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I remember reading during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan that one technique used by the "locals" was to capture a Russian soldier, SKIN HIM ALIVE while videotaping the process, and mail the videotape to his parents back in Russia (!)---don't know how widespread this was, but it would sure have an effect on the "folks back home", and I'm sure, weaken their will to go on fighting. Would WE employ such techniques?--I hope I never see the day... nevertheless, those who DO, have a "leverage" over us out of proportion to their numbers....
The philosophy behind terrorism is to weaken, sicken, or demoralize the opponent, and our "imagination" does a lot of the work......
I am reminded by a poem written about the British occupation of Afghanistan and how the Afghan women would castrate those British soldiers wounded on the battlefield.
When you're wounded out on Afghanistan's plains
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Then just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
And die like a good British soldier!
-Rudyard Kipling
Considering how much our society has changed in the past six years, one can certainly make an argument that terrorist have succeeded in instilling fear in the broadest of scopes. I would be curious to hear from those people in Europe or elsewhere that have dealt with the fear of terrorism repeatedly and if it still has the same effects as it does here. Such as the many acts of terrorism of the IRA against Britain.
I am reminded by a poem written about the British occupation of Afghanistan and how the Afghan women would castrate those British soldiers wounded on the battlefield.
When you're wounded out on Afghanistan's plains
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Then just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
And die like a good British soldier!
-Rudyard Kipling
Considering how much our society has changed in the past six years, one can certainly make an argument that terrorist have succeeded in instilling fear in the broadest of scopes. I would be curious to hear from those people in Europe or elsewhere that have dealt with the fear of terrorism repeatedly and if it still has the same effects as it does here. Such as the many acts of terrorism of the IRA against Britain.
The question in peoples minds, after we have been able by political means, to equalise Northern Ireland, is why did terrorism exist in NI, were the British government culpable.
The question in peoples minds, after we have been able by political means, to equalise Northern Ireland, is why did terrorism exist in NI, were the British government culpable.
Famenity, I think we should ask ourselves why did it exist in NI, or anywhere for that matter. We are quick throw out things like, "they hate us for our freedoms" but rarely do we take an in depth look with much objectivity.
I don't know much about the conflict between the British government and NI, do you feel they were culpable? If nothing else, after these many years they seem to have settled quite a bit.
Famenity, I think we should ask ourselves why did it exist in NI, or anywhere for that matter. We are quick throw out things like, "they hate us for our freedoms" but rarely do we take an in depth look with much objectivity.
I don't know much about the conflict between the British government and NI, do you feel they were culpable? If nothing else, after these many years they seem to have settled quite a bit.
Certainly if you look at claims by one side or the other and take them at face value, the British government has a heavy share of responsiblity for the events in NI.
Of course the spin doctors will take you down the garden path, obliterate your senses with emotive issues, and quite correctly state "you don't know all the facts".
Simple facts such as when did they come to terms, when the British government decided it would be so, leaves one in no doubt that the government was instrumental.
Years ago I had the opportunity to operate within a car factory in Dagenham UK and although not employed there directly (I was a salesman) got chatting to workers within the factory.
It was alledged that when cars were not selling the managment provoked a strike, the unions wittlingly or otherwise went along with it and production stopped.
This is not mean't to be a scientific appraisal but to show what people close to the heart of things felt to be true.
The slow rot of our society started long before people like Osama had existed. However, to say "the terrorists one" is a little too simple. I don't see people putting gates around their homes or bars on their windows ala Central America. I think people are just fine. I think democrats play down terrorism to let people be snookered into their UN-multiculturalism-golbal socialism agenda.
As far as the whole "No big deal" thing is concerned, I suggest you rent the movie "The Siege". If you don't think terrorism isn't real/scary after that movie, then I would think you probably are a terrorist yourself. And don't give me that "Jesus hates war" crap. Sure he does, but if 9/11 happened in his kingdom, Mecca would be a sheet of glass. Think about that.
The slow rot of our society started long before people like Osama had existed. However, to say "the terrorists one" is a little too simple. I don't see people putting gates around their homes or bars on their windows ala Central America. I think people are just fine. I think democrats play down terrorism to let people be snookered into their UN-multiculturalism-golbal socialism agenda.
As far as the whole "No big deal" thing is concerned, I suggest you rent the movie "The Siege". If you don't think terrorism isn't real/scary after that movie, then I would think you probably are a terrorist yourself. And don't give me that "Jesus hates war" crap. Sure he does, but if 9/11 happened in his kingdom, Mecca would be a sheet of glass. Think about that.
