Comments on: How the map will look http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/ Speak Victorian, Think Pagan Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:25:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Cartographic Paranoia « Ghosts of Alexander http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-383582 Cartographic Paranoia « Ghosts of Alexander Mon, 05 May 2008 06:53:28 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-383582 [...] Cartographic Paranoia I was reading a blog entry over at Kotare (The Strategist) about the redrawing of borders, and about Jeffrey Goldberg’s hypothetical map of the new middle east (also discussed at Coming Anarchy): [...] [...] Cartographic Paranoia I was reading a blog entry over at Kotare (The Strategist) about the redrawing of borders, and about Jeffrey Goldberg’s hypothetical map of the new middle east (also discussed at Coming Anarchy): [...]

]]> By: Michael http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382297 Michael Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:44:08 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382297 Actually, I noticed one difference between this map and Peters: Peters predicted that Afganistan would continue to exist, this guy predicts its getting swallowed up by its neighbors. One part of the map puzzles me, though. Both maps show Kuwait still there, in its original borders surrounded by Shiite Iraq: Why? The assumption that Kuwait is neither swallowed by its neighbor nor able to take over some of its surrounding territory in the chaos leading to the Shiite's rise seems unrealistic. Actually, I noticed one difference between this map and Peters: Peters predicted that Afganistan would continue to exist, this guy predicts its getting swallowed up by its neighbors.

One part of the map puzzles me, though. Both maps show Kuwait still there, in its original borders surrounded by Shiite Iraq: Why? The assumption that Kuwait is neither swallowed by its neighbor nor able to take over some of its surrounding territory in the chaos leading to the Shiite’s rise seems unrealistic.

]]> By: P. Aeneas http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382264 P. Aeneas Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:50:54 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382264 I bought this issue of Atlantic at Borders, on impulse, after seeing the cover. I didn't find the article terribly informative. In fact, it seemed to make a lot of assumptions and random choices based on little real information, even compared to Ralph Peters' map, which he admits was mostly a thought exercise. One thing that piques my interest in both this map and Peters' is the 'rump' Pakistan that gets left behind once the Pashtun and Baloch regions depart. If Pakistan were to break up, would the Sindhis really accept being bound to Punjab in such a relationship? The few Sindhis I met in college seemed indifferent or antagonistic towards their northern Pakistani counterparts. Does this attitude prevail in Sindh, and would it make a difference in the midst of a Pakistani breakup? I bought this issue of Atlantic at Borders, on impulse, after seeing the cover. I didn’t find the article terribly informative. In fact, it seemed to make a lot of assumptions and random choices based on little real information, even compared to Ralph Peters’ map, which he admits was mostly a thought exercise.

One thing that piques my interest in both this map and Peters’ is the ‘rump’ Pakistan that gets left behind once the Pashtun and Baloch regions depart. If Pakistan were to break up, would the Sindhis really accept being bound to Punjab in such a relationship? The few Sindhis I met in college seemed indifferent or antagonistic towards their northern Pakistani counterparts. Does this attitude prevail in Sindh, and would it make a difference in the midst of a Pakistani breakup?

]]> By: Chirol http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382257 Chirol Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:24:48 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382257 Kurt9: Indeed, it's the first thing I thought too Kurt9: Indeed, it’s the first thing I thought too

]]> By: Kurt9 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382256 Kurt9 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:53:37 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382256 The Atlantic should give credit where credit is due. This is Ralph Peter's map from an article he did about a year ago. The Atlantic should give credit where credit is due. This is Ralph Peter’s map from an article he did about a year ago.

]]> By: Andy http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382250 Andy Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:21:16 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382250 Interestingly the map doesn't go as far as Southern Russia, and areas like Chechnya where there are still a few that would like to set up a caliphate, independent from Russia. Is this because he thinks Russia has now gotten a handle on its separatists? Interestingly the map doesn’t go as far as Southern Russia, and areas like Chechnya where there are still a few that would like to set up a caliphate, independent from Russia.

Is this because he thinks Russia has now gotten a handle on its separatists?

]]> By: Curzon http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382232 Curzon Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:53:09 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382232 Yes, someone who puts Persia instead of Iran may not know the history of the name change to Iran; or the fact that "Persian Nationalism" as used by western scholars refers to nationalism regarding the country's classical history, not the name of the country. All in all the article makes a strong case without much evidence, but the sections on the Kurds were very interesting, especially that intense opening scene. Yes, someone who puts Persia instead of Iran may not know the history of the name change to Iran; or the fact that “Persian Nationalism” as used by western scholars refers to nationalism regarding the country’s classical history, not the name of the country.

All in all the article makes a strong case without much evidence, but the sections on the Kurds were very interesting, especially that intense opening scene.

]]> By: Michael Hancock http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382215 Michael Hancock Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:55:24 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382215 Do I have to read the article to find out what's gonna happen to the Sauds? I mean, how the royal family doesn't have the country named after them anymore? I'm just worried about an article like this being seen overseas where journalism is state-controlled, and having people think this ridiculous map reflects the reality of American ambitions. And since when does Iran want to change its name back to Persia, anyway? That's like the US changing its name to Columbia [which is taken, anwyay] or England voting to become Avalon. Do I have to read the article to find out what’s gonna happen to the Sauds? I mean, how the royal family doesn’t have the country named after them anymore?

I’m just worried about an article like this being seen overseas where journalism is state-controlled, and having people think this ridiculous map reflects the reality of American ambitions.

And since when does Iran want to change its name back to Persia, anyway? That’s like the US changing its name to Columbia [which is taken, anwyay] or England voting to become Avalon.

]]> By: fabius_maximus_cunctator http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382211 fabius_maximus_cunctator Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:16:44 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/02/17/how-the-map-will-look/#comment-382211 Dear Sirs, Goldberg states: "Turkey has been an important American ally except for the one time when Turkey’s friendship would have truly mattered—at the outset of the Iraq War, when Turkey refused to let the American 4th Infantry Division invade northern Iraq from its territory." I do find that very accurate indeed. Other than that the author seems too b****y cocksure to say the least. Another case of using a map on too small a scale I suppose. Dear Sirs,

Goldberg states:

“Turkey has been an important American ally except for the one time when Turkey’s friendship would have truly mattered—at the outset of the Iraq War, when Turkey refused to let the American 4th Infantry Division invade northern Iraq from its territory.”

I do find that very accurate indeed. Other than that the author seems too b****y cocksure to say the least. Another case of using a map on too small a scale I suppose.

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