Article

2004-04-13 Iraq-Jordan

Donât let Iraqâs tempest in a teacup rattle you

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Posted by tipper 2004-04-13 2:07:50 AM|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Excellent essay. Fallujah is welcome to remain a cessppool for eternity. The inhabitants are welcome to it.

Posted by Lone Ranger 2004-04-13 2:50:30 AM|| 2004-04-13 2:50:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 the man can write

Posted by Frank G 2004-04-13 8:05:49 AM|| 2004-04-13 8:05:49 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I think Saddam understood this logic really well..

Posted by lyot 2004-04-13 8:31:58 AM|| 2004-04-13 8:31:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Hooray!! This guy really gets it!

"In the Arab world, the indifferent are the biggest demographic. They sit things out, they see which strong horse has jostled his way to the head of the pack, and they go along with him. The Turks. The British. The British-installed king. The thug who murders the king. The thug who murders the thug who murders the king. "

It's true: THEY DON'T REALLY CARE. It's all about power. We have to have the power, ourselves, before they can be taught what it means to be empowered as a people. Then change can begin (as in Kurdistan).

He also says:

"The passivity of the Arabs, the sensitivity of the coalition and the defeatism of the media is a potentially disastrous combination."

But it doesn't have to be. We just have to be the winner. We have to be the "Big Dog" (--with the BIGGEST stick!) That shouldn't be too hard, if we just disregard our own culture-bound conventions and expectations and go forward with resolve.

lyot's right--Saddam understood the way the Arabs are, and used it to his advantage. We should too.

Posted by ex-lib 2004-04-13 1:04:55 PM|| 2004-04-13 1:04:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I've been saying this sh*t for years from dealing w/muslims in our own country. Half the morons on t.v. claiming to know anything about Arab culture crack me up - this guy's got it down the best so far. They respect one thing - power. Kindness is considered weakness in their eyes.

Posted by Jarhead 2004-04-13 1:10:37 PM|| 2004-04-13 1:10:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 They respect one thing - power. Kindness is considered weakness in their eyes.

Nuttin' wrong with playing by their rules, no?

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-04-13 3:12:55 PM|| 2004-04-13 3:12:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 I think the demographic has changed in Fallujah with the injection of several hundred Syrians and Palestinians. It's time to point out the futility of continuing to play by these silly rules. We should give the people of Fallujah an ultimatum: you have 24 hours to produce all the foreigners residing in your city, all the Baathists that continue to fight against the US forces, and all weapons, from slingshots to rockets. No one enters or leaves during that time period. IF you refuse, we will build a cordon around your city, and pound it down to bedrock. Period. Sorry about the men, women, children, puppies, kitties, and baby ducks, but that's war. Gee, too bad. Maybe next time you'll do what's necessary. Now, off to ar-Ramadi...

Posted by Old Patriot 2004-04-13 3:53:56 PM|| [http://users.codenet.net/mweather/default.htm] 2004-04-13 3:53:56 PM|| Front Page Top

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