James Joyner looks beyond the bluster in the latest al-Zawahri declaration of victory over US forces in Iraq;
�Every soldier and officer in the Pakistani military should know that Musharraf is throwing them into the burner of civil war in return for the bribes he is getting from the United States,� al-Zawahri said �For this reason I call on every soldier and officer in the Pakistani army to disobey the orders of his commanders to kill Muslims in Pakistan or Afghanistan or otherwise he will be confronted by the mujahedeen,�
Clearly, undermining the support of moderate Muslim regimes has been a key focus of al Qaeda leadership in these recent videos. What�s so interesting about that is that Osama bin Laden�s great achievement in forming al Qaeda, according to Michael Scheuer�s analysis, was in persuading disparate Islamist groups who were focused on the apostasy of their own domestic regimes to unite in opposition to the West. This seems a reversal of that course.
And this observation at Gateway Pundit;
It sounds like Zawahiri did not appreciate the dinner party blast that targeted him earlier this year and killed Midhat Mursi, al Qaeda’s master bomb maker and chemical weapons expert .
Probably not.
George P. Shultz and the origins of the Bush Doctrine
By TigerHawk at 3/16/2006 12:02:00 AM
Former Secretary of Labor, Treasury and State George P. Shultz spoke Wednesday afternoon at Princeton University before a tweedy audience of grumpy-looking professors and townies at McCosh 50. There were only a few obvious undergraduates present, perhaps because they did not know who he is.
Shultz, who graduated from Princeton in 1942, was a Marine, served every administration except Carter’s from Eisenhower to Reagan in one capacity or another, was dean of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, was another time president of the construction giant Bechtel, and wrote innumerable books (including Management Organization And The Computer in, *cough*, 1960), remains one of the most perceptive Americans alive.
Shultz’s message was at once both optimistic — “the world has never been in a situation of greater promise than now” — and concerned — “the terrorists must not be allowed to abort this opportunity.” The challenge, he said, is to develop a sustainable American strategy against Islamic terrorism that will carry us through a very long war.
Shultz’s speech Wednesday afternoon, of which I will write more in a subsequent post, led me to the astonishing realization that he understood threat of terrorism, and particularly Islamic terrorism, long before virtually anybody else in the foreign policy establishment of either party. On October 25, 1984, more than 21 years ago, he gave a speech1 in New York City that today appears startlingly prescient, and can fairly be said to be the foundational document of current American policy. Shultz spoke then of the nature of terrorism, the moral confusion of the West in the confronting of it, and the requirement that it be preempted by military force, if necessary. Considering what has transpired in the years since then, Shultz’s argument is arresting. Excerpts follow below, with bold emphasis added and my commentary in italics.
On the moral confusion of the West in the confronting of terrorism:
The magnitude of the threat posed by terrorism is so great that we cannot afford to confront it with half-hearted and poorly organized measures. Terrorism is a contagious disease that will inevitably spread if it goes untreated. We need a strategy to cope with terrorism in all of its varied manifestations. We need to summon the necessary resources and determination to fight it and, with international cooperation, eventually stamp it out. And we have to recognize that the burden falls on us, the democracies–no one else will cure the disease for us.
Yet clearly we face obstacles, some of which arise precisely because we are democracies. The nature of the terrorist assault is, in many ways, alien to us. Democracies like to act on the basis of known facts and shared knowledge. Terrorism is clandestine and mysterious by nature. Terrorists rely on secrecy, and, therefore, it is hard to know for certain who has committed an atrocity.
Democracies also rely on reason and persuasive logic to make decisions. It is hard for us to understand the fanaticism and apparent irrationality of many terrorists, especially those who kill and commit suicide in the belief that they will be rewarded in the afterlife. [We made little progress in understanding this impulse right through September 10, 2001. – ed.] The psychopathic ruthlessness and brutality of terrorism is an aberration in our culture and alien to our heritage.
And it is an unfortunate irony that the very qualities that make democracies so hateful to the terrorists — our respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual — also make us particularly vulnerable. Precisely because we maintain the most open societies, terrorists have unparalleled opportunity to strike at us. Terrorists seek to make democracies embattled and afraid, to break down democratic accountability, due process, and order; they hope we will turn toward repression or succumb to chaos.
These are the challenges we must live with. + … more
http://tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2006/03/george-p-shultz-and-origins-of-bush.html
Al-Zawahiri cites from the Koran, indicating that Islam forbids Muslims from being friendly with Jews and Christians:
“O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily, Allah guideth not a people unjust.” Al-Maidah 5:51
I discussed that and other of his utterings in my own post. The more these bastards cite the Koran, the more they break through the filter of political correctness protecting leftists from the terrible truth about Islam, which is that it is the opposite of tolerance and peace… it’s about discrimination, tyranny and murder. It’s all in the Koran, which is sanitized for Free World consumption by the MSM.
http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2006/04/complete-video-translation-of-al.html
I can’t help thinking of all these special forces/special ops movies we’ve seen over the years from Hollywood.With all the hundreds of billions spent,surely the mighty US has the intelligence and their own insurgents to find and take these cavemen pricks out.
