Finally, an actual victory in the "War on Terror".
I'm sure you all know the plot by now the plot of radicalized muslims based out of London and Birmingham to carry liquid explosives onto a dozen planes bound for the US, supposedly today or tomorrow.
More details are trickling in now, including the almost Hollywood-like heroics of British Intelligence, including both Mi:5 (for internal British threats - pictured left) and Mi:6 (for overseas intelligence threats) in preventing what otherwise would have been a horrific attack against our two countries. Both organizations worked diligently together and with foreign intelligence services to cast a tightening net around some really, really bad dudes, and then finally dropped the hammer on them when they overheard a message telling the 24 to "go now". Let this post serve as a small token of gratitude to those guys, for saving the lives of thousands of people, including possibly several friends and business associates who I know were to be travelling from London to the States this weekend.
And of course, some information about the plotters have been released today. Initial reports paint a relatively idyllic pictures of "quiet" "perfect neighbours" who "loved cricket". However, at least a few of these "good mates" had already prepared their "martyrdom videotapes". The group even included several of English decent who had recently converted to Islam. And this is what really gets to me. Suicide bombers who grow up dirt poor in Karachi or Gaza and fall in with these Islamist douchepumps (while in no way pardonable) are at least understandable. I can at least wrap my mind around some poor, hungry dude being warped by the one group that hands them a kabob and some rice. However, people who grow up and live in the relative luxury and liberal (small "L") freedom of a London suburb plotting to kill several thousand of their fellow neighbors and countrymen - it's simply unfathomable. In an ironic twist, you can bet these cocksuckers will be hiding behind every common law right they are afforded as Brisith Citiziens over the next few weeks - essentially benefitting from the system of human rights that they plotted to destroy.
Also, this can not be the end of the story; as there clearly exists a large support netword for the pbombers - mosques, clerics, and other radical Muslim friends that have to be brought to justice as well. I hope the British Government doesn't lose it's nerve with such co-conspirators.
As for the 24 plotters, I hope they all enjoy a long lives dropping the soap in Her Majesty's Pound Me In The Arse Prison.
"Her Majesty's Pound Me In The Ass Prison."
I think over there it would be "Pound me in the arse prison"
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 12:51 PM
Noted, O.
Posted by: Cozmo | August 11, 2006 at 01:26 PM
"Finally, an actual victory in the "War on Terror".
Killing Zarqawi doesn't qualify?
"I hope the British Government doesn't lose it's nerve with such co-conspirators"
As long as they don't listen to our media, they stand a chance.
Maybe we Americans can take away from this a valuable lesson: in order to stop Islamic terrorists, you have to use ethnic and religious profiling. Confiscating Cozmo's bottle of Summer's Eve at the TSA gate might make the liberals feel all warm and fuzzy because we're "treating everyone equally." However, let's cut the bullshit already. Allocating time and resources to this takes away from being able to seriously prevent a sophisticated attack like the one that was planned. And let's face it, a good portion of America still refuses to face the fact that Islamic terrorists are indeed serious about inflicting damage. Fear them or don't fear them, your choice. But it's undeniable that they've been delivering on their promises. And unlike us, they don't waffle.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 11, 2006 at 02:38 PM
Cozmo - great post and information. As an American who is not pleased with our current leadership, I must say they must be doing something right. It has been five years without an attack on our soil. I am confident there have been multiple attempts that have been thwarted. I even heard a Democrat say that before 9/11, those missing Egyptian College students would not have even been noticed when they didn't show up in Montana.
What is my point? Maybe the phone taps and policies implimented have done some good? Maybe the Tony Blair and George Bush alliance has saved us more grief that we could know? One thing I am confident of, I bet you won't hear from Arlen Spector or Harry Reid on illegal wire taps anytime soon.
These Muslim Terrorists need dealt with any way possible. And even though we need change in Congress and in the White House, I don't see a Democrat out there that has the balls to do the things that need to be done to capture and kill these people.
