Quotes of the day
posted at 11:00 pm on July 14, 2007 by Allahpundit
“I personally don’t have a hatred of the American people, and I respect American civilization. They have participated in the progress of all the nations of the world. They invented computers. Such people should be respected. But people who are crying over someone who died 1,400 years ago, these should be eliminated, to clear the society of them, because they are simply trash.”
*
“So the two Iraqs continue to collide.”
Blowback
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Nothing like a little journalistic extrapolation – take this one dude’s word as gospel (ironic use of term intended) and spin a tale of woe and failure.
What’s new?
major john on July 14, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Politics is tha branch of philosphy that deals with how you treat your fellow man.
The absolute confusion in the tribal world of the Arabs makes Western attitudes practically useless.From what I see here, if we just give the Sunnis full reign there might be a chance, but trying to be diplomatic in this mess will just keep dragging the conflict out forever. Rather like attempting to negotiate the Palis little hell-hole. A line has to be drawn and maintained, but that is against the grain of every friggin “Politician” that is involved in these matters.
A decisive leader is needed, or all that is good will be in dire straits.
bbz123 on July 14, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Sorry, it’s late and this is a bit off topic, but thought you might enjoy this:
Code of Hammurabi meets IPhone
zb42 on July 14, 2007 at 11:36 PM
major john on July 14, 2007 at 11:18 PM
infidel4life on July 14, 2007 at 11:57 PM
Meh, I screwed up those quote tags.
infidel4life on July 14, 2007 at 11:57 PM
The problem is the Administration’s and Intelligence Services’ and Military’s lack of appreciation of the fundamental schism within Islam.
A bloody divide since the martyrdom of Shi’ite Ali (and his faction seeking control of Islam) by the numerically-dominant Sunnis 1350 years ago.
The Persian/Iran split is just poisoned icing on this cultic cake.
We need to kill the troublemakers on both sides and keep all from gaining WMD’s – since they are clearly not at the level of human development (psychologically/socially/philosophically) to be trusted with apocalyptic weaponry.
Naivete and idealism by our “leaders” got us into this mess, and we’ll have to kill our way out of it.
And put the fear of God into those on the sidelines as we adapt the mission to this realization of the religious schismic carnage (called a “civil war” by the religiously ignorant media, wehen it is reallyt an age-old holy war between those competing for the mantle of Mohammad).
The coalition needs to be guarding the oilfields, securing the borders, and aiding the Kurds (who aren’t as religiously schizoid as their Arab/Persian neighbors). And hoping that the example of Sunni vs/ Shi’ite terror is instructive for Muslims outside of Iraq.
In the sense of: this is your future if you do not control your own theocratic maniacs. (SEE: Pakistan, if you need a second example of what religious fervor can curdle into when there is not humane restraint of the juvenile ardor for martyrdom.)
Killing jihadis …as we sort out the Iraqi chaos and try to extricate ourselves from an internal Muslim holy war… is about the best we can hope for from this madness.
Our soldiers are as close to saints as there are on Earth for the restraint they show in this inferno.
I can only pray that the average Iraqis (subconsciously) grasp this example of human decency in the face of bestiality.
profitsbeard on July 15, 2007 at 12:17 AM
I see it very differently. I see it as confirmation the counter-insurgency is working and working so well AQ has to send a leader to talk to the Press to try to get us to back off. For example, look what he asks for, removal of barriers, release of prisoners and an end to the CI operations. All things that are straggling them right now. Look what he also tries to do, get us to focus on Iran and Shiites. He’s practically begging for us to stop the current strategy. I think they are getting desperate and I think this shows it.
TheBigOldDog on July 15, 2007 at 12:22 AM
Ya, what does the Military know? They’ve just lived over there in Iraq, many of them for years now, in the middle of it all. And, what does the Admin know? They’ve just been obsessed with radical Islam since 9/11 and never thought to consult experts on Islam while trying to formulate strategies for dealing with it. What a bunch of morons.