Before you extreme righties take flight,I’m not anti-Bush,I’m just wondering why the US seems so impotent in making any real headway killing the enemy.I fear the war on terror is heading the same way as the war on drugs.Pour in billions for very questionable results.
proud infidel, surely with all the resources of the blogosphere at your fingertips, you should have the answers to that question (as well as correction of your assumptions about the “headway” made against al Qaeda) by now. And for free!
Proud…I think the reason the US hasn’t cleaned house is:
1. Totally inept intelligence agency
2. In-house bickering
3. Too many hands in the cookie jar of military spending
4. What else is there to do, not too many small despot nations left to invade.
5. Maybe this situation is a bit more complex than just ‘nuking the place’.
Sorry this is off topic, believe it makes good reading. David E. Meadows a retired mustang U.S. Navy Captain gives thanks to Canada on his web site. http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,95568,00.html
proud infidel – it might, just might, be the fact that real life and fictional life (aka movies) are not identical.
There has been an enormous change in the Terrorist-Free World interaction; the terrorists are now very weak.
The Al Qaeda (terrorist actions) part of Islamofascism is weak, and getting weaker as democracy moves across the ME and as the intelligence and preventative measures on Al Qaeda plans prevents their proposed actions.
The fundamentalist part of Islamofascism, however, is still strong. Europe seems to be awakening, but very slowly, from its multicultural stupor, and starting to reject the ‘all creeds and beliefs are equal’ ideology.
The left will alway refuse to evaluate; that’s the easy life for them. But, the right is now more vocal and articulate. I think blogs are vital in this emergence of the rational and logical vs the irrational left.
In the US, the MSM and academia is still amenable to collectivism (communist, socialism, fascism, Islamofascism). Collectivism is a ‘groupie’ ideology, steeped in emotion; and these ‘disciplines’ (wrong word!) are all about group emotions and the rejection of facts and reason.
So- in my view, the ‘bridge has been crossed’ and terrorism has reached a weakened stage of ‘no return’. But, Islamofascism is still strong; Iran wants to be the centrefold of that, and its taunts to the west, to get the west to attack it and thereby set it up as the centre of islamic fascism – must be rejected. Don’t attack Iran.
Maz2 – thanks for the link.
Tomax7 and ET…thanks to you both for some good brain food.
ET,if what you say is true,that would mean the MSM is actively undermining the US government’s efforts against the enemy.Even being careful to not be rhetorical,I can only call this “treasonous”.
Tomax7,believe your reason #1 to be most responsible for Bin Laden’s continuing freedom.
infidel said: “Pour in billions for very questionable results.” +
Photos from Iraq don’t fit the agenda
AP ^ | April 29, 2006
Posted on 04/29/2006 1:37:35 PM PDT by concentric circles
Iraqi police and soldiers lead a mocking parade, escorting a man on a horse wearing a Saddam Hussein mask through the streets Friday April 28, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq. Former leader Saddam Hussein, who is being tried in Iraq on charges of crimes against humanity, turned 69 Friday. U.S. officials declined to say what Saddam had done on his third consecutive birthday in captivity in Iraq. (AP Photo Alaa al-Marjani). …
An Iraqi women looks out from a clothing store Saturday April 29, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Iraqi women walk by the stall of a flower seller Saturday April 29, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq. + more
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1623841/posts
Treasonous is not too strong a word.
ET, should we not attack Iran, then what do you believe we should do to defeat jihad? What should we do to conquer Islam so that it will no longer think about jihad?
We had to defeat the Nazis by defeating Germany and the Japanese Imperialists by defeating Japan.
Today they’re not threats to the Free World. We saw to it.
As Islam is the greatest threat to humanity ever, what should we do?
I favor preemptively taking out their military infrastructure and strike capability. And if they do retaliate as they’ve been saying, then conquer Iran and impose freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights on them, while warning everyone else that that’s what they will get as well should they do anything stupid.
If we had preemptively destroyed Germany and Japan when it was obvious to thinking people that they were going to attack NA, there would have been far less death and destruction than there ultimately was. Of course, it’s academic and all hindsight, but it does provide historical precedent that when evildoers promise they’re going to kill us, they’re going to try.
The Free World must wake up to the reality of the threat facing us all and unite into the great coalition of the Allies which always won against evil in the past.
If we stand united, we’ll emerge victorious.
If we stand divided, we’ll fall united.
Iraq responds to Zawahri videotape over al-Qaida’s suicide attacks in Iraq
Xinhua ^ | April 29 2006
Posted on 04/29/2006 1:11:11 PM PDT by jmc1969
Iraq’s Interior Ministry responded on Saturday to the al-Qaida’s No. 2 leader who issued a video saying that hundreds of suicide bombings in Iraq have “broken the back” of the U.S. military.