Never thought I would say this but my opinion of Bush has improved somewhat in the last 24 hours.
God Bless GB, the US and Israel. Kick some radical Muslim Terrorist tail!
Posted by: SIA | August 11, 2006 at 02:42 PM
"God Bless GB, the US and Israel."
and no where else right?? Have you seen 'Head of State'?
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 02:45 PM
I apologize, I forgot to add Pakistan, India, Italy and the Muslims who help stop this type evil. They and many others are doing their best to crush these fanatics. Thanks for pointing out my oversight Big O.
And personally, I believe God loves all of us equally, even you!
Posted by: SIA | August 11, 2006 at 02:56 PM
"And personally, I believe God loves all of us equally, even you!
Stated differently: "With all due respect, I think you're a fucking ashole."
Posted by: Jackie | August 11, 2006 at 03:00 PM
"I apologize, I forgot to add Pakistan, India, Italy and the Muslims who help stop this type evil."
Right, but not Africa, South America, etc ............... C'mon now, it's just silly, why not say "god bless us eveyone" and just pull a tiny Tim. WTF???
Stated differently: "With all due respect, I think you're a fucking ashole."
Lol, that's awesome.
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 03:30 PM
SIA, I forgot to ask you. Is there just one god??
The Christian one right?? and everybody else is wrong, goddamn dirty savages.
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 03:36 PM
the truly scary bit, from someone who lives in the UK, is that these guys were born and bred here...somehow these apparently sentient people seem to think that living in a Islomofacist regime is much better than a secular democracy.
The comment that hit home from one of the Bombers in the Underground in his "Martyrdom tape" was "We love death as you love life".
The problem is these guys are not satisfied until you're either dead or converted to Islam. There's not much of a reasoned, liberal respone to that...
Posted by: Bluehorseshoe | August 11, 2006 at 04:18 PM
"The problem is these guys are not satisfied until you're either dead or converted to Islam."
Insert Chistianity in place of Islam and you have Chris Columbus, the Pilgrims, Conquistadors, The US government VS the Native Americans, etc,..........
Not stickin up for these cats but we've all seen this type of shit before, just in a different setting.
It sucks, seems like the worlds going to hell in one a them baskets like what that goldielocks bitch got.
Nice place we've made for the kids right??
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 04:35 PM
Re: SIA's entire post
I'm sorry, did I miss something somewhere? Was there some large collusion(sp?) with the US on any of these captures? I read everything twice, and I didn't see that get mentioned.
I'm just damned if there is anything here to make me grateful for the actions of George W. Bush & Co. I'm grateful for MI5 and MI6 and James Bond and Austin Powers and all the other British Secret Agents who have saved the world from peril on countless occassions. Dubya, not so much.
Posted by: lattalayne | August 11, 2006 at 04:42 PM
"It sucks, seems like the worlds going to hell in one a them baskets like what that goldielocks bitch got."
That's fucking phenomenal, O. Cracking the fuck up over here.
Posted by: Jackie | August 11, 2006 at 04:45 PM
What's unfathomable? Over the past few years the US has invaded two Muslim countries, threatened to invade or attack one or two more, and Israel has attacked yet another. Our actions have led to the deaths of thousands of Arabs and other Muslims.
For someone who identifies with the Muslims, the US and Britain are killing them without much recourse, and the only way to respond is by attacking back. They can't really attack back with tanks and bombers, but they can with toothpaste tubes, etc.
I'm not saying that they're right, and certainly not saying that their actions are or would be justified. One key fact that seemed to be lost when the Arabs or Muslims were opposing the Iraq war was that Saddam had killed far more Muslims than the US or Israel had, yet Saddam is turned into this great Defender of Islam. And now, the overwhelming majority of deaths in Iraq are being caused by other Muslims, though it was our actions that set the whole thing in motion.
But to me, it is not unfathomable as to why Muslims would want to engage in attacks like this against the US or Britain. To me, the question is why aren't more of them doing so.