TheBigOldDog on July 15, 2007 at 12:27 AM
PS – note too he doesn’t want a rapid US pullout. Why? Maybe because they are weak and getting weaker right now. If we pulled out now, in their weakened sate, they’d be slaughtered. If they were strong wouldn’t they want us out now so they could slaughter the Shiites?
TheBigOldDog on July 15, 2007 at 12:32 AM
profitsbeard on July 15, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Significant food for thought. I seek your permission to copy and paste your comment into my archive so that I might consider it long after it has slid into the Hot Air vault. And thank you, sir.
RushBaby on July 15, 2007 at 12:39 AM
“…martyrdom of the Shi’ite Hussein ibn Ali…”
(Not to confuse the “martyr” of the battle of Karbala, and inspiration for the Shi’ites, Hussein (grandson of Mohammad), with his father (cousin of Mohammad) and Fourth Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was already dead by this time, murdered by the poisoned sword of an assassin. His predecessor, the Third Caliph had also been assassinated. Nothing new going on, obviously, in the “sectarian” violence in Iraq.)
profitsbeard on July 15, 2007 at 12:43 AM
BigOldDog-
You see any evidence of any basic understanding of Islam from our leadership, anywhere?
Strategic thinkers on Islam like?
Karen Hughes? Ahmed Chalabi?
Being in the midst of a tribal/holy war doesn’t necessarily confer understanding of anything beyond survival.
Bush and his advisors have been less than stellar.
Morons, yes, in many ways. (Failing to track down and destroy OBL and the Taliban; too few troops going in to Iraq; failing to challenge Islam’s violent dogmas and choosing to whitewash it as a “religion of peace”, which only confuses and defuses the will of the the public in this fight with Islam;s strict and violent fundametalists; absurb rules of engagement; failing to defend soldiers from accusations of “criminal actions” in a ROE-chaotic battleground against weasels like Murtha and Reid; failing to install surveillance cameras in Abu Ghraib and forbid personal cameras inside the prison; no psyops war of righteous and justifiable propaganda in response- by emphasizing the absolutely incomparable cruelty of Daniel Pearl’s and Nick Berg’s beheaders; etc., etc.)
But, now that we’re entrenched in this conflict in Iraq, the goal of killing as many jihadis as possible (as the military constantly adapts to the threats and addresses new demands from the political situation at home) seems to be the best plan.
If the Muslims at least understand that we are not a country of suicide pacts (however much the Democrats and media try to assert it) and will fight when threatened, this will be at worst a lesson for both of us.
Our military gets hard experience with the face-to-face battle tactics of the jihadists and, meanwhile, millions of Muslims, in their own lands, get to see what we are like, through our volunteer soldiers and Marines.
A shame the majority of the people at home in the U.S. are remaining so oblivious to the real meaning of this war against resugent Islamic imperialism.
But the media is doing its best to keep them swaddled in (“every-war-from-now-on-is-Vietnam“) cliches.
I’m for fighting harder and smarter.
And calling islam to task for teaching terror in its holy texts.
They need to reform the war out of the Koran.
Or face endless war in response.
Rushbaby-
Ditto.
profitsbeard on July 15, 2007 at 1:11 AM
Islam needs to be recognized as being a cult…of death.
urbancenturion on July 15, 2007 at 1:57 AM
Everyone, read the 2nd one, more realistic. Very sad. We are doing the right thing. A majority (in Iraq, not here) most likely are in favor of what are are trying to do, but we are talking about a civilization that is backwards. As much as we dislike the Liberals, and them us, we keep it to the pen, OK, cyberspace.
I lived in LA, the Valley, San Fernando, Pacomia, Sepulveda, Van Nuys, I saw the yellow tape a lot. Iraq in many was has a lot in common with the gangs in the US. An eye for an eye. It is funny how the bible says that, but Christians dont literally do it.
We see the same thing in Israel and with the Palestinians. An eye for an eye.
In the end, what we see as a defense, they see as an eye for an eye. I can also assure you that with the terrorist, hugging does not work, so the cycle continues.