The ministry said in a statement that a total of 500 out of 800 suicide operations that Zawahri mentioned in his videotape were carried out against Iraqi civilians in mosques, churches, popular markets, schools and government buildings, aiming at sparking sectarian strife among Iraqis.
The statement said that more than 100 suicide operations were carried out against Iraqi security forces, while some 104 suicide operations were foiled by Iraqi security forces. +
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1623835/posts
Att: ET. More re George Shultz.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/forms/printThis.html?id=110008308
Is Justice Being Delayed by Bush Administration Politics?
Several high-profile FBI investigations, in which substantial progress have been made, may well have been put on hold by the Bush administration for political reasons. That is, it has been alleged to me that the White House may have leaned on the FBI– not to drop the investigations but to postpone some key arrests until after the November elections.
There are reports from the FBI that the CIA gave the Taliban 30 Billion after the invasion
http://www.juancole.com/2004_09_01_juancole_archive.html
Someone is quoting Juan Cole? Sheeesh! It don’t get any loopier than that.
Wow, Sam, the CIA is funding the Taliban to the tune of US$30,000,000,000?
That’s why the US is running a deficit. I thought it was war / hurricane Katrina / homeland security / medical care / pork spending, etc. Nope, it’s funding the Taliban. By 30 billion dollars that no one has noticed before.
Brilliant! Have you ever thought of a career at McDonald’s? Or a late-night gas station?
I always wondered if anybody paid any attention to Juan Cole?
Hey, Sam, you’ll notice that Juan has virtually no comments on his blog.
This is probably because 1) he’s insane and 2) he moderates his comments so severely and most are undoubtedly pointing out how insane he is (this was my plan) that he doesn’t let them through.
Why don’t you be a bud and give him a good comment? He might feel lonely and unloved.
proud infidel – Yes, in a way, the actions of the left are ‘treasonous’. Legally, I doubt if they can be defined as such, for although we, the West, is ‘at war’, we are not at war in the traditional sense of nation-versus-nation (e.g., the old useless definition still adhered to by the old useless UN).
In the old definition, Nation A declared war on Nation B – and citizens in either country who helped the openly declared enemy, were carrying out treasonous actions.
But that era is over; now, we have criminals engaged in political agendas. I call Al Qaeda criminals, for they are not part of any military, their agenda is not to take over the gov’t of a country, but to destabilize a country and watch it implode on itself.
Then, Islamic fundamentalism can move in. That’s the situation – whether in Denmark, France, Iraq or Afghanistan..or Saudi Arabia.
My view is that, despite the emotive appeal of collectivism (communism, socialism, fascism) – an appeal which will ALWAYS be with us – the reality is, that collectivism is dysfunctional in large populations. It is a ‘leveling’ process; it ‘levels’ all people to the Lowest Common Denominator. That means that no-one can be different, think differently, behave differently.
Result?
In physics, it’s called ‘the heat death of the universe’. Biologically, everything would die – because the system loses its capacity to change, to adapt.
In the social realm of human populations – we would, in a generation, essentially implode and collapse due to disease, famine. [Example: Africa]. Our increasing population and our mode of supporting that population (industrialism) requires innovation, dissent, questions, exploration…
Therefore, reducing everyone to a Commonality, rejecting critique, reason, questions..etc…would mean that, intellectually, we would lose all capacity to develop new medicines, new energy sources, better crops..etc.
So- Islamic fundamentalism, despite its enormous emotional appeal (not rational appeal, for it is vicious, unethical and illogical)..and its groupie-infrastructure – can’t operate in our industrial world. Remember, Islam hasn’t come up with a scientific thought since it began. Oil buys all those computers and cell phones, bomgs, guns and even, oil rigs; they certainly didn’t invent them.
I’m not an apocalpytic person; I’m not into The End of the World…which could be a result if islamofascism or any other GroupMind took over. So, my view is that it CAN’T become dominant, because industrialism can’t survive in such a milieu.
I disagree with invading Iran, because that would set up an emotive bond for Islamism all over the world. It would be their very own ‘crucifixion scene’..and it would readily transform more Muslims into extremists. That’s what their insane president wants; he wants the West to attack, so that he can martyr Iran, and set it up as the Centre of Islamofascism.
Instead, the agenda should be to gradually disable Islamofascism..from the outside..in. Rather like the Greeks did..The Trojan Horse moving in – is Democracy. And, encircling fascism…has to be a rejection of multiculturalism and an insistence on the rule of law in Europe..and Canada.
Hi ho, minions. Apparently, ol’ Kate McMillan here thinks she’s a “native” Canadian.
So…I know you’re minions and everything (and therefore not given to critical thinking), but do you really believe Kate is a native Canadian? If so , why?
Because she was born here, Ti-Guy. See the second definition here.
