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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: GScholz on April 04, 2016, 01:32:31 AM

Title: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 04, 2016, 01:32:31 AM
"I cant command, I am surrounded, they are outside, I don’t want them to take me and parade me, conduct the airstrike, they will make a mockery of me and this uniform. I want to die with dignity and take all these bastards with me. Please my last wish, conduct the airstrike, they will kill me either way."

https://www.funker530.com/danger-close-russian-calls-airstrike-on-himself-to-kill-isis/

https://www.funker530.com/airstrike-transcript-russian-operatives-last-words/

 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: bortas1 on April 04, 2016, 12:31:39 PM
 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Maverick on April 05, 2016, 11:06:38 AM
 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: DubiousKB on April 05, 2016, 01:07:23 PM
 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Masherbrum on April 05, 2016, 02:24:00 PM
 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Serenity on April 05, 2016, 09:16:38 PM
 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: bozon on April 06, 2016, 12:41:00 AM
I never trust such press releases.To me it sound much more likely that he was bombed by accident by his own forces. Maybe in one of those carpet bombing sorties. The government had the option to tell that he was killed in a friendly fire incident, or that he was carpet bombed like a random lowly civilian, or to give him a postmortem medal and score some public support with a classic story of bravery, biblical Samson style.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Masherbrum on April 06, 2016, 12:52:56 PM
There is always one......
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 06, 2016, 01:21:29 PM
I never trust such press releases.To me it sound much more likely that he was bombed by accident by his own forces. Maybe in one of those carpet bombing sorties. The government had the option to tell that he was killed in a friendly fire incident, or that he was carpet bombed like a random lowly civilian, or to give him a postmortem medal and score some public support with a classic story of bravery, biblical Samson style.

+1. Sounds just as likely.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Ripsnort on April 06, 2016, 01:23:19 PM
Let's hear the recorded audio.
(Can someone translate Rooskie?)

Trust, but CONFIRM.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 07, 2016, 03:15:29 AM
The folk in his hometown believes it: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160331/1037293430/russian-hero-palmyra-memory.html

Radio interview with some more insight into the story: http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-04-05/facts-behind-russian-rambo-story
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: jeep00 on April 08, 2016, 07:50:45 AM
I never trust such press releases.To me it sound much more likely that he was bombed by accident by his own forces. Maybe in one of those carpet bombing sorties. The government had the option to tell that he was killed in a friendly fire incident, or that he was carpet bombed like a random lowly civilian, or to give him a postmortem medal and score some public support with a classic story of bravery, biblical Samson style.

Was your response this succinct when the US Army first announced the courageous death f Pat Tillman? No matter. These men, and all like them, died in a foreign land fighting for their own countries ideals. The y are all heroes none may ever match, not just the ones in US colors, nor the ones with great stories.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 08, 2016, 07:58:31 AM
Considering the fact that the Russians apparently not respects civilian lives and deliberately target civilian targets and residential areas (even with cluster bombs) I'm not going to use the word "hero".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyVH6gdLJ8g
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: DubiousKB on April 08, 2016, 10:07:47 AM
Considering the fact that the Russians apparently not respects civilian lives and deliberately target civilian targets and residential areas (even with cluster bombs) I'm not going to use the word "hero".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyVH6gdLJ8g

Right, because a drone has never killed an innocent... Better get off that high horse, looks like he's tired....
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Masherbrum on April 08, 2016, 10:23:59 AM
Right, because a drone has never killed an innocent... Better get off that high horse, looks like he's tired....

He is a tool.  Tis best to allow the tool to rust in silence, than to acknowledge its presence.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 08, 2016, 10:25:42 AM
japanese killed 100's of thousands.  and yet plenty of heroic pilot threads are posted here.


semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 08, 2016, 12:07:42 PM
Right, because a drone has never killed an innocent... Better get off that high horse, looks like he's tired....

I have not defended drones or anything else, U.S (and pretty much all other armed forces at war) have their fair share of innocent blood on their hand. But that was not the point.

I just think the word Hero is misplaced here. (And way overused.)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 08, 2016, 12:12:14 PM
japanese killed 100's of thousands.  and yet plenty of heroic pilot threads are posted here.


semp

I know how it works.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 08, 2016, 12:21:11 PM
He sure is a hero to his folks back home, and that's all it takes for him to be a hero. That's the definition of a hero: That someone thinks you are one.
Doesn't matter if you think otherwise, or the rest of the world for that matter. And if you can't say something nice...
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 08, 2016, 12:29:56 PM
He sure is a hero to his folks back home, and that's all it takes for him to be a hero. That's the definition of a hero: That someone thinks you are one.
Doesn't matter if you think otherwise, or the rest of the world for that matter. And if you can't say something nice...

