.
Afghanistan Predictions for next year are invited - it's a whole new ball game. Ami Isseroff
Original text copyright by the author and MidEastWeb for Coexistence, RA. Posted at MidEastWeb Middle East Web Log at http://www.mideastweb.org/log/archives/00000738.htm where your intelligent and constructive comments are welcome. Distributed by MEW Newslist. Subscribe by e-mail to mew-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please forward by email with this notice and link to and cite this article. Other uses by permission. |
|
If you like this post - click to Reddit! 
add to del.icio.us
Add to digg - digg it
|
Replies: 11 comments Hey friend, if you could possiably be as accurate in for the U.S. stock market you would be on my friends list FOREVER. Thanks for showing the courage to actually post your predictions. Good Luck in the coming New Year. Posted by Bingram @ 12/30/2008 07:53 PM CST "Sunday Times and other fiction writers lose again." and "Sy Hersh will write a novel about the U.S. attack on Iran." I love it!!!!!!!!! What "Years" prediction will Hersh's novel and/or the writings of "Times and other fiction writers" be the "accepted" historical record? Posted by Blandly Urbane @ 12/31/2008 06:40 PM CST
To be peace is aware that every human being is emanation of GOD, so if you hurt/ kill other man it mean you hurt/kill your self, dogma/ religion just illusion in the 3rd dimension, in the real 4th dimension, everything is eternal , same degree as emanation of GOD, Posted by Ratna Kumala @ 01/02/2009 06:37 AM CST If you do not have anything good to say , just shut up!
We were not even there when all these so called wars happened back then. Posted by suzie @ 01/03/2009 07:35 AM CST The Isrealies Are responsible for the war going on in the Gaza SStrip and for the 810 people killed over 100 of them childern and women the Jews took there life. Posted by Nimah Hassan @ 01/13/2009 04:45 PM CST Nimah---Are you kidding? All Hamas has to do is stop bombing Isreal, and they basically said NO WAY!! I do not think it is an unrealistic request. Ratna---GOD, bless you!! Posted by Love @ 01/13/2009 05:53 PM CST
I don't understand the pun; Prophet and Loss...as the title of the article. It's irreverant, and as always racist.Mocking people's beliefs will achieve nothing.One misguided poster said; "All Hamas has to do is stop bombing Israel.." All Israel has to do is abide by the UN resolution 242 and Camp David Accords. Leave the occupied territories! Give the Palestinians their homes back or pay restitution. Posted by Jerome Shapiro @ 01/16/2009 04:07 AM CST Mumbai massacre was planned by indians and usa and britan. Posted by goodman @ 01/18/2009 04:00 AM CST Love what are you talking about all the isrealies have to do is leave gaza Posted by nimah hassan @ 02/11/2009 10:13 PM CST Love what are you talking about all the isrealies have to do is leave gaza Posted by nimah hassan @ 02/11/2009 10:13 PM CST
israel massacre: thousands of inocent palistinians and down israel will go Posted by yousef atik @ 02/13/2009 05:14 AM CST Please do not leave notes for MidEastWeb editors here. Hyperlinks are not displayed. We may delete or abridge comments that are longer than 250 words, or consist entirely of material copied from other sources, and we shall delete comments with obscene or racist content or commercial advertisements. Comments should adhere to Mideastweb Guidelines . IPs of offenders will be banned. |
[Previous entry: "Gaza tragedy unfolding"] Main Index [Next entry: "Gaza Tragedy - Waiting for Barak?"]
ALL PREVIOUS MidEastWeb Middle East LOG ENTRIES
Thank you for visiting MidEastWeb - Middle East.
If you like what you see here, tell others about the MidEastWeb Middle East Web Log - www.mideastweb.org/log/.
Copyright
Editors' contributions are copyright by the authors and MidEastWeb for Coexistence RA.
Please link to main article pages and tell your friends about MidEastWeb. Do not copy MidEastWeb materials to your Web Site. That is a violation of our copyright. Click for copyright policy.
MidEastWeb and the editors are not responsible for content of visitors' comments.
Please report any comments that are offensive or racist.
Editors can log in by clicking here
|
|
RSS feed
Add to Amphetadesk