Islam unable to become dominant? Well, consider this:
EMP ICBMs exploding all over the Free World, knocking out circuit boards, electronics, electricity, and everything that depends on computers and electricity, including perhaps military defence systems, etc…. and then that followed with nuclear strikes… be it by Iran, China, North Korea… it is indeed very conceivable as well as possible.
Granted, Islam then might not dominate, for then the Chinese and other communists would want to take over what remains, forcing Islam back into its caves, or be wiped out as if Stalin was back in power.
But if we try to “gradually” dismantle Islamofascism (I don’t see this happening in a slow way, unless we engage in radical imposition and prohibition of many things Islamic, imprisoning millions worldwide and taking over whole Islamic nations, which can only be done by force), then this would give Iran the time it needs to prepare its nuclear attack(s) on the Free World.
We cannot speculate that Ahmadinejad is just mouthing off. It was assumed that Hitler was mouthing off, and we know he wasn’t.
I would hope you’re right, ET, and I’m wrong, but I’ve learned in life to not hope for the best without also ensuring that the worst is prepared for and prevented as soon as necessary. Forget about the UN. They’ve become a latter-day League of Nations, which was worthless in preventing WWII.
To hell with China, Russia, Germany and France if they want to force the world to gamble that Iran is perhaps not going to launch any nuclear attack on anyone. I would declare that there’s an extremely high probability that Iran’ll attack Israel with nukes if they believe the Free World is politically too paralyzed to stop them or retaliate meaningfully.
So I guess we have a different approach, you and I, ET.
We’re in concurrence, though, on rejecting multiculturalism and defending the sanctity of the rule of law. Traditional Free World values must not fall prey to Islamic violence and intimidation, for whenever we capitulate to the enemy, the enemy is emboldened. The pullout from Gaza, btw, is apparently a mistake, though it proved that concessions aren’t in the interests of the Free World, as we’ve seen that Islamists will use them against us. They don’t respect any kind of weakness; they only respect superiority, for as Islamists, they’ve been brainwashed into being slaves of “Allah” and submitting to his will… therefore we must force them to submit to the will of freedom, democracy, the rule of (secular) law and human rights by force. If they reject human rights in favor of jihad, then they are the architects of their own undoing. It’s only fair. It’s war. Which they declared, not us. We don’t want to have to fight and kill, but they’re doing it to us already and are acquiring nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community.
Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Know thy enemy well, else don’t expect to emerge victorious from war.
The Future of the Free World is at stake. I, for one, don’t want to dither and hope against all odds that we’ll get lucky and the situation will improve on its own, for it never has. Dithering is not a strategy.
People, remember, don’t interact with trolls. They crave the attention and addressing them brings them back. Ignore them and they’ll go away.
Canadian Sentinel – I’m not ‘hoping for the best’. My conclusions are based on analysis of sociostructural systems and how they are organized.
My first basic fact is the size of the global population and second, the difference in global geographic resources. Both factors require innovative strategies. To meet the basic necessities of that size of a population, AND, given the inequality in resources – you need a highly flexible and innovative population. Islamism is neither flexible nor innovative.
What ‘other communists’? China is dissolving its communism as it industrializes. This dissolving is from the ‘inside-out’..and it doesn’t even realize that the infrastructure for communism is dissolving. But, it is.
Communism, like fascism, is a group-think ideology. It cannot deal with a massive population in a growth-mode. It can only deal with large populations by foprcing them to exist at the LCD (lowest common denominator). The era of peasant horticulture is over; the world is industrial. So, communism won’t take over either.
I disagree that Iran will ‘nuclear-attack’ the Free World. Why would it do so? That wouldn’t accomplish a thing – except for the disappearance of Iran. But, to threaten, to taunt, to parade up and down..and get the West to attack it. Now, that would accomplish a great deal, for it would set Iran up as The Focal Point of Islamofascism.
I also disagree with your suggestion that Iran would ‘nuke’ Israel. Again – that would accomplish nothing other than the disappearance of Iran.
I also disagree with your strategy of imprisoning millions worldwide, taking over Islamic nations…
There is little to compare between Hitler and Ahmadinejad. What Ahmadinejad is worried about, is the dissolution of tribalism, and the development of democracy.
I also don’t merge Palestinians with Islamofascists. The Palestine/Israel situation and the problem in the ME with tribalism vs democracy are two separate issues.
I also disagree with your conclusion that we must ‘force them to submit to the will of freedom, to democracy’. Impossible. You cannot force people to ‘be democratic’. However, you can do as Bush has done, and enable the people to set up their own democratic systems, and rely on human nature as wanting freedom. That’s as much as you can do. To ‘impose freedom’ is an oxymoron.
We forcefully imposed freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights on Germany and Japan. It’s a fact. It worked. I don’t see how that’s even debatable.
