gregh, have you ever read LOTR or, did you just look at the movies? Just Curious.

I’ve read the trilogy a handful of times (the first time when I received the books for my 12th birthday), as well as the prequel, The Hobbit. I also have a rule that my kids are required to read the books before they are allowed to watch the movies. As my eldest is still too young for either, I should have some time before playing the heavy…

At least Santorum is avoiding the sex scandal. Nobody who understands his “Lord of the Rings” references will ever have sex.

stonemeister on October 18, 2006 at 12:44 PM

Hey!

I understood it completely, AND I thought it made sense, AND I have two kids! That weren’t adopted or stolen or bought. I made ‘em myself! (Ok, me and the wife together, but you get the idea.) So some of us geeks are getting plenty, thank you very much.

GregH on October 18, 2006 at 12:48 PM

gregh, have you ever read LOTR or, did you just look at the movies? Just Curious.

I rather doubt this country can survive fifteen more years on its present course.

As an aside, Wolfman’s feelings on “the direction the country is heading” illustrates the problematic way that particular poll question is interpreted. For example, I would answer ‘no’ to that question just like Wolfman, and then vote to reelect George Bush (not Kerry) (and not speaking for Wolf). But that poll stat is always used to beat up the incumbent. It always surprises me that anyone would answer Yes.

/hijack

I must disagree with that. If you’d said America’s destruction at the hands of jihadis is less likely than. . .then I would agree wholeheartedly. I rather doubt this country can survive fifteen more years on its present course. The most infuriating thing of all is that it all seems so obvious and yet, nobody seems to give a damn.

The general idea of the metaphor (the flypaper strategy) is fairly accurate. It may not have been what was intended by our occupation of Iraq, but it is what has resulted. These are the issues I have with it:

- Islamic terrorists present a significantly wimpier threat than does Mordor.
- Islamic terrorists can focus on more than one target at a time, while the Eye of Sauron is hyper-focused.
- America’s survival isn’t as doubtful as was Frodo’s mission.
- Iraq isn’t a distraction that enables the destruction of Islamic terrorism… it’s just a distraction that saves civilian lives.

As a metaphor, it is 100% dead on.

Bin Laden says so. Zawahiri says so. Who are we to argue the point with them?

Iraq is Al Qaeda flypaper, and it was designed to be such.

From an article written by Lt. Col Austin Bay (USAR, Ret), author, and blogger, who was on the Tommy Frank’s staff and helped plan OIF, that I’ve excerpted before:

The essence of strategic art is to force an enemy to fight on your terms, not his, and ideally in a fight he cannot refuse. The U.S.-led attack on Iraq changed al Qaeda’s battlefield. Sunni-extremist al Qaeda has had to fight in a predominantly Shia country. Arab elitists in al Qaeda snubbed the Afghans and ticked them off; Kurds know the feeling.

Zarqawi’s al Qaeda clan accepted the battle. Zarqawi’s network has been hit and hit hard. We’ve learned a lot about al Qaeda funding and recruiting, but Zarqawi hasn’t been destroyed. Something that has been destroyed is the notion that al Qaeda’s extremism dominates Islam. The idea that waging jihad against the West is easy has also been exposed as a lie. These are ideological defeats for al Qaeda,….
[Austin Bay, “The Millennium War,” 1/3/2005, http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/076blgjq.asp

We wanted Al Qaeda to fight us in Iraq and the middle east. We offered battle and gave them little choice about it as a democratic, friendly Iraq would eliminate their Caliphate before they even finished building it. So, they accepted. And IF there is a quagmire in Iraq, it’s Al Qaeda’s quagmire.

Why?

Because Al Qaeda cannot dislodge America from Iraq (or Afghanistan). They simply cannot do it by military force. Their only chance is for the 5th Column media to sabotage the war and for the Democrats to fold and cut and run if they take over Congress.

As long as America is in Iraq, and Iraq retains a democratic form of government, the Islamofascists cannot achieve their goals.

The declassified NIE says that if America wins in Iraq, the Jihadist movement is on the ropes. And isn’t that the point for fighting a war on global terrorism?

When he used the ‘fire signaling chain’example from Return Of The King did the others immediately understand because everybody started grinning to each other.

You completely outed yourself :)

And yes, I remember that, and it was flippin hilarious. But people ragging the Lord of the Rings, get some perspective. It’s not like it’s Harry Potter.

Frak me.

(Don’t recall anyone with a burqa/veil on in any old Star Treks, either. Or prayer rugs in the shuttle bay, come to think of it. Maybe there is hope yet.)

profitsbeard

Because they beamed them out the first time they caused trouble.

Will it out me as the Queen of all Geekdom to admit that just this week, I watched the trilogy with the director’s commentary on? Will it further amaze you with my uberness of geekiness to know that I watched The Fellowship yesterday and the Two Towers today (extended edition)? The Return will be tomorrow. I can’t help it, it is like crack.

In line with Muslihoon: The zero-gee version of ROTFLMOA!

Thanks for reducing this metaphorical morass to something clear and cogent!

(Don’t recall anyone with a burqa/veil on in any old Star Treks, either. Or prayer rugs in the shuttle bay, come to think of it. Maybe there is hope yet.)

Remember the name of their dog?

-Astro.

Remember the name of their robot?

-Rosie.

Remember the name of the muslim guy?

-There was no muslim guy.

Isn’t the future WONDERFUL!

Lord of the Rings, personally, I don’t get it. Which means I DO get IT. If you DO get it, then you DON’T get IT. Get it? If you don’t get it, just refer to Stonemeister’s post.

Better anaolgy: Muslims are like the sand people in Star Wars. Muslim terrorists are like the Terminator: “They can’t be bargained with, they can’t be reasoned with, they don’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear, and they absolutely will not stop … EVER … until you are dead!”

Now that’s funny!!!! And true.

honora on October 18, 2006 at 2:00 PM

My wife and our three kids might argue :)

I like Santorum’s comment. It validates the geek/nerd in me.