...Then I say whatever I want to say anyway.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 08, 2016, 02:24:06 PM
Yes you've made that abundantly clear. And as Goethe put it, a man’s manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: ghi on April 08, 2016, 06:47:13 PM
biblical
Biblical... .. anything is possible in Palmyra;  cursed satanic place for gruesome first born babies sacrifice, haunted by dark forces,  home of the  Temple of Baal,  disciple of Satan cast on earth, Nephilin inbreed with humans; read the strong  warnings in  Torah, books of Kings and Jeremiah.
I would tell you more, but i'm playing Russian roulette with rule#14;  search Google news  Temple of Baal, and youTube  watch what's going on;
They are rebuilding  the Temple of Baal in Trafalgar Square / London and Time Square / New York , to be unveiled on April 19th ( first of 13 days blood sacrifice to the beast); watch the news over next 2 weeks;.... Amen :noid
(http://d38zt8ehae1tnt.cloudfront.net/images/news/700_44194644ad60613d8a323ab4ae2e2db9.jpg)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Karnak on April 08, 2016, 10:55:29 PM
Biblical... .. anything is possible in Palmyra;  cursed satanic place for gruesome first born babies sacrifice, haunted by dark forces,  home of the  Temple of Baal,  disciple of Satan cast on earth, Nephilin inbreed with humans; read the strong  warnings in  Torah, books of Kings and Jeremiah.
I would tell you more, but i'm playing Russian roulette with rule#14;  search Google news  Temple of Baal, and youTube  watch what's going on;
They are rebuilding  the Temple of Baal in Trafalgar Square / London and Time Square / New York , to be unveiled on April 19th ( first of 13 days blood sacrifice to the beast); watch the news over next 2 weeks;.... Amen :noid
(http://d38zt8ehae1tnt.cloudfront.net/images/news/700_44194644ad60613d8a323ab4ae2e2db9.jpg)
And if you believe any of that crap I have a bridge to sell you in New York.  I'll do 60% off even.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: bozon on April 09, 2016, 02:19:54 PM
Was your response this succinct when the US Army first announced the courageous death f Pat Tillman? No matter. These men, and all like them, died in a foreign land fighting for their own countries ideals. The y are all heroes none may ever match, not just the ones in US colors, nor the ones with great stories.
I do not know who Pat Tillman is. I am sure that the Russian soldier was brave and died serving his country. Regardless and without diminishing the soldier's sacrifice, the whole story sounds like a cockup was turned around into a propaganda event. Lets say that the military had the option to knock on the soldier's parents door and tell them they bombed the F ouf of their son by mistake and assure them that they will thoroughly investigate the incident , OR tell them he died in an epic display of heroism and as a model son of the nation. Which will they choose?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: caldera on April 09, 2016, 02:28:36 PM
I do not know who Pat Tillman is. I am sure that the Russian soldier was brave and died serving his country. Regardless and without diminishing the soldier's sacrifice, the whole story sounds like a cockup was turned around into a propaganda event. Lets say that the military had the option to knock on the soldier's parents door and tell them they bombed the F ouf of their son by mistake and assure them that they will thoroughly investigate the incident , OR tell them he died in an epic display of heroism and as a model son of the nation. Which will they choose?

Either way, their son is dead.  No reason to believe it didn't happen as reported.  If it was altered to cover up friendly fire, at least his family's suffering won't be compounded by that knowledge.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Masherbrum on April 09, 2016, 03:01:24 PM
Either way, their son is dead.  No reason to believe it didn't happen as reported.  If it was altered to cover up friendly fire, at least his family's suffering won't be compounded by that knowledge.

I applaud your efforts, but one cannot have a rational conversation with irrational people.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: pipz on April 09, 2016, 05:31:39 PM
Either way, their son is dead.  No reason to believe it didn't happen as reported.  If it was altered to cover up friendly fire, at least his family's suffering won't be compounded by that knowledge.

So now everything that is reported should be taken at face value?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 09, 2016, 05:59:33 PM
Isis were not being stopped until the Russians got involved :old:

Isis is now retreating  :old:

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 09, 2016, 06:02:47 PM
Isis were not being stopped until the Russians got involved :old:

Isis is now retreating  :old:
:aok
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: caldera on April 09, 2016, 10:48:43 PM
So now everything that is reported should be taken at face value?

You're so right.  Every single story I've ever read was taken at face value.

Exactly what information do you have which leads you to believe the story was fabricated?   


I applaud your efforts, but one cannot have a rational conversation with irrational people.

Didn't take long to prove your point.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: pipz on April 10, 2016, 02:21:25 AM
You're so right.  Every single story I've ever read was taken at face value.

Exactly what information do you have which leads you to believe the story was fabricated?   


Didn't take long to prove your point.