China might be industrializing, but it’s as tyrannical and fascist as ever. Yes, they’ve become shrewd business leaders, but there’s no progress on the other fronts (I’ll concede that they’re looking much more uncommunistic now, but still they are communistic to an extent and are still totally fascistic, but the two are very much alike, I agree). North Korea is communist/fascist, as is Cuba. They’d benefit from their alliance with China and would therefore be shoulder to shoulder with them.
I understand you don’t believe Iran would use nukes against anyone in first strike. But you assume that the leadership of Iran is rational and acting in the interests of the nation. I believe this to be false, for they’re afflicted with the insanity that is Islam and that seems to be all that drives them. They wholly believe they’re supposed to wage jihad and die and go to paradise. I do understand you’re atheist, but it is nevertheless useful to understand the nature of Islam and what it does to its adherents. They’re nothing like us, underneath the surface. Inside their heads lurks a programmed evil… they’re not like what we expect, most of them… what we were raised to be like… they’re not like us, so the usual assumptions of how human beings inherently are don’t apply to Islamofascists. I think perhaps you may have yet to come to see this for yourself.
In case you still think of Ahmadinejad as rational rather than insane, may I recommend
http://www.faithfreedom.org
As a source of objective information for anyone who wants the cold, hard facts about Islam… and it isn’t a “religious” site at all. Might as well read what’s offered therein. It’s been up a shorter time than SDA, but has had more visits nevertheless.
The fact is that Islam is the root cause of jihadism. Islam will also be the root cause of Iran attacking Israel. Remember, we’re talking about a cult of death, not a body intent on survival and self-preservation. Nothing to do with metaphysical causation at all, just stimulus, programming and psychology.
But it’s good to discuss these things openly and I thank you for your point of view. More and more people must openly discuss this very grave issue openly without fear of being denounced as a racist or a fascist or anything else by the ultra far left.
“I’m just wondering why the US seems so impotent in making any real headway killing the enemy.”
For starters, a good number of terrorists have been captured or killed. One big and obvious problem for the US is that borders are very fluid for terrorists, but a major restriction for them. The US can’t just send forces into Syria, Iran and remote parts of Pakistan without violating international laws.
I’m so sorry that Washington isn’t living up to Hollywood for you.
I’m always impressed by your constant common sense.
You should be an inspiration to all, Kate.
Seriously, I am getting extremely tired of the opposition.
…. cells in …..? +
Iran’s Terror Plan: “Judgment Day”
From Arab daily Asharq Alawsat: Iran�s Secret Plan if Attacked by US Codenamed �Judgement Day�. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)
…
According to the source, in case the US military attacks continue, more than 50 Shehab-3 missiles will be targeted against Israel and the al Quads Brigades will give the go-ahead for more than 50 terrorists cells in Canada, the US and Europe to attack civil and industrial targets in these countries. +
LGF
BTW, the Palestinians are as bloodily Islamofascistic as any other. They were programmed from birth by the PA to simply hate Jews/Israel and kill/destroy same. They were forcibly indoctrinated in the Koran and in jihadism and have come to look forward to death. It’s programming. They, even more so than Free World moonbats, will not be able to think for themselves. This, I believe, is the majority of them, as that’s pretty much the kind of folks we see in “Palestine”. Don’t believe the sugarcoating treatment the MSM presents to us. Do serious, independent research. Look at horrifying pictures to get an impression of what kind of mentality they have.
Here’s a link to a photo gallery that might have an impact on the way you see the Islamic world (warning– extremely horrible and inhuman):
http://www.faithfreedom.org/gallery.htm
“EVERYTHING COULD EXPLODE AT ANY MOMENT:” Michael Totten reports from the Israeli / Lebanese border.
via instapundit
�Everything Could Explode at Any Moment�
NORTHERN ISRAEL – Last year I drove down from Beirut into Hezbollah-occupied Lebanon along the border with Israel. Aside from Hezbollah�s other miniature state-within-a-state in the suburbs south of Beirut, the border region is the craziest place in the country.
The Lebanese government doesn�t control it and cannot police it. The army is not allowed to go down there. Soldiers I�ve talked to refer to the southern-most checkpoint before the Hezbollah-occupied zone as �the border.” Psychotic road-side propaganda shows severed heads, explosions from suicide-bombs, and murderous tyrants from Iran and Syria. + more
http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001132.html
MYTHOLOGICAL PAINTING OF �HELL� BY JAN BRUEGHEL THE ELDER
Prior to the emergence of this painting, the composition had been known only through a series of later replicas produced in the Brueghel workshop in the 1630s, perhaps by the artist�s son Jan Brueghel the Younger. The subject is taken from Virgil�s Aeneid VI, in which Aeneas, guided by the Sibyl and holding a branch of mistletoe for protection, is shown entering the underworld on a precarious rocky path. All around are witches, gorgons, fantastic demons and on either side, piled up amidst a grotesque congregation of deformed monsters and devils, lie the naked bodies of the damned. In the background, various devils push a crowd of condemned souls (in unmistakably contemporary dress) towards the hell fires in the caverns beyond. +
http://www.shareholder.com/bid/news/20010618-44551.cfm
Canadian Sentinel
Sorry – but I don’t agree with your view at all.
