#2
Pakistan North, folks. Putin = Musharraf in whiteface. FSB/Russian Army's corruption and collapse of organizational discipline and effectiveness will be, when Iran goes nuclear, as dangerous to us as the ISI's treachery.
#4
it is only over the top for those who want a warm fuzzy feeling towards everyone....regardless if the other person wants to cut his/her head off...we need to bring back the american spirit of taking no bullshit regardless of the costs...our grandparents would be rolling in their graves (at least mine - rest thier souls) if they knew how humanely we are waging war..
i for one will have no problem joining a militia if a nuke (or any wmd)goes off in this country and get rid of these 5th elements in our midst.
Posted by: Dan ||
09/27/2004 18:21 Comments ||
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Here's the problem as I see it, first off about 40% of our population has been brainwashed into believing themselves above such feelings and actions. Secondly we've allowed ourselves to be manipulated in Iraq by certain factions of the Iraqi government in regards to playing hardball with these vermin. How else can one account for our actions vs Sadr? Why did we back off in Falluja some months back when it looked as if the city was ready to fall? Why aren't we showing the Sunni triangle a little "shock and awe" as we speak?
Look, I'm with you guys and your outlook on things, trust me there. It just seems that we have a wait them out approach over there when we should be rolling over these clowns!
I have complete faith in our enlisted people and their weapon systems, but I must admit I sometimes wonder about those calling the shots.
Posted by: RJB in JC MO ||
09/27/2004 19:55 Comments ||
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#9
It's the interim Iraqi Gov't. Simple as that, IMHO.
Since the legal turnover, we have backed off when they wanted us to and held back when we wanted to stomp the shit out of certain places. I have no doubts that the killus interruptus that occurred in Fallujah and Najaf came directly from Allawi & Yawar. They've only been on the job for 3.5 months. Of course, from my (our?) POV it sometimes sucks, but that's what we signed up for at the turnover.
With the election on the horizon I'll wager a small sum that the gloves will come off if Bush is re-elected - to try to give the Iraqis a clean shot at voting. I'll bet the Mil Cmd has a series of plans ready to go right this minute.
If Skeery is elected, Who Fucking Knows what will happen. Not even the Dhimmitwit hisownself could tell you.
#10
BTW, odd as it sounds, the Iraqi polls open on Nov 1st. Hey, don't ask cuz I don't know the answer. I just heard it on Fox during an interview with a Ret. Col military advisor who said we have, effectively 32 days to eliminate the no-go zones in Iraq if Nov 1st means what it's supposed to mean... so shit could start happening much sooner than I assumed.
Just FYI for everyone who, like me, did not know this.
#11
If Kerry is elected, the WOT will continue. Unfortuantely, all the head fakes and nuance will just draw it out longer. GW makes a much better US Grant.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/27/2004 21:28 Comments ||
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#12
Your caliphate will be your grave.
Yup.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/27/2004 22:53 Comments ||
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Bill Safire
The Zarqawi terrorist network in Iraq has developed a powerful new weapon. It requires no munitions and no suicide zealots, runs no risk to terrorists of death or capture and provides cash to finance other operations. The weapon is publicized kidnapping. Pictures of helpless captives begging for their lives trigger worldwide coverage of tearful families begging for mercy. Films sometimes conclude with a sadistic Zarqawi slowly sawing off the heads of his victims. For the psychological warriors, it is a win-win tactic. If the ransom is paid by a private contractor, the extorted cash buys rockets and mortars. If the ransom is paid by a government withdrawing its troops, the terrorist diplomatic victory dispirits the rest of the coalition. If the ransom is not paid, then the film of the hostages' beheading strikes fear into the heart of the morbidly fascinated viewer.
The kidnap weapon does not always produce the propaganda results the killers want. John Burns of The Times noted from Baghdad on PBS's "NewsHour" that the grisly murders fill civilized Iraqis with a deep disgust. They remind many of the hand-chopping and tongue-cutting methods used by Saddam's goons to suppress resistance. But this also frightens many Iraqis, and manipulates the media to intimidate millions abroad whose support is needed to defeat the terrorists.