Posted by: Steve H. | August 11, 2006 at 04:50 PM
Steve H, Sad but fuckin true man.
I'm glad that these cats got stopped, I would hate to see anymore people get killed, but man If you, I or any of the rest of the people on this blog were born and raised in a muslim county and A big bully was fuckin with us over some decomposed dinosaurs, we'd probably be doin the same shit. I know I would. Just like I would be if some other country invaded the US, I be the first muthafucka outside with a strap like "c'mon", I got kids and I'll be goddamned if you gon' fuck with me or mine. So I understand, I don't neccessarily agree, but I understand.
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 05:04 PM
"Over the past few years the US has invaded two Muslim countries, threatened to invade or attack one or two more, and Israel has attacked yet another."
Interesting timeline, Steve. But I think this has been going on for more than a "few years." And Israel "attacked"? If by "attacked" you mean "got tired of having rockets shot at them on a daily basis", then fine. I think most countries would "attack" as well.
"though it was our actions that set the whole thing in motion."
Which actions, exactly?
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 11, 2006 at 05:22 PM
"Which actions, exactly?"
Jack,
See Immortal Technique's Revolutionary Vol 2 for those and many more answers to all kinds of political, trivial pursuit types a shit.
Ya know, the white man floodin this bitch with the Coca, the Aids, and all kindsa fun shit.
You're welcome. LOL
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 05:40 PM
"Ya know, the white man floodin this bitch with the Coca, the Aids, and all kindsa fun shit."
Were that the truth, it's a pretty inefficient method of ethnic cleansing. But, perhaps "inefficiency" describes your version of Dwight Mann very well.
Immortal Technique in '08...
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 11, 2006 at 05:51 PM
Did anybody else read today that these guys were tied to Al Quaida in Afghanistan?
Ya'll remember Afghanistan? That place where we had all those troops that just about had Bin Laden cornered, but then we pulled most of them out to go spread some liberty, love and democracy in Iraq?
Thanks again, Dubya!
Posted by: lattalayne | August 11, 2006 at 05:55 PM
"Dwight Mann"
Ay, you got me man, lol, I went to wikipedia like "who the fuck is Dwight Mann"?? I had typed that shit in and found nothing before I was like "ooooh, da white man". Lol, that dude who used to return kicks for the dirty birds was affectionatley referred to by one of my buddies as 'Tim Dwight Guy'. Good one, my fuckin brain is frazzled, this is what happens when I go 8hrs without the sticky icky.
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 05:58 PM
"They can't really attack back with tanks and bombers, but they can with toothpaste tubes, etc."
Word.
The notion that they should just bend over over and take another is patently absurd. You come for me, I come for you. End of story.
Posted by: jackie | August 11, 2006 at 06:29 PM
All the same, if they are going to target innocent civilians, why do we have to be so dicriminant about where and when we bomb? This whole thing could be over a lot faster if we played by their rules.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 11, 2006 at 06:41 PM
"You come for me, I come for you. End of story."
Straight Gangsta!!!! Get 'em Jackie.
"Who told you to put the balm on???"
"Did I tell you to put the balm on??"
Posted by: The big O | August 11, 2006 at 06:42 PM
"All the same, if they are going to target innocent civilians, why do we have to be so dicriminant about where and when we bomb?"
AofG Flashback.
Posted by: Jackie | August 11, 2006 at 06:53 PM
"Just like I would be if some other country invaded the US, I be the first muthafucka outside with a strap like "c'mon", I got kids and I'll be goddamned if you gon' fuck with me or mine. So I understand, I don't neccessarily agree, but I understand."
That's just about the best I've ever seen it put.
Posted by: jackie | August 11, 2006 at 06:56 PM
I give big ups to the British on this one.