I don’t agree that we forcefully imposed democracy on Germany and Japan. We removed a totalitarian dictatorship from Germany – that permitted freedom and the German people re-established democracy. Japan moved from an ancestor-based tribal infrastructure to an industrial democracy; the switch from tribalism to a civic mode of government was due to the collapse of the tribal (hereditary) system during the war.
I don’t agree with your view of Palestinians as Islamic rather than as occupied; and I don’t agree with your view of Islam.
I’m not a fan of Islam, and feel it is more of a sociopolitical rather than a religious system. It says very little about the metaphysical but a great deal about the sociopolitical. The problem is – the sociopolitical infrastructure it sets up is suitable only for a tribal system and a peasant horticulture. It is disastrous for a large population and industrial system. That’s the problem with Islam at the moment; it hasn’t evolved and moved its people out of a tribal medieval mode. So- rather than evolve, it has distorted itself into Islamofascism. I disagree with your view of Muslims as ‘they are not like us’.
China is not fascist. Communism and fascism are similar only in that they are collectivist ideologies. China’s communism is dissolving from within – and there’s no need to hate it. I prefer to analyze it and explore why a people, who are, after all, as human as we are – would move into such a system.
As for Islam – it’s been around for many centuries and its followers haven’t all been terrorists or jihadists or suicide bombers or operating in a ‘cult of death’. One therefore has to ask – why is it happening now – and what is going on to turn Islam from a tribal religion into a violent fascist ideology?
I don’t accept that Islam is the ‘root cause’ of jihadism. I think the problem is the political mode of tribalism, which is THE governing structure in the ME – and is disastrous in a large population. Islam has been hijacked by the tribal powers, and distorted into a fascist ideology, to enable tribalism to remain in power..rather than these nations moving into democracy. Again, Islam is primarily a sociopolitical mode – and functions within a tribal system.
Moving it into a religious mode, puts its axioms beyond analysis, criticism, questions. So – it means that you, the tribal leader, have an enormous propaganda tool to disable your people from questioning the very system that enslaves them – tribalism.
I disagree that Iran will attack Israel or the West.
But I fully agree that more and more must discuss this openly – without accusations of racism etc.
Of course, ET, it’s perfectly ok to agree to disagree.
My views on Islam are evolving. A little while ago I would’ve agreed with you, but I’ve been researching the ideology for myself and what I learn is evolving my point of view. I’m sure your own pov is also constantly evolving as well based upon the addition of new information that changes one’s understanding.
You’re not alone in seeing Islam as not a religion. Some even call it a “death cult”. With reason.
There’s no need to temper one’s thinking with the programming of political correctness or of rigid disbelief that something could be. The Free World is new to the concept and reality of Islam, so it’s no surprise that different people express different opinions on it based on what they’ve learned or heard. We’re all like that: both hard evidence and other “information” do influence our understanding and pov.
I just wish there were more of us folks openly, civilly sharing their views and trying to come to a consensus of what to do with Iran and the Islamic threat facing the Free World.
What if OBL is dead, but publication of this fact would possibly cause worse riots than the cartoon. What if he is in jail, but a trial would be worse than Saddams. What if he is in a cave, guarded by US troops. No one has seen him in person for years. Someone has verified his voice on tapes, but what if the voice they are comparing is not his in the first place. During WW11 there was a plan to fool the germans into thinking the invasion was someplace else. They used an actor to impersonate Churchill or a top general (can’t remember which. He had the voice, mannerisms etc down to a T. It worked, but the actor was assassinated (he was told of the risk and took it anyway). The plan worked. Whose to say the same thing has not happened with OBL. Too bad clinton didn’t take him when he had the chance.
Mary, I don’t think OBL is in a cave being guarded by US troops. He’s reached such a mystical, almost Zorro-like status within the Islamic world that capturing him would be a major morale buster for the terrorists and a major PR coup for the US. There could very well be something to the supposition that he’s dead and the tapes aren’t his voice, though; the quality is so bad that it’s hard to tell. I’ve always been a little suspicious of the poor quality of those tapes, anyway. These guys can afford millions of dollars worth of weaponry but can’t spring for decent video and audio equipment? And OBL was wounded sometime back and was close to meeting the 72 virgins for a time; it would behoove the terrorists to keep up the illusion that he’s still alive. I would love for OBL to be captured if for no other reason but to see the lefties’ heads explode. (Before any sensitive types jump me… not literally explode. That would be gross.)
One of the more bizarre theories floating about during the 2004 presidential election was that OBL was captured and Bush was planning an October Surprise. Maybe the Republicans are waiting for 2008 to trot him out– although, if McCain were the nominee, I wouldn’t vote for him even if he delivered OBL’s head on a pike. (Figuratively speaking, of course.)