All that you say can be countered if one wants to play devils advocate briarwood, but all you talk about is 9/11 why don't you for the sake of completeness put down a list of atrocities commited by the UK and US alliance since the turn of the 20th Century.
The slow rot of our society started long before people like Osama had existed. However, to say "the terrorists one" is a little too simple. I don't see people putting gates around their homes or bars on their windows ala Central America. I think people are just fine. I think democrats play down terrorism to let people be snookered into their UN-multiculturalism-golbal socialism agenda.
As far as the whole "No big deal" thing is concerned, I suggest you rent the movie "The Siege". If you don't think terrorism isn't real/scary after that movie, then I would think you probably are a terrorist yourself. And don't give me that "Jesus hates war" crap. Sure he does, but if 9/11 happened in his kingdom, Mecca would be a sheet of glass. Think about that.
perhaps you need to review US / CIA involvements across the world and wonder why an event like 9/11 occured in the first place.
It's quite apparent and if you have to rent a movie to understand terrorism then you must live in a Hollywood script filled world.
Oh and Democrats do understand terrorism which is why they voted to invade Afghanistan & try to get Bin Laden instead of invading Iraq to make Halliburton & Dick Cheney rich but hey what's a few trilllion dollars?
UN-multiculturalism-golbal socialism agenda. Wow that is a mouthful! I'll give briarwood credit if this term becomes commonplace down the road.
That is why we went into Iraq right? All those UN resolutions they broke?
(Sorry if I miss this point...the reasons get changed around and become so convoluted I get confused about this at times.)
All that you say can be countered if one wants to play devils advocate briarwood, but all you talk about is 9/11 why don't you for the sake of completeness put down a list of atrocities commited by the UK and US alliance since the turn of the 20th Century.
Or would it be nicer to turn a blind eye?
Maybe we should recount the raping and pillaging of Iberia by the Moors. Or how about the Japanese samurais actions across Asia. Or the Muslim raids on Europe and so on and so on...So becuase 50,500,5000 years ago my ancestor ****ed over your ancestor we should all strap bombs to our chest and work it out, right? I guess that VA Tech kid was right becuase Suzy rejected him to the school dance.
But, to answer your question, here's a list of "Atrocities" the US and UK are commonly accused of and what the real deal is:
-Indian extinction in America(more indians killed settlers than vice versa where violence was concerned. As much as revisionists want to believe it, I don't think settlers came up with some abitious plan to give American Indians smallpox, if that were the case, then why not everywhere else English settled? Smallpox at that time was as obiqutous as the flu, so the native popualtions were bound to recieve it eventually. If you believe we're at fault for that, then why not Blame Africa for AIDS?)
-Northern Ireland(well, everyone had a hand in that)
-Indian colonization(Yeah, British people didn't exactly treat Indians as there own, but neither did the Indians in charge either. In fact, when the British arrived, Hindu natives were suffering under a Muslim ruler. Aside from the choas of Partition, Great Britian left a nation a lot better than it found)
-Austrialia/Canada(yes, again, British settlers not keen on said inhabitants. As for mass genocide, never substasated)
-Africa(Death/genocide went up after departure. Of course, the UN would like to sweep that little tiddy under the rug)
-American wars with Mexico(Well, if you believe the Atzlan clowns, we basically went all blitzkreig on them and raped the women and children. The truth is Neither Mexico or their Spainish overlords before them found little use for much of the area above the Rio Grande. Texas and some parts of the Southern California coasts were the only places settled by non-indians)
-Slavery(No doubt about it, it was a horrible stain on history and we should give it's horrors and heroes her due. However, no race on earth has escaped slavery and despite the "400 years of oppression retoric", extremely few if any African-Americans have 200 years or more of genilogical time spend in New World bondage. Basically, by mid-century, time free vs time enslaved should balance out for just about all families. But then again, you won't hear that from Sharpton, et al)
-Of course, you don't talk about beating the Nazis, or stopping the Soviets, or basically giving the world a template for the most free society on earth. I bet you think it's the American soliders doing the killing in Iraq. It's not. Al-quida is as well as the insurgents. But keep doing the Jane Fonda thing, becuase such free speech won't last long when America ceases to keep the world or itself safe.....
UN-multiculturalism-golbal socialism agenda. Wow that is a mouthful! I'll give briarwood credit if this term becomes commonplace down the road.
That is why we went into Iraq right? All those UN resolutions they broke?
(Sorry if I miss this point...the reasons get changed around and become so convoluted I get confused about this at times.)
Your reading comprehension is really shining through. Highlight where I said I support the Iraq War (I don't, BTW). And no "suppositions". I want actual real written proof that shows my support for the Iraq War.
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