MIDDLE EAST

Yesterday was not a good day! 47 more dead in Iraq following another suicide bomb atack on Iraqis rather than Americans, and 15 killed in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Army during operations aimed at tracking down mortar postions and secret tunnels the Israeli's say are used to transport weapons.

In Israel it seems the much-vaunted "roadmap" has been largely ignored by both sides (typical men really - refuse to use the map or ask for directions but plough on instead hoping that eventually they will somehow bump into whatever or wherever it is they are looking for). This conflict, however unfortunate and, to an outsider, unnecessary it appears to be, at least is understable in terms of 2 opposing sides with very different aims and views of the world

The attacks in Iraq however now seem to pit Muslim against Muslim and the supposed enemy, the U.S. and it's allies, appears almost forgotten. Surely whoever is behind these attacks realises that they are only likely to harden opinion against them by even moderates on their own side. Hopefully it will simply make their support base dwindle and reduce their flow of funds. Alternatively how many idiots willing to drive a car full of explosives and set it off can there be out there? Surely they have to run out eventually? Sadly I think those hopes are probably forlorn - as I said before it seems the only things they have an endless supply of are sand, rocks and idiots.

It's a mad world out there. Thankfully I live in Hong Kong where they worship the only True God - MONEY. No problems there...