The Sniper wrote:

Wacko Jacko: "Heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race" John Lenon's Imagine: "You maysay I'm a dreamer, but I tell you I'm not the only one" Dreams are great WhiteGhost. I'm all for it. But even dreams need planning and hard work to come true. With the exception of really, really few people (born under Lucky Stars), People make their own luck. You have to create the right circumstances, be at the right time and place. That's the way I see it. Poet, it's not a matter of being switched on or not. It's sickening to see incompetence all around in Lebanon and the Arab World. We must do something. People are landing on Mars, winning Oscars and Pullitzers, delving into Nanotechnology while for more than 6 decades we keep going around in circles about who's Olive Tree this is (quoting Thomas Friedman).

Poet, I don't exactly know where you lost the plot. I never said anything other than: Peaceful solutions must always take precedence, but if everything else fails, then resorting to Force ,may be the way out. Like for instance, Iran's nuclear problem.

What Force does sometimes offer is take an issue to a turning point. Sometimes, Force provides long-expected solutions that Peace could not provide. I give you an example, the latest Israeli assault on Lebanon. It changed the rules of the game. No longer Hizbullah think they have 'Power of Deterrence'. Now they know that every time they do something silly and stupid, Israel is going to destroy Lebanon badly. It's quite devastating to Lebanon, I know and I don't defend Israel in any way. They're our ennemy, but I put myself in their shoes. I repeat: Sometimes, Force takes a problem to another level (for better or worse), but it breaks the mould and status quo.

Being a pacifist is great but you have to keep your feet firm on the ground man. The World has its way and they include Force.

As for WhiteGhost, I'm whipping myself and the Arab World hard enough. I don't quite understand why you keep telling me what I'm already writing about.

Sergej. Are you going on a trip or you're bored with the forums? In all cases, I think you have Nuclear Submarines in Vladivostok. One was scene to a fire a couple of days ago, watch out for yourself while there. By the way, you're oversimplifying things. If I say I'm a cut-throat liberal, it doesn't mean I'm denying my nationality and identity. Actually, being liberal or not is a matter of personal opinion and character. You don't have to learn to be a liberal. It's who you are, how you think, your attitude in life. It's your will to work, how dynamic you are. No body sat me down and told me to be a liberal or capitalist. It's innate. Even in Communism darkest days, the USSR had its freedom fighters who tried to revolt and speak out and trade (in black market); those who wanted a better way of life. These people were not US wanna-be's. They acted on self-impulse and personal drive and desire to succeed in life. Americans didn't invent Liberalism and Capitalism. They were merely successful at applying it and making it successful. Who you want to be, is a matter of who you are. Period.

whiteghost wrote:

...name the top ten most tecnologically advanced Domestic lebanese corporations...

whiteghost, if you don't mind my opinion. Lebanon needs massive western investment to build hi-tech industry. It will, however, will not be coming as long as there is no peace with Israel.

Who would want to build anything if it is in danger of being pulverized next time Hizbullah has a testosterone boost.

Disarm Hizbullah and whatever militias are there waiting for their turn, make peace with the Israelis, create economic incentives and the investment will follow.

Political solution first, economic second.

whiteghost wrote:

...and more... ...Israel does not have peace with all its neigbours... ...FDI flows anyway... ...It is the possibilities made by, amongst others, Technion Haifa, that boosts HItech industries with inventions and know how... ..

Because Israel is a stable country without uncontrolled militias and strong military capable of protecting itself.

I don't have agenda but I do have opinion. You don't have to trust me.