An Alternate History of the Invasion of Iraq

As I was driving today, I had this rather random thought. How would the course of human history have been altered had the United States not invaded Iraq? 

I am setting aside all the pros and cons of why we invaded. For my question, that isn't a relevant consideration. What prompted this odd inquiry was that prediction by Nostrodamus that there would be a third "Anti-Christ" rise after the fall of Nazi Germany. So the question reframed becomes, "How would leaving Saddam Hussein in power in Iraq have changed history?" Or perhaps, "Might an unchecked Saddam Hussein risen to the heights of madness and power in the world that Adolf Hitler did?" 

Tonight, I just want to raise the question. Sleep calls me and tomorrow is another work day. But tomorrow, I will begin an exploration of this line of reasoning. 

And if you have any thoughts about what kind of timeline world history would have taken, in this alternative history of  our post-9/11 world, please weigh in on the subject. After all, in this kind of pursuit, there can be no wrong answers. Let me hear from you.

A Loss... And the Aftermath

A few days ago, some file in my operating system got corrupted and I was forced to restore the operating system. Needless to say, I lost all my data files including a lot of stored photos I cannot recover and miscellaneous journals and pieces of writing, also lost forever. Strangely, given my present situation, I didn't feel an overwhelming sense of loss. In fact, I felt strangely liberated, like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I am at the other end of one of those transitional periods in life. I have settled into being someone who is in his sixties. I am trying to reconcile all the good things that come with being 61 with the various attitudes and possessions that go with being someone who is younger. Frankly, I am really willing to give up the angst that goes with "trying to make something of my life." That particular pursuit, I have discovered, too often falls under the heading of be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it. So often, it is never exactly what we thought that something would be... and usually just a touch disappointing.

Anyway, back to the subject of loss. It then occurred to me that I had not really lost everything, because so much of what I had gone through since the auto accident in January of 07 had been saved here in my blog. No matter what I had lost, I still had the good memories of things past. More importantly, I am making new memories. Besides, it is better to be living in the moment than standing on the side of the road reflecting on the life going by.

I Am Back!

It is two in the morning, March 27, 2008.

Hard to believe that I have not posted anything since December 2007. It would be too easy to say that I was just busy. In truth, I was busy. But that would only tell part of the story. I got caught up in the rat race and in the scramble to make a buck. And also, for the first time, I am figuring out how to be a success at something. My priorities have changed and I see the world so much differently now. I know that this sounds like throwing all kinds of reasons into the answer to the question. But all of these things have been happening all at once and for the longest time it felt like I had no time to think.

Since last September, I have done work for at least three different places every week. Now it is more than that. The routine has been to run from one job to the next, stop by to make sure my mother (98 yrs old) is okay, get home hopefully by 7:30 pm, grab a bite, go to bed and the next day more of the same. At first I loved the pace and more money coming in. And then the routine ground me down and for a time I was really burned out. 

Now, I have made adjustments. I pace myself. I do try to get some sleep. I am setting time to get our apartment cleaned up, finally after a year of living in boxes. I am doing my best to find a center... a balance. 

The upshot to all that I have gone through is that I got out of the habit of blogging... of making the time to do so. Now, it is time to get back into the groove of every night, posting  a blog post... of considering the day just past. Of trying to make some sense of my day or of making a comment on the happenings of my usually ordinary life. Or of noting something that took place somewhere in the world, that struck me as ironic or funny or tragic or just plain stupid. I need to set aside that quiet time each day to just reflect on my life and on world, so that I can always remind myself what is important and what is not. 

I guess if I have been a bit off balance for the last several months, it was my own fault. Mr. Bush must have gotten to me, because even when I knew that what I was doing was not making me happy, I just decided "...to stay the course." It has not been a particularly bright thing for Mr. Bush to use that strategy. And definitely not a bright thing for me to do. 

I had forgotten that thing I learned not so very long ago. When life gets so crazy and the only thing that seems to make any sense is just to keep up the pace, that is the time to stop right where you are and survey the terrain around you. Look all 360 degrees around you. Get your bearings and then make sure you are headed in the right direction and doing something that actually makes sense to do. And then reset your priorities if necessary and move on once more. No particular rocket science in that strategy. 

Anyway, I realize I am just rambling. I just wanted to return to my blog and begin to write again. And to write something that is not simply predicated on selling something  to someone or to write a business letter. 

Enough! I am back. Look for more to come in the coming days.