And I agree more and more with Sam Harris. Its time to stop talking about "moderate" Islam. No such fucking thing. Jihad is in the Quran, just like killing people for male homsexual activity is in the Old Testament of the bible. When you base your moral and philosophical foundation on primitive barbaric texts, these things happen. We need to challenge it at that level, and we cant do it under the politically correct paradigm that says everybody's religious beliefs have to be respected.
Moderate Christians and moderate muslims are always at a doctrinal disadvantage because their take on the belief system is inherently at odds with what's in their sacred texts.
Here's an idea...lets base what we believe in on logic, reason, intellect and leave the old magic books written by the big bad sky daddies alone.
Posted by: DFS | August 11, 2006 at 07:32 PM
Yo, us athiests haven't started any shit in a while. Props to us.
Posted by: chris | August 12, 2006 at 02:36 AM
"Moderate Christians and moderate muslims are always at a doctrinal disadvantage because their take on the belief system is inherently at odds with what's in their sacred texts."
Great point. Though I don't know that we need to call label them 'moderate.' They make up the majority. It's the extremist Christians and Muslims that are at the root of problem.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 12, 2006 at 01:00 PM
How nice it must be to live in Klompus' world where everything is black and white. I'm honestly envious. I wish I had the intellectual capability to reduce every argument to "us vs. them"
Posted by: briandtw | August 12, 2006 at 02:01 PM
You come for me, I come for you. End of story
Jesus, Tookie Chiles, was there a special on crack in downtown Crooklyn this weekend?
Posted by: Cozmo | August 12, 2006 at 11:48 PM
Finally?
Wow. You're just standing on the shoreline, looking at a boat disappearing over the horizon, wondering how you missed it.
Sad attempt at spin. Beneath you and you know it.
Posted by: Scottie | August 13, 2006 at 03:35 AM
"How nice it must be to live in Klompus' world where everything is black and white. I'm honestly envious. I wish I had the intellectual capability to reduce every argument to "us vs. them" "
Now Brian, part of being an adult is making difficult choices. You may not like any of your options but ultimately you still have to pick. In a complex situation like the one we are talking about, you eventually have to remove the sources of complexity such as history, religion, and politics in order to get to the root. When you boil it down to basics, you have those who value death and those who value life. It doesn't matter if you support war or diplomacy -- you still have to take a side. It doesn't matter who you think is most reponsible for creating the situation. It still has to be dealt with. Now be a good boy and go back to sleep, or else Santa won't visit.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 13, 2006 at 10:29 AM
Was funny, recently in London they had a demo against the War in Lebanon that was attended by most of the usual anti-war suspects. The funny part was a ton of these liberal, feminist, humanitarians were walking around carrying "we are all Hezbollah now" signs. Seems that being against the "opression" of a secular Democracy like the US is so important they are prepared to get into bed with a bunch of people who treat women like 2nd class citizens, shoot Gays and want to drive the Jews into the Sea. Looks like alot of people have chosen sides unfortunately...
Posted by: Bluehorseshoe | August 13, 2006 at 02:24 PM
Klompus, my point had nothing to do with whether any of the relevant actions, the US's, Israel's, or the terrorists', were morally justified. You are not seriously disputing that Israel attacked Lebanon, are you? It is true that before Israel attacked, Hezbollah periodically fired rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel. Whether that justifies a bombing campaign that kills hundreds of Lebanese civilians is debatable (how many Israelis died from rocket attacks in the six years before last month?), but it would be silly to deny that Israel's response constituted an attack on Lebanon.
As far as what actions the US did that may have prompted British Muslims to want to kill Americans (or Brits), you have to be kidding me. You have read the papers the last five years, right?
Again, whether we are acting morally or not is not really my point. I was responding to Coz's statement that the would-be terrorists' actions were unfathomable. I think they are completely understandable, and our leaders are not taking into consideration the possibility that our continued military campaigns may yield further such attacks, they are abdicating their responsibilities.
(And the reason why we can't play by "their" rules -- there's two answers. If you want to take a morality approach, it is wrong to target innocent Arabs/Muslims simply because OTHER Arabs/Muslims are targeting innocent civilians. If we knew that everyone in a target area was a terrorist, it's a free-fire zone as far as I'm concerned.
