Ask yourself this, too: what would the U.S. do if Mexico demanded we return Texas, starting referring to it as "the occupied territory," and began arming Hispanic separatist groups who fired missiles into our cities?
First, there would be the protests, complete with "No War for Burritos" t-shirts.
Then, there'd be books written on why brown skinned people hate us and how we can make amendments.
Third - Increased funding for Militia De La Mexico provided by our tax dollars.
Fourth - Pictures of the bloody, orphaned children of the Texans killed in the attacks would be hard to find, but the front page of most newspapers would show a broken down pickup with a flat tire as proof of the US's evil ways.
Abu-Gharib would be eclipsed by the 'Tijuana Five' incident which involved a $5 pitcher of tequilla sunrise and an underage prostitute (who, of course, had to sell her body because of BushHitlerCheneyRove stole all her lunch money).
It is true that some of the surrounding states, especially Syria, are supporting the militant (read terrorist) Palestinian groups, but those groups are popular in Palestine too. One of them, Hamas, just got elected as the Palestinian government. That is the core of the problem. The Palestinian people have elected a government that is committed to the destruction of the state of Israel, and that government thinks terrorism is the best way at this time to reach that goal.
Attacking Syria or Iran will not solve that problem.
They are popular in Palestine because Syria and Iran fund massive hate propaganda against Israel. Left to their own devices, Palestinians would not choose to be the meat in the tyrants' grinder.
It's hard, I think, for Westerners to appreciate just how pervasive and destructive this influence is. From cradle to grave, schoolroom to newspaper to mosque, Palestiniansc spend their entire lives steeped in this propaganda. It's brainwashing -- and it's paid for by the people who have a direct interest in fomenting conflict.
"Ask yourself this, too: what would the U.S. do if Mexico demanded we return Texas, started referring to it as "the occupied territory," and began arming Hispanic separatist groups who fired missiles into our cities?"
Isn't that basically the actual history of Texas, only in reverse? :)
Seriously though, I think Israel is taking the right tack here: their escalations have been appropriate and well timed. The unilateral pullout of Gaza was a masterful stroke, as will be the future dismantling of some of the more gapingly insecure settlements. You can't negotiate with Hamas: you simply make the moves that are strategically the smartest and most important for your security.
It's hard, I think, for Westerners to appreciate just how pervasive and destructive this influence is. From cradle to grave, schoolroom to newspaper to mosque, Palestiniansc spend their entire lives steeped in this propaganda. It's brainwashing -- and it's paid for by the people who have a direct interest in fomenting conflict.
mikeca is right for once. Attacking Syria and Iran would not solve the problem. Destroying the current regimes there would go a long way towards reducing the problem though.
Kevin D,
Kevin, Israel is already getting heat from the EU and UN, and they haven't even started defending themselves.
Additionally, if memory serves, Russia has a defense treaty signed with Tehran.
And that should scare the Israelis why? Let's see... Israel - a tiny country with a thoroughly modern, if small, combat hardened 1st world military that employs state of the art (U.S. state that is) tech and combat training and has never lost a war, versus Russia - a much larger country (25 times larger in population alone) with a third world army that lacks sufficient air lift capacity, employs tech that's at least 25 years behind our own, and hasn't won a war since WWII. Hell, unless Russia plans on Nuking Israel out of the gate (not good for their own longevity), they better think twice about any conventional action because it'd be pretty damn embarrassing for them to get their asses kicked by the IDF.
Also, Israel has mutual defense treaty with India, and a security treaty with Turkey. So really, the Israelis should fear a Moscow-Tehran axis why?
But worry not! Yeshua Messiah will clear this all up soon enough.
Attacking Syria and Iran would get at the roots of the problem.
Without continued support/incitement from those two regimes, perhaps Palestinians would begin to understand and act in their own interests, instead of the interests of Syria and Iran.
That may not work. But what was done in the past obviously hasn't worked, so perhaps a new strategy is in order.
Without continued support/incitement from those two regimes, perhaps Palestinians would begin to understand and act in their own interests, instead of the interests of Syria and Iran.
