NOW MORE THAN EVER MIDDLE EAST A POWDER KEG

Here's a fun little cutting from [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/07/front2454153.0444444446.html|a February 21, 2007 article] at WorldTribune.Com that talks about how hot things are getting in the ME:

"We consider this moment in time unprecedented in terms of the amount of insecurity and instability that is in the region," U.S. Fifth Fleet commander Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh said. "Although our presence in the Arabian Gulf is for defensive and not offensive purposes, the U.S. will take military action if ships are attacked or if countries in the region are targeted or U.S. troops come under direct attack," Walsh added.

At a news conference on Feb. 19 in Manama, Walsh said Iran could pose a greater threat to Gulf security than Al Qaida, Middle East Newsline reported. The naval commander said Iran's frequent military exercises were meant to provoke tension in the region and threaten the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, which contains about 40 percent of global oil shipping.

Weeee, so we got a stack of people over there with some seriously big guns all itching for a fight. There's almost nothing metaphorical about calling the ME a powder keg. One false move and things are going to get squirrelly real quick.

You know, "squirrelly" like when squirrels explode and take the tree with them...

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