Or, look at it from a pragmatic approach. We can't realistically kill all of them, so if we just start randomly killing a bunch of Arab or Muslim civilians, we will have even more shit like they tried to pull with the airliners.)
Posted by: steveh2 | August 13, 2006 at 03:09 PM
Whatever makes you sleep better at night, Klompus. You keep running that "bomb the brown people indiscriminately" up the flagpole and see how that works out in the real world. Meanwhile, I'll be hanging out over here with the sane people.
Posted by: briandtw | August 13, 2006 at 10:41 PM
"As far as what actions the US did that may have prompted British Muslims to want to kill Americans (or Brits), you have to be kidding me. You have read the papers the last five years, right?"
Try this. Our current problems go back a bit further than 2001 newspapers.
"(how many Israelis died from rocket attacks in the six years before last month?)"
Add 'em up. And don't forget to consider attempts in addition to casualty numbers. Again, this all didn't just start on July 12.
"I think they are completely understandable, and our leaders are not taking into consideration the possibility that our continued military campaigns may yield further such attacks, they are abdicating their responsibilities."
Don't be silly. Of course our leaders take that into consideration. What they also take into consideration (that you apparently do not) is that removing our troops and economic interests from the Middle East -- as well as our support for Israel -- will not end the danger posed by Islamofacism.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 13, 2006 at 11:07 PM
"You keep running that "bomb the brown people indiscriminately" up the flagpole and see how that works out in the real world."
Well, if these Muslim extremists continue to bomb brown, black, white, yellow, olive -- whatever -- indiscriminantly, we may have no choice. There will come a point where innocent "brown" people, as you labeled them, will choose whether or not they want their extremist brothers using them as shields.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 13, 2006 at 11:23 PM
"In a complex situation like the one we are talking about, you eventually have to remove the sources of complexity such as history, religion, and politics in order to get to the root. When you boil it down to basics, you have those who value death and those who value life."
You're reducing terrorism by Muslims down to 'they value death'? Nothing about army bases in Saudi Arabia, support for Middle-Eastern dictatorships, massive support for Israel; just 'they value death'?
Posted by: daveNYC | August 14, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Pound me in the Azkaban.
Posted by: puddy | August 14, 2006 at 10:34 AM
Klompus, I added 'em up. The Israeli attacks on Lebanon were supposedly justified by a need to stop Hezbollah's attacks from Lebanon into Israel. As far as I can tell from your link, those attacks killed one person from October 2000 until July 2006.
True, Hezbollah has done a lot of bad shit. Mostly, they're bad people, and I don't shed a tear for Hezbollah militants killed in these attacks. But Israel hasn't just been attacking Hezbollah over the past month. They've been attacking the Lebanese people.
If the cops are chasing an escaped con and the con runs into a school to hide, is it okay to nuke the school to get him?
Posted by: Steve H. | August 14, 2006 at 11:30 AM
"You're reducing terrorism by Muslims down to 'they value death'? Nothing about army bases in Saudi Arabia, support for Middle-Eastern dictatorships, massive support for Israel; just 'they value death'?"
I'm talking about dealing with the situation we have now, not why Muslim terrorists are intent on killing us. I have never once said the US or Israel are innocent in all of this. That is a chicken-and-egg argument. However, you still have to take a side. And once again, when you boil it all down, the fundamental difference between Muslim extremists and everyone else is that they value death more than life. That is a simple fact. They won't take into account that daveNYC doesn't support US or Israeli policies in the Middle East while planning their next attack. You're as much a target as any Westerner. And IMHO, I don't believe changing our policies to appease their demands will change their policy of targeting civilians of countries who do not share their ideology.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 14, 2006 at 11:49 AM
"As far as I can tell from your link, those attacks killed one person from October 2000 until July 2006. "
Sorry, I pasted the wrong link. This is the one I meant to link to.