Hi ho, minions. Apparently, ol’ Kate McMillan here thinks she’s a “native” Canadian.
So…I know you’re minions and everything (and therefore not given to critical thinking), but do you really believe Kate is a native Canadian? If so , why?
Posted by Ti-Guy
Permanent “ignore.” Bye, bye…
“I wouldn’t vote for him even if he delivered OBL’s head on a pike. (Figuratively speaking, of course.)”
Well, Elle, whether you vote for McCain or not, I think a lot of folks would love to see Bin Laden’s head on a stick, just as his own satanic minions would love to see ours on sticks.
Besides, if I were American, I’d vote for McCain if the alternative was the immoral, gold-digging gigolo John Kerry.
Though I’m sure you’re better informed than I about McCain. I just hope the Repubs get a real hawk who knows how to make things happen as their next nominee.
Celerino “Cele” Castillo, 3rd ,ex DEA, shot in the face after reporting drug smuggling by CIA, Mike Ruppert is another ex cop thats beening testafing in hearings
“This is the man who cost CIA Director Deutch his guaranteed appointment as Secretary of Defense after confronting him at Locke High School with hard facts about CIA dealing drugs.” – Dick Gregory
” …in the course of investigations in the mid 70’s he came across information that the CIA was trading drugs in order to fund covert operations in the Middle East…Perot called him back to offer encouragement…Ruppert says that his main objective is to see that the country gets a leader worthy of its people. Even for Ross Perot those will be tough shoes to fill.” – PEOPLE MAGAZINE 6/22/92
watch his seminar here also going across america this year. http://fpiarticle.blogspot.com/2006/03/truth-lies-of-911.html
Who benefits the most from the attacks on 9/11?
The buildings owner doesn�t have to pay for the removal of the asbestos in the buildings. Cost Silverstein 200 million for the rest of the plaza he gets 3.2 billion from insurance companies.
Bush is having problems in the election so this takes everyone�s mind of the election and on to the war on terror.
Dick Chaney, his companies get no bid contracts worth trillions.
Some think that a group of skull and bones members are involved with the plot.
“Texas Training Pamphlet: ‘Nice Guys’ Who Wear Levis & Travel With Children Likely Terrorists”
Police State?
A Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Law Enforcement pamphlet gives the public characteristics to identify terrorists that include buying baby formula, beer, wearing Levi jeans, carrying identifying documents like a drivers license and traveling with women or children.
This means we’re all likely Terrorists.
In December 2003 the FBI warned Americans nationwide to be on the lookout for people reading Almanacs as this could indicate an act of terrorism in planning. Almanacs are popular glove box inventory of any vehicle and this ludicrous fearmongering was met with a raucous response from satirists and news commentators.
This manual is an unnecessary piece of anti-American trash and it should be removed from circulation immediately.
Politely email the Texas Department of Public Safety and suggest this be done forthwith.
Plus 300,000 people marched in New York City yesterday against the war because their learning the truth.
All good investigations start with Who profits the most. What would the Taliban gain?
Everyday in a university their asking these questions, here’s a list http://st911.org/
Sam, stay on topic.
Sam: Bush was elected Nov 2000, 9-11 was in 2001,
what elections was he having trouble with. There goes your theory. You remind me of someone reading their horoscope a week late, and then tying events to what it says would happen. Better to read Naustradamus.
Re: “You remind me of someone reading their horoscope a week late”. Hahaha, good one maryT!
Re: Islamic terrorism.
Here is a good article about Hezbollah, one of the main founders and practitioners of terrorism (long unrecognized by the Liberal Party) and a deadly and dangerous foe in the WOT.
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=22249
Kate it’s all tied together, the governments plans, the ones they’ve had ready for years calls for keeping Iraq in three fractions giving the US the reason to build and keep bases there for the Attack on Iran. This is in released military documents. Notice the fighting over pipeline right now and it looks like India will go with the US’s instead of Iran.
Talks have been going on with the Taliban in Pakistan’s northern areas. Where the Taliban openly say they’re no Al Qaeda with them. But in afghanistan its the Farmers joining what ever groups to protect their poppy fields, they like the canadians thats why they asked our troops to help them protect the fields. This is the inly income they recieve and in the years past the promises of aid never came.
So when you look at terrorism you have to look at the whole picture as those that we terrorists yesterday might be freedom fighters, fighting along side our troops tomorrow.
Some call the US the terrorists, War crimes that the US is involved in and have no fear as they didn�t sign on with the world court, they use the same weapons of mass destruction, white phosphorous, that they say others shouldn�t have.
Questions have not been answered about the US roll in the mass killing of 3000 prisoners. Convoy of death. The show on the use of phosphorous with interviews of us troops confirm its use on civilians.
This show was shown around the world but in North America how come??
