A story broke the day before yesterday that a woman in Moore, OK was stabbed and beheaded by a man who had just been fired from his job. This man happened to be a fan of radical islam, so suddenly this nutcase becomes part of the ISIS/ISIL conspiracy to inflict islam and sharia law on the US. Watch out folks, the terrorist sleeper cells are spreading through Mexico and penetrating everywhere. We're all in mortal danger of being beheaded!! Everyone who immigrated from the Middle East is a jihadist ready to inflict islam on us all!!
Get a grip, people. This is simply fear-mongering to keep the expensive and unnecessary "war on terror" going - it's very profitable for the weapons manufacturers, the military, the police, etc. Many politicians love to beat the war drums and portray themselves as strong proponents of the very American rights they've been so instrumental in taking away, all in the name of "protecting" us. The simple fact is that the number of people in the US who have died as a direct result of terrorist acts since 11 September 2001 is quite small. The odds of being killed by a terrorist are now considerably less than being killed by a tornado, for example. More of our troops have died in wars on foreign soil than were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center (both of them), to say nothing of the physical and mental wounds inflicted on those troops not killed in those wars.
Terrorism is a clear indicator of the military weakness and cultural isolation of the islamic terrorists. If they had the remotest chance of inflicting their religion by a direct military confrontation, history suggests they would do so. After all, that's what the christians tried to do during the crusades. Nowadays, no group in their right minds would succeed in a set piece confrontation with the firepower of the US military. Therefore, the terrorists have torn a page from the US tactics in the Revolutionary War (and used by the Vietnamese communists in the US's Vietnam War). They hit and run, always so as to create maximum horror, and use that fear to intimidate their enemies into massive military expenditures (which are simply a black hole for precious resources: they produce only destruction when used, and are a complete waste when not used), and disruption of their societies by massive, mostly useless "security" measures that destroy the very freedoms we claim separate us from them (the terrorists).
Terrorism will never be defeated by direct military action and attempts to kill off the terrorists. Never! Violence only begets more violence. The way to suppress terrorism is to make it irrelevant. To pay little attention to it. The screaming headlines terrorism generates are among the many goals of the terrorist actions - they spread the paranoia at no cost to the perpetrators, and attract the sort of bizarre folks who are only able to derive a sense of self importance through the pain they inflict on others. By perpetuating fear, we serve the ends of the terrorists, not ourselves. When we give up our rights for the illusion of security (e.g., "security theater" at airports), we serve the ends of the terrorists. When ordinary citizens cringe in fear at every headline and see terrorists everywhere, we serve the ends of the terrorists. When we elect chickenhawk politicians who portray themselves as "strong" against terrorism, and send our troops to fight and die in pointless foreign wars, we serve the ends of the terrorists.
No American should give in to the irrational terror of the jihadists (or other terrorists). Resist the urge for vengeance and go on about your lives without unfounded fear. See terrorism for what it really is: a direct admission of weakness. That's the way to become a "soldier" in the "war" against terrorism. This does not imply a capitulation to the terrorists and there are times when direct action against terrorists is both warranted and effective. If we learn of a terrorist cell, take it down. If a terrorist is running amok in a mall (or whatever), shoot him like a mad dog! Protect and serve. But spreading fear and breeding suspicion are not the answer, nor are invasions of foreign territory with the sole purpose being to eliminate terrorists. These are inevitably counter-productive, as recent history has demonstrated so clearly.
Will It Ever Snow Again?
1 day ago
5 comments:
Bravo! I'm really enjoying getting to know this side of you, Chuck.
" But spreading fear and breeding suspicion are not the answer, nor are invasions of foreign territory with the sole purpose being to eliminate terrorists. These are inevitably counter-productive, as recent history has demonstrated so clearly."
I think that taking the fight to the enemy is the smart way of doing it. You, yourself admit that since we've been doing that very few Americans have been killed by terrorism. If recent history proves anything, it proves that taking the fight to the enemy is the way to go. I note that Mr. Obama has continued on where Bush left off and is continually taking the fight to the enemy, on their territory. It appears to be working.
Lisa MacArthur
Riverside Ri.
Lisa,
You're entitled to your opinion, but evidently you managed to read my blog post without understanding the point. And if you think the war on terror is "working" - well, ask the thousands of those who have lost friends and family in Iraq and Afghanistan, or had to deal with the physical and emotional trauma of those who were there. To say nothing of the civilian casualties in those wars - many of the friends and families of of whom will become terrorist recruits.
Chuck, there's really a very simple reason to stop Islamic terrorism on the West. Just demonstrate to the jihadic powers-that-be what several air and ground bursts in the 250kt to 1Mt would do to Mecca. Every day for prayers, the faithful will be bowing to a smoking hole in the ground, one that is visible from space. Quite simple. And if they need a demo shot, I'm sure Saudi Arabia would play along with a 250kt airburst some 100km north of Mecca.
The message is easy: stop your shit and learn to coexist with the west in peace, or see your most holiest of holy places nuked over and over again, possibly salted with Co60 casings to enhance the fallout.
Leave us alone and we'll do the same. Otherwise prepare to be sent to the 9th century...literally.
Brian,
I hope we would never even consider such an awful act. It would be against every rational morality I could ever embrace. To commit such a crime would be to lower ourselves even below the morality of even the most insane terrorist (assuming such a terrorist would never have such a capability). I fervently hope we would never contemplate such an immoral action.
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