"But Israel hasn't just been attacking Hezbollah over the past month. They've been attacking the Lebanese people."
Hezbollah has two cabinet members in the Lebanese government. As well, UNSCR 1559 required all militia in Lebanon to disband and disarm. Since the Lebanese government has refused to comply, as well as secure the Southern border with its own military -- they are equally responsible for the actions of Hezbollah. As Chiles reminded us, this is war and war is ugly -- for both sides.
"If the cops are chasing an escaped con and the con runs into a school to hide, is it okay to nuke the school to get him?"
Of course not. But there's another way of looking at it in this instance. First of all, Lebanese civilians were involved because Hezbollah has chosen/been allowed to (a) launch its attacks from the southern border of Lebanon and (b) purposely set up their infrastructure in residential areas because it affords them the use of civilian shields. Furthermore, Israel has dropped leaflets in residential areas advising civilians to take shelter so they could avoid being caught in the crossfire. Certainly, the Lebanese government has done a FEMA-like job of sheltering civilians -- whereas Israel has at least a half-million people holed up in bomb shelters while this is all happening. That undoubtedly is a big part of why you are seeing less civilian casualties among Israelis. But above all else, Israel's top priority is protecting its own citizens -- and that includes taking out Hezbollah infrastructure.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 14, 2006 at 01:47 PM
Klompus, that new site also shows one fatality since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000. This seems low to me, but still, there's just aren't that many.
To me, that fact is critical, because most of your arguments make perfect sense if you assume that Hezbollah has killed a significant number of Israelis or is an imminent threat to do so. If Hezbollah is killing lots of Israelis, and the Lebanese are cheering them on, then it makes sense to argue that the Lebanese civilians are fair game for allowing Hezbollah to set up shop there.
But if Hezbollah is basically killing one person every six years, then I don't see how killing hundreds of Lebanese civilians is a morally justifiable response. Seems like they should run a bombing campaign on cigarette makers and booze sellers first, since they cause far more deaths than Hezbollah does.
How many Hezbollah members of the Lebanese cabinet were among the civilians killed in the last month's worth of attacks?
Posted by: Steve H. | August 14, 2006 at 04:05 PM
Steve H., do you honestly believe Hezbollah isn't trying to kill more Israelis? What's an acceptable body count before they area allowed to adequately protect themselves? Especially when their enemy has pledged their extermination? It's up to the Israeli government to protect its people. That's first priority. First priority is not minimizing collateral damage in their enemy strongholds. Still, they have made the effort to do so -- meanwhile Hezbollah has not. Neither in Israel nor in Lebanon. Again, if Lebanon and its people are going to allow Hezbollah to set up shop in its neighborhoods and launch offensives from residential areas, it's an assumed risk by Lebanon. When Israel locates the source of a missile launch, it has the right and obligation to try and disable that source. It doesn't matter if that source is located in or around a school, mosque, or hospital. That's Hezbollah's fault for putting it there and Lebanon's fault for allowing it. It's not right to ask Israel to play by a different standard because they are a government and not a terrorist militia.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 14, 2006 at 07:02 PM
Klompus,
How about just Militia?? This whole terrorist moniker gets thrown around all willy-nilly. I mean unless of course you call the colonial minutemen terrorist militias which they were at the time. If that is the case, then by all means, carry on.
Posted by: The big O | August 14, 2006 at 07:59 PM
"This whole terrorist moniker gets thrown around all willy-nilly."
They have "infidel," we have "terrorist". They have "Great Satan," we have "Islamofacist." Big deal.
"I mean unless of course you call the colonial minutemen terrorist militias which they were at the time. If that is the case, then by all means, carry on."
Sure, I guess if I hated America as much as you it would make sense. But I think the big difference is that Minutemen didn't use civilians as shields -- which would have done no good anyway because the British wouldn't have cared.