WoosterOh on July 15, 2007 at 2:54 AM
Islam the Religion of Piece(s)!
TruthToBeTold on July 15, 2007 at 3:02 AM
“two Iraqs” might be low-balling it, A.
Sigh, tricky tricky, this business.
John from OPFOR on July 15, 2007 at 3:30 AM
Two Iraqs, what about the Kurds? Maybe we should turn the whole Country over to them, they seem to be the most stable.
Sven on July 15, 2007 at 4:08 AM
I’m apt to trust our president and military more than the subject of an interview by Joshua Partlow of the Washington Post Foreign Service or any reporter from the UK.
As for our war fighters not trying to understand our enemies, our guys were asking for and receiving volumes of books on the country, religion and people of Afghanistan while on their way to Afghanistan on that day, 11SEP2001. I remember clearly a request for materials that would illustrate the management style of Genghis Khan.
Zorro on July 15, 2007 at 7:04 AM
But…our President says that Islam is a “sister religion” to Christianity? How can this be? Oh yea…he had head squarely up his butt when he made that statement! PC is going to kill this nation!
sabbott on July 15, 2007 at 7:29 AM
We need to kill the troublemakers on both sides and keep all from gaining WMD’s – since they are clearly not at the level of human development (psychologically/socially/philosophically) to be trusted with apocalyptic weaponry
Aylios on July 15, 2007 at 8:15 AM
the quote/nonquote in my preceding post ended up the wrong way around, btw.
Aylios on July 15, 2007 at 8:16 AM
you say an awful lot and often with inflamitroy language so at least get the facts right… The martyrdom the venerate is that of Hussain
zane on July 15, 2007 at 8:43 AM
I think we are actually in agreement – you have explained (fairly well, I might add) the “why”.
Oh, really? I guess all the instruction I gave (and received) on this very thing must have been illusory.
major john on July 15, 2007 at 9:57 AM
zane-
Already took note and corrected my Daddy Alithe Caliph / Son Ali Hussein the “martyr” unintended confusion. Just left his (Hussein’s) full name out when typing.
Thanks. See above.
profitsbeard on July 15, 2007 at 10:26 AM
major john-
But how are we using it to OUR ends? Which is the point our our warmaking.
If maintaining (or sowing) confusion between Islamic sects (in Iraq, etc.) were to our greater advantage (since we make war for our goals, not Iraq’s or anyone else’s, ultimately), would we instruct that to our soldiers?
The Shi’ites (especially since the Iranians are major player) may not be the better bet in this fight, with the Sunnis as the majority of Islam.
But what else can we do in Iraq, since the Shi’ites are the majority there?
How do you de-radicalize a sect built on a blood feud and yearly martyrdom glorification?
Without pressing for reform and de-emphasizing of the violent suras in the Koran, the ideological war is being left to drift in “religion of peace” delusions.
Mohammad was a warlord. Not a prince of peace.
Getting beyond that imperialistic and terroristic model for Muslims is the fundmamental challenge of this global war.
Muslims aren’t the problem, the Koran is.
Until we challenge them to humanize and metaphoricalize their faith’s bloody dogmas (making the “war texts” poetical allusions and historical curiosities and not eternal marching orders and calls to behead), it will continue to foment war. Being a code of warmaking at its core.
Do they teach (the current form and popular Muslim understanding of) the Koran as a playbook of endless conquest in our Military Colleges?
Here’s hoping.
I’m for acknowedging the ideological clash at its roots:
Expanding human liberty versus eternal slavish Submission.
As noted, I think the best thing we do for the Iraqis, etc., is show the value freedom in the form of our soldiers.
Their living example of what liberty creates.
Beyond the tribal and religious models.
profitsbeard on July 15, 2007 at 10:57 AM
If there are two (or more) sides why do we have to kill them ourselves? General Petraeus’ plan playing out today in Iraq has armed groups of Muslims killing other armed groups of Muslims. Sounds like a good plan to me.