Nobody should order reporters and editors to "downplay" a gut-wrenching human interest story involving cruelty, violence and death. Nor should the media flinch from covering casualty counts or honoring the fallen. War involves sacrifice. But responsible journalists should consider the wisdom of allowing media-savvy terrorists to play them like a violin. Sensationalism sells; on TV, "if it bleeds, it leads." Audiences are surely drawn to tearful interviews with worried spouses and children. Bloggers get "hits" from posting the most gruesome pictures. Cable ratings rise by milking the pathos in the drama created by the Zarqawi network: first comes the kidnapping report; then televised pleas from the kneeling, doomed innocents; then coverage of marches and vigils to plead for the payment of ransom; finally, in one case out of four, the delivery of dismembered bodies and gleeful claim of blame.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Capt America ||
09/27/2004 8:05:48 AM ||
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#1
Of course, *counter*-kidnapping works, too. Imagine what would happen if an "Iraqi" "nationalist" organization kidnapped an obnoxious Mullah, some insurgent-director from Iran pretending to be a diplomat, or some French spies...er...journalists?
It might also be noted that the kidnappers have a seemingly endless supply of red jumpsuits to give their hostages. I wonder why they do that? Why not leave them in their street clothes? Why go to all the trouble of stealing red jumpsuits from the US prison authorities?
#2
"Americans," said Kerryâs announcer, "are being kidnapped, held hostage, even beheaded." Though undoubtedly accurate, that paid evocation of horror by a political candidate is a terrible blunder. Thatâs the sort of emotional appeal you would expect from President Gloria Arroyo
Gloria Kerry--exactly.
How low will this idiot go? Get this election over with, already. Can't bear the stench anymore.
#3
Will Americans react to all-kidnap-all-the-time by being revolted at the savagery and turn to the candidate determined to wipe out the barbarians? Or will we be so revolted as to think Iraqis are hopelessly uncivilized or beaten down, and turn to the candidate who will get us out of there the fastest?
How telling that at both extremes, Americans will identify subhuman behavior; others seem to get distracted from that identification fairly easily.
Mr. Safire has identified the two outcome scenarios most palatable to Americans: massive use of force or abandonment of a people who seem to prefer savagery to occupation. The least acceptable scenario for Americans, which I sadly believe is becoming more likely, will be a convenient forgetfulness of the crimes that happened under Saddam, the betrayal of the US by the international community, a fixation on the sensibilities of the Muslim world rather than the sanity and safety of the entire world, and an attempt to make any old thing work, even if we found that same thing reprehensible a year ago (a sharia-based, Shia-dominated Muslim state).
#4
Kidnapping and blowing up civilians are tools of war used by people unable to defeat and demoralize our armed forces. Suicide bombers and jihadis like Tater's tots just go into the meat grinder and are used up. We stay the course and keep wacking them off and attrition will take care of these losers. We also need to go on the offensive with the MSM. Rathergate is a foot in the door. The truth up their asses will help win this war, in a significant way.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/27/2004 15:12 Comments ||
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#5
I am not afraid,I am enraged.I do not want Justice,I want revenge.The Bible:"Vengence is mine"sayeth the Lord.But revenge belongs to me.
My sentiments are the same as"A Letter to our Enemies".
#7
Kidnapping and hostage-taking isn't really that new. Mass visual media does make execution a more powerful tool.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
09/27/2004 20:15 Comments ||
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#8
In the mid 1980's during the Lebanese Civil War, many foreigners were kidnapped. They even kidnapped a Russian. Within 3-4 days, he was released. Turns out the Russians learned who the kidnappers were, kidnapped THEIR relatives, cut off fingers and such, and POOF! Igor go home. Might be a good lesson here.
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