LOL!!!! No your rite. Its on the internet. Its about a "hero". There is absolutely no track record of false stories for anyone to question anything............
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 10, 2016, 03:08:01 PM
LOL!!!! No your rite. Its on the internet. Its about a "hero". There is absolutely no track record of false stories for anyone to question anything............

pipz relax.  every story we hear about a hero is just on the internet.  but the truth is if somebody think he's a hero then he's a hero.  some persons in here think their folks are heroes.  while I can question their standards of what a hero is it doesnt matter to them.

I think my father is a hero, he served in vietnam.  my mother disagrees with me so does my brothers and sisters.  I have seen him maybe 10 times in my life for no more than a day or 2.  but I know he carries a pain.  I understand that because I carry the same.  I know nothing about him other than he served there.  so your definition maybe different than mine but it wont stop me from thinking he's a hero.

semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FBKampfer on April 10, 2016, 03:34:17 PM
Everyone is a hero to somebody. That doesn't excuse the excessive hero worship we give to soldiers.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: pipz on April 10, 2016, 04:57:18 PM
Semp you completely missed my point. What I was getting at is that it is "ok" to question a story.

Cya up!

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 10, 2016, 05:02:05 PM
pipz you can question any story.  but it wont change the facts.


semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: pipz on April 10, 2016, 07:02:36 PM
pipz you can question any story.  but it wont change the facts.

I believe the point of questioning things is to find out the facts. Correct?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 10, 2016, 07:17:10 PM
I believe the point of questioning things is to find out the facts. Correct?

It sounds way cooler to question instead of seek facts.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: pipz on April 10, 2016, 07:18:58 PM
It sounds way cooler to question instead of seek facts.

Its not the same thing?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 10, 2016, 08:05:27 PM
Its not the same thing?

Some people question to seek facts.  Others question because it makes them feel like they are wiser then they are. 
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 11, 2016, 06:30:02 AM
.. anything is possible in Palmyra;

Hey, don't go all Linda Blair on us now...

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 11, 2016, 11:21:57 PM
Everyone is a hero to somebody. That doesn't excuse the excessive hero worship we give to soldiers.

Interesting assessment.  Acknowledging their deeds doesn't constitute worship.

"Heroic courage isn't blind. It is intelligent and strong" - Yu - the 4th Virtue of Bushido

A person can do much worse than to look up to a person who exhibits evidence of selflessness, intelligence, and strength.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FLOOB on April 12, 2016, 01:44:17 AM
japanese killed 100's of thousands.  and yet plenty of heroic pilot threads are posted here.


semp
100's of thousand? More like several million bruv. Even more than the Nazis.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FBKampfer on April 13, 2016, 09:31:07 PM
Interesting assessment.  Acknowledging their deeds doesn't constitute worship.

"Heroic courage isn't blind. It is intelligent and strong" - Yu - the 4th Virtue of Bushido

A person can do much worse than to look up to a person who exhibits evidence of selflessness, intelligence, and strength.

I'm all for acknowledging their service, more to the point, rewarding it. Veteran care is one of the most odious things about the US.

However we also seem to have a romanticized/glorified view of war, and forget that in addition to the harm, both psychological and physical, it does to our own soldiers, but that their job is to kill other people.


Consider that Russian fellow who is alleged to have called an air strike on himself. The overwhelming response I've seen has been in the vein of  "oh that's bad ass." "That dude is so American, even if he's Russian", *waves rock-hard freedom boner around*.

He's no less dead for his heroism, his wife is no less heartbroken. His daughter still will grow up without a daddy because we haven't been able to move past killing each other as an acceptable solution to disagreements.

Or Chris Kyle. Yes the man was an accomplished sniper. He 100% killed kids. Was it justifiable? Absolutely. But a kid died because of the circumstances he grew up in, and Kyle happened to get him in the scope. Which is a horrible tragedy.

Point being we, as a culture, take far too little time to really try and understand what exactly war is.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 13, 2016, 09:55:54 PM
War is a necessity. As long as the human race cultivates multiple and conflicting cultures we will have war. Every major war ever fought has been a clash of cultures. At some point in the future, if we survive that long as a species, we will become a world spanning mono-culture where large scale conflicts are no longer necessary. Crackpots and terrorists will always exist, but not on the scale we see now.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FBKampfer on April 14, 2016, 01:07:16 AM
War is a necessity. As long as the human race cultivates multiple and conflicting cultures we will have war. Every major war ever fought has been a clash of cultures. At some point in the future, if we survive that long as a species, we will become a world spanning mono-culture where large scale conflicts are no longer necessary. Crackpots and terrorists will always exist, but not on the scale we see now.

Necessary or not, and I don't necessarily agree, it's still tragic. We should treat it and view it as such.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 14, 2016, 07:44:27 AM
Necessary or not, and I don't necessarily agree, it's still tragic. We should treat it and view it as such.