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3267.htm
Iraq, Iran, & Taliban, just another day in paradise.
Lesseee… sustained military presence in these countries (well all the Stans) – 3+ Billion/day
Military budgets and spending – 26+ Billion
Keep waiting till Taliban builds a dirty bomb…threat to US and Canada economy – 6 trillion
Lesseeee WW2, drop one uranium bomb on city, nothing changes. Throw in a plutonium bomb a few days later and a country surrenders.
Now if we kept waiting the Nazi’s would have won the war…
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s545931.htm
So – lesseeee two nukes, one airplane, & say ~5 MRE’s – $16 billion.
Make sure it is dropped by a plane named like “Isabel” which ironically by coincidence sounds like the only country with their heads screwed on right over there…
Hmmm.
Why Al Qaeda Is Retreating From Iraq
The Strategy Page ^ | April 30, 2006 | Harold C. Hutchison
Posted on 04/30/2006 12:30:56 PM PDT by Thebaddog
Despite the many brickbats of the media, al Qaeda has been defeated in Iraq, and is now retreating to lick its wounds where it can. If it can. Just over four and a half years, al Qaeda has gone from being the dominant terrorist group in the world to a defeated shell of its former self. In trying to defeat the United States, al Qaeda made three big mistakes: They fought the last information war, they underestimated the American leadership, and they also managed to anger the Iraqi people.
From the moment the United States and al Qaeda began fighting in Afghanistan, the terrorists were looking for a chance to re-create images similar to those of American troops being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu in 1993 or Walter Cronkite calling the Vietnam War a stalemate in 1968. It was hoped that such a moment would cause a dramatic drop in support for the war among the American people and force the United States out of Iraq. It did not happen.
The first problem was that al Qaeda failed to realize just how much the terrain had shifted on the media battlefield, particularly the growth of alternative outlets. In 1993, CNN was the only 24-hour news network. In 1996, two other 24-hour news networks were founded, MSNBC on July 15, and Fox News on October 7. These started to establish competition. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Fox News began pulling ahead of the other two networks, largely because it was taking a position that was seen as being reasonably supportive of the American efforts.
Also on the media front, the Internet was already becoming a major player. In 1998, Matt Drudge was showing that one person with a web site could break a major story. In 2004, a few bloggers were able to start the chain of events that led to Dan Rather’s retirement from CBS. In 2006, bloggers are now an acknowledged player on the media battlefield. These efforts were dismissed by al Qaeda, and as a result, while al Qaeda hit its target, the effect was grossly minimized due to the fact that the “silent majority” now had tools by which they could be heard. The media created a false picture after the 1968 Tet Offensive, but was unable to do the same in Iraq.
The next mistake was underestimating American leadership. +
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1624232/posts
Maz2: “In 2004, a few bloggers were able to start the chain of events that led to Dan Rather’s retirement from CBS”
Don’t forget what Captain’s Quarters did to the AdScam blackout.
Same with Kate here at SDA doing a valuable service to the average Canadian Joe, letting both sides view their opinions to a point.
Google used to be valuable, but I dont’ trust them as much since they sold out to China’s Communist system, and on a personal level, for some stupid reason has blocked one of my business sites – http://www.digitalsmiles.com
…sorry for being a bit off topic a bit on the Google point there Kate…
I don’t agree that we forcefully imposed democracy on Germany and Japan
That sentence caught my eye. Of course the Allies imposed democracy on Japan and Germany. We occupied both countries for years following the war. Gen. McArthur wrote the Japanese constitution.
You really think the Nazis, who burned down Europe and committed the most egregious genocide in the modern times, were “democrats” if you just scratched the surface? And Emperor worshiping(literally) Japan had a tradition of democracy?
We imposed our will. That’s what the spoils of war are all about. They lost. We won. They accepted the terms of defeat….democracy! Too bad the Israelis, who’ve won every Arab war didn’t occupy the losers and shove democratic principles down their throats under an extended occupation. But, then, little lefty winers like you would have been all over that indignation.
Again, Islam is primarily a sociopolitical mode….
Come again? It’s delivered everything but. I would think you would have to have at core a secular component in Islam to pull that off. There is nothing in Islam to create a civil society upon, hence tribalism permeates the ME.
To ‘impose freedom’ is an oxymoron.
Sobriety via court ordered treatment has the same if not better outcome as voluntary. Human behavior changes remarkably under duress, often for the better. Especially when that’s the goal.
You’re full of crap.
Maybe, just maybe Bush is holding Mecca hostage. Those in glass houses and all that.
Sam,
That’s way too many conspiracy theories to count. How do you do it and hope to keep any semblance of sanity? And with all your knowledge of what’s really going down, how do you know that the NSA isn’t tracking you through this site?
Yeooowzer. Better hide.
Mary T, it was General Montgomery. There was a movie made about it after the war. I believe the stand-in played “both” roles.