The war against Afghanistan may turn out to have been a war against Pakistan. The CIA lands in Islamabad to straighten that country out and make the 'necessary changes' including modernizing the curriculum of the Madrasas, purging the government of 'radical' elements, Islamists in other words, and helping Pakistan re-evaluate its failed policy on Kashmir and Afganistan. No mention is made of the US-Israeli intention to neutralize Pakistan's nukes but it's not too much to assume that it may be underway. India and Israel should both be pleased with these developments.

Russia decides to cut its oil exports but not by much. Is it a Russian plot to undermine the Saudis, who cry for a cut in production to accommodate the recession and decreased demand. The Saudis, it is increasingly being pointed out, are the home of Osama bin Laden, and therefore more suspect in the 9/11 attacks than Iraq, according to some. Jewish superhawks in the Bush administration prefer to bomb Iraq, despite there being nothing left to bomb, while moderates prefer the 'starving them slowly' method. But what for the Saudis, whose demise has been predicted recently by The Guardian. Time to jetison the sheiks and move north?

What ever was the point of blitzing Afghanistan, land of rubble, landmines and warlords? The idea that it was to lay a pipeline always did seem strange, an event even less likely to take place now than before. Unocal has given up as has the Argentinian company, Bridas. Iran with the shortest route out of the Caspian and with pipelines in place was the natural choice. But the Israeli lobby may have nixed the mix, no doubt, to the chagrin of Cheney. Condoleeza Rice may be more pleased. Before being in the Cabinet she was on the board of Exxon, a member of the Caspian Consortium. *

The Brits say not to bomb while warning Saddam it's now or never for the return of the inspectors. Bush once again warns the world against the evil of Saddam, the most frequently repeated religious tenet of the Bush family.

Who's next? It has been suggested by various sources that it is Yemen, Somalia, Sudan or the Philippines. Or will they surprise us? Should we take a poll?

Leftist and libertairans alike bemoan their lost civil liberties as Islamists languish in US cells. Arafat's time seems to have come. Sharon launches F-16s on refugee camps all the while calling on Arafat to put an end to the violence. The threat of legal proceedings in regards to previous massacres in refugee camps seems not to deter him from his course.

Britain gets to look better by comparison. Russia gets Chechnya. Putin gets to stay in the game. Pakistan gets the CIA. India gets to keep Kashmir. India and Israel get rid of the 'Islamic bomb'. Saudi Arabia gets suspicion. Israel gets to target Hizbollah and Hamas. Arafat gets blamed. Iran gets to join the Russia-India axis. China gets a warning. Afghanistan gets blitzed.

* CORRECTION: Condoleeza Riced a a former member of the board of Chevron. Chevron is a member of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium along with companies from Russia and Kazakhstan and Europe, which recently opened a 900 mile pipeline from the oil fields of Tengiz in Kazakhstan that terminates in the Russian seaport of Novorossiysk.