Hezbollah, on the other hand is a terrorist militia. Go ahead and call them militia, call them guerillas, call them freedom fighters, call them whatever you want. Whatever makes you feel better. But to me, they're terrorists.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 14, 2006 at 09:37 PM
"Hezbollah has two cabinet members in the Lebanese government."
I've gotten into this on other sites, but if you could take a quick gander at Lebanese history over the past 20 years, with a focus on the last six, you might see why it's not as simple as just saying that they have terrorists on their cabinet.
And while you're so psyched up about Israel's attempt to take out Hezbollah, take a minute to think about the effect that their activity has had on their image, and more importantly, on our image. We sold them the planes and bombs, and we stalled the cease-fire negotiations. Our rep in Muslim countries is even worse than it was a month ago, and that's saying something. The Muslim governments will be harder to work with, and their populations will be more inclined to go pop a cap in the nearest Americanski.
Posted by: daveNYC | August 14, 2006 at 09:55 PM
"Lebanese history over the past 20 years, with a focus on the last six, you might see why it's not as simple as just saying that they have terrorists on their cabinet."
My point was, Lebanon's had every opportunity to disband Hezbollah and they've done the opposite (having Hezbollah on their cabinet is just a small part of it). Therefore, the Lebanese government bears some responsibility for the actions of Hezbollah.
"And while you're so psyched up about Israel's attempt to take out Hezbollah, take a minute to think about the effect that their activity has had on their image, and more importantly, on our image."
If you think Israel's image could ever possibly be positive -- especially in that region of the world -- then send Chiles some of the crack you're smoking. And unless we were to turn our guns on Israel, our image will only be slightly better in that region as well. And gimme a break with the "our rep is worse than it was a month ago" crap. It's never been good there and it probably never will be. Between our media and their media there's a 1% chance of that ever happening. Still, I wonder how well some of those countries would cooperate if we suddenly stopped buying oil from them.
Personally, I think Israel's image is worse after the cease-fire. They look weak. Hezbollah's leader is claiming victory and has refused to disarm. They are even more empowered than ever to continue their mission of destroying Israel. You know this cease-fire is only temporary.
Posted by: Jack Klompus | August 15, 2006 at 07:15 AM
"Lebanese history over the past 20 years, with a focus on the last six, you might see why it's not as simple as just saying that they have terrorists on their cabinet."
My point was, Lebanon's had every opportunity to disband Hezbollah and they've done the opposite (having Hezbollah on their cabinet is just a small part of it).
And my point was you haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about. It's like blaming Buchanan for not ending slavery, or Baghdad for not stopping PKK attacks in Turkey.
I'd link to the wikipedia article, but it's a bit of a mess, for obviousl reasons. Basic upshot, Israel occupied south Lebanon for 18 years, leading to the creation of Hezbollah. They withdrew six years ago, but Syria retained effective control over the country. Lebanon just got rid of the Syrian forces a year ago. Syria is one of the supporters of Hezbollah. Can you see how expecting Lebanon to go boot head on Hezbollah would be a little unrealistic? Or how weakening one of the few civilian democracies in the region by bombing the fuck out of its capitol might not be a good idea? Keep up with that 'kill more brown people' thing though, it seems to be working like a charm.
Posted by: daveNYC | August 15, 2006 at 10:07 AM
"Sure, I guess if I hated America as much as you it would make sense."
Ok, whatever you say, why the fuck would I choose to raise my children here if I hate it so much? I'll put it to you like this "I love my country, I just hate the people in charge".
"But I think the big difference is that Minutemen didn't use civilians as shields -- "
I hope that you don't really believe that. They damn sure did use people as shields, black people. There are many documented occasions of minutemen using african slaves as shields decoys and many other bullshit "tactics". There are records of British officers commenting on how terrible it was that the minuteman militia would treat people, so willing to fight for the revolutionary cause, so poorly.
I don't know where you get your info from but you sure say some stupid ass shit sometimes. Ignorant.
Posted by: The big O | August 15, 2006 at 11:40 AM