There ain't no way in hell that Mexico wants Texas back. Texans kicked their butts by themselves a decade BEFORE Texas joined the Union by a treaty which states that Texas can unilaterally decide to divide into 5 separate States, and that the Texas Flag will fly at the same hieght as the US Flag. Mexico, might feel it can get away with messing around with mamby-pamby Yankees, and the free-luvin hippies of California. But they know better than to mess with Texas.
Eight more Republican senators. Somehow I don't see that happening, unless Ontaria and British Columbia area permitted to join the United States, and each one split in two.
Sure, it's inexact (we share the same religion, for instance), but it has the salient elements: hostile state demanding our territory and arming terrorist "resistance" groups that are de facto proxy commandos.
I think all this is what Dean refers to as hijacking the thread. But that's okay. I like spinning fantasies about annexing parts of Canada. Politically, I find many of them crummy. But at least they speak English. What's more, any country that can produce actresses as talented and dropdead gorgeous as Rachel McAdams just can't be ignored.
Now, get this redirected to proxy wars, like the author intended.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
6.30.2006 5:14pm
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
First, there would be the protests, complete with "No War for Burritos" t-shirts.
Then, there'd be books written on why brown skinned people hate us and how we can make amendments.
Third - Increased funding for Militia De La Mexico provided by our tax dollars.
Fourth - Pictures of the bloody, orphaned children of the Texans killed in the attacks would be hard to find, but the front page of most newspapers would show a broken down pickup with a flat tire as proof of the US's evil ways.
Abu-Gharib would be eclipsed by the 'Tijuana Five' incident which involved a $5 pitcher of tequilla sunrise and an underage prostitute (who, of course, had to sell her body because of BushHitlerCheneyRove stole all her lunch money).
Or is this not what you meant?
Attacking Syria or Iran will not solve that problem.
They are popular in Palestine because Syria and Iran fund massive hate propaganda against Israel. Left to their own devices, Palestinians would not choose to be the meat in the tyrants' grinder.
Additionally, if memory serves, Russia has a defense treaty signed with Tehran.
But worry not! Yeshua Messiah will clear this all up soon enough.
Attacking Syria and Iran will solve that problem.
Isn't that basically the actual history of Texas, only in reverse? :)
Seriously though, I think Israel is taking the right tack here: their escalations have been appropriate and well timed. The unilateral pullout of Gaza was a masterful stroke, as will be the future dismantling of some of the more gapingly insecure settlements. You can't negotiate with Hamas: you simply make the moves that are strategically the smartest and most important for your security.
I think this is naïve wishful thinking.
Kevin, Israel is already getting heat from the EU and UN, and they haven't even started defending themselves.
And that should scare the Israelis why? Let's see... Israel - a tiny country with a thoroughly modern, if small, combat hardened 1st world military that employs state of the art (U.S. state that is) tech and combat training and has never lost a war, versus Russia - a much larger country (25 times larger in population alone) with a third world army that lacks sufficient air lift capacity, employs tech that's at least 25 years behind our own, and hasn't won a war since WWII. Hell, unless Russia plans on Nuking Israel out of the gate (not good for their own longevity), they better think twice about any conventional action because it'd be pretty damn embarrassing for them to get their asses kicked by the IDF.
Also, Israel has mutual defense treaty with India, and a security treaty with Turkey. So really, the Israelis should fear a Moscow-Tehran axis why?
Huh?
Without continued support/incitement from those two regimes, perhaps Palestinians would begin to understand and act in their own interests, instead of the interests of Syria and Iran.
That may not work. But what was done in the past obviously hasn't worked, so perhaps a new strategy is in order.
Exactly.
There ain't no way in hell that Mexico wants Texas back. Texans kicked their butts by themselves a decade BEFORE Texas joined the Union by a treaty which states that Texas can unilaterally decide to divide into 5 separate States, and that the Texas Flag will fly at the same hieght as the US Flag. Mexico, might feel it can get away with messing around with mamby-pamby Yankees, and the free-luvin hippies of California. But they know better than to mess with Texas.
That would be interesting. Eight more senators.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold Harris
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.