Every time a Dem stands up on the floor of the Senate and asks if our troops should be in the middle of a civil war I yell at the TV – yes, yes please. While UBL is trying to unite the entire Muslim world to fight us we are driving wedges in the natural fault lines mentioned by profitsbeard to divide the (not so solid) wall of Islam.
This will be a long war. Who wins will be decided by who fights.
TunaTalon on July 15, 2007 at 11:00 AM
That summarizes the difference in requirements between Judaism/Christianity and Islam: free will versus submission
Our army (goal:free will) Sunni army (goal:submission) Shia (goal: submission). Two of three armies believe they must fight until the other side submits. In chess, the most important move would be to get these two armies to direct towards each other.
Unfortunately it could reach a steady state. We need a historian to give the results of the Iran-Iraq war. I think the birth rate made up for the kill rate. On the other hand it takes them off our backs.
The only thing interfering with the easy solution is the world oil supply. That is always where we return in this game
entagor on July 15, 2007 at 12:10 PM
The way to change the Middle East is exactly what the President is pushing for, spreading democracy. Right now there are to many Muslim countries run by religious leaders. You have to remove the Imams from government positions. Let the younger generation see what Democracy and freedom is and there will be a change. But what the President says this is the long war, because we are talking about a generational change. By pushing Al Queda and the insurgents out of Iraq it will give the people of Iraq a chance to work out their differences.
Sven on July 15, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Democracy doesn’t seem to have had much affect on those young Muslim doctors in the UK. If we can’t get them love it on our side of town how on Earth can we expect them to fight for it on theirs?
frreal on July 15, 2007 at 1:18 PM
Nuke it from orbit…its the only way to be sure…
Tim Burton on July 15, 2007 at 2:06 PM
I think you are on to something, Tim Burton. Nuking the whole Middle East from orbit would provide multiple benefits for the whole world. To list just a few:
1) Get rid of millions of militant, genocidal Muslims who want little more than to kill Westerners.
2) Scare the @#$%^ out of the rest of militant Islam that isn’t in the ME so they stop trying to kill us.
3) The resulting clouds of dust and nuclear ash in the high atmosphere would reverse global warming and send the climate into a period of rapid global cooling, prompting demands for more production and consumption in order to promote global warming. Public leaders call for all households to leave their lights and TVs on at all times to help fight global cooling. Cars getting above 25 mpg are outlawed. Special permits must be bought by those nature-haters who actually dare to ride motorcycles or mopeds.
4) The resulting oil shortage would send gasoline prices to $10 a gallon, prompting spontaneous rejoicing by Al Gore until some unlucky aide points out to him that the price is due to market economics and not government taxation.
5) The high price of oil will stimulate R&D into alternative fuels. Unfortunately, this R&D will be market-driven and not government-manated, and so will be utterly unacceptable to the watermelon enviromentalists of the Left.
6) The high price of oil will also spur new drilling in places we aren’t allowed to drill currently, as politicians suddenly discover just how unpopular environmentalism can actually be.
7) Skin cancer rates fall precipitously. Insurance companies rejoice; the sun-block lotion industry and American Dermatologists Association announce massive layoffs and pay reductions and begin intense lobbying for government bail-outs.
8) Anti-Semites the world over rejoice as Israel is caught in the devastation of the ME. Deutschland uber Alles is played on college campuses across Europe and the US in celebration. France celebrates by reenacting its 1940 surrender to Germany.
9) The next batch of Muslim fanatics out of the ME are super-powered mutant X-men. The Muslim Wolverine gets depressed because no matter how big a bomb he blows himself up with, he keeps healing back from the injuries. How is he ever going to get his 72 virgins if he can’t stay dead?
10) The Muslim Phoenix comes back from the dead with shocking news: Those 72 virgins Allah promises to all martyrs? They are all the same 72 virgins and everyone has to share. Of course, while they were virgins when the Koran was written, serving millenia of martyrs has taken something of a toll…..
Lancer on July 15, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Oh, forgot to mention, they are mutants because of all the radiation left over in ME.
Sorry, I didn’t expect it to be so long.
Lancer on July 15, 2007 at 10:22 PM