I'm not sure how the two are mutually exclusive.  For that matter, most mature individuals respect the sacrifices of those who volunteer to do so in order that others do not have to endure those hardships.  Perhaps there are some who misunderstand that respect for hero worship and thus we have threads like this one. 
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Ripsnort on April 14, 2016, 09:31:10 AM
I'm not sure how the two are mutually exclusive.  For that matter, most mature individuals respect the sacrifices of those who volunteer to do so in order that others do not have to endure those hardships.  Perhaps there are some who misunderstand that respect for hero worship and thus we have threads like this one.

This!
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 09:41:49 AM
Necessary or not, and I don't necessarily agree, it's still tragic. We should treat it and view it as such.

Last year an estimated 55,000 people died because of the war in Syria. The bloodiest war in a long time. So far today 113,000 people have died from all causes. So far this year 17,000,000 people have died from all causes. Every single of those deaths is a tragedy to someone. You need some perspective.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 09:48:38 AM
I'm not sure how the two are mutually exclusive. For that matter, most mature individuals respect the sacrifices of those who volunteer to do so in order that others do not have to endure those hardships.  Perhaps there are some who misunderstand that respect for hero worship and thus we have threads like this one. 

But then you have to completely ignore the suffering of other people caused by these soldiers , in this case is Russia helping Assad bombing the crap out of his people because they were rude enough to demand democracy. But I guess the suffering of the Syrian people is irrelevant..

Last year an estimated 55,000 people died because of the war in Syria. The bloodiest war in a long time. So far today 113,000 people have died from all causes. So far this year 17,000,000 people have died from all causes. Every single of those deaths is a tragedy to someone. You need some perspective.

Estimated deaths in the Syrian war is now close to 500.000 with around 90% killed by the regime...
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FBKampfer on April 14, 2016, 10:04:34 AM
Last year an estimated 55,000 people died because of the war in Syria. The bloodiest war in a long time. So far today 113,000 people have died from all causes. So far this year 17,000,000 people have died from all causes. Every single of those deaths is a tragedy to someone. You need some perspective.

I'm well aware of this. Believe me.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 10:07:06 AM
Estimated deaths in the Syrian war is now close to 500.000 with around 90% killed by the regime...

250,000 (August 2015 UN estimate), 273,520–368,520 (February 2016 SOHR estimate), in five years since 2011. In the same time period a quarter of a billion (with a B) people died from all causes. All current wars combined attribute to less than one single percent of all deaths world wide. In this regard road traffic deaths is a greater problem for mankind than war.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 10:13:47 AM
Yes, the world have become much safer, its no help for those affected by war though..

(In fact, even the number of deaths from terror have declined significantly in Europe since the 70s..)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 10:19:10 AM
Cars have become much safer as well. No help for those affected by traffic deaths though...
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 10:28:17 AM
Not so relevant to compare wars and car accidents as there are few states or organizations that kills people on the roads to achieve a political goal...
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 14, 2016, 10:47:45 AM
But then you have to completely ignore the suffering of other people caused by these soldiers , in this case is Russia helping Assad bombing the crap out of his people because they were rude enough to demand democracy.

1) Who are "these soldiers"? 

2) There is a ongoing power struggle between many factions in Syria.  Only a small sub set of them are "rude enough to demand democracy"


But I guess the suffering of the Syrian people is irrelevant..

Seriously?  What kind of childish remark is this? 
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 11:03:58 AM
Not so relevant to compare wars and car accidents as there are few states or organizations that kills people on the roads to achieve a political goal...

Would you want a loved one to die in war, or a traffic accident? It is an impossible question because you don't want loved ones to die period.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 11:06:53 AM
That said, if given the choice I'd choose war over cancer every time.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 12:20:55 PM
That said, if given the choice I'd choose war over cancer every time.

Then i would say that you have no idea of what you are talking about.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 12:28:12 PM
1) Who are "these soldiers"? 

2) There is a ongoing power struggle between many factions in Syria.  Only a small sub set of them are "rude enough to demand democracy"


Seriously?  What kind of childish remark is this?

The power struggle is a result of the war, which is a result of the public protests and the extremely violent answer to them by the regime.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 12:38:19 PM
Then i would say that you have no idea of what you are talking about.

I have a very good idea of what I'm talking about. In both cases.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 12:42:40 PM
I have a very good idea of what I'm talking about. In both cases.

I have still not met a single person with experience of war that would make that choice.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: PJ_Godzilla on April 14, 2016, 12:43:26 PM
I believe the point of questioning things is to find out the facts. Correct?

Not always. Often the point of questioning something is to try to elevate yourself by painting another as gullible.

However, accepting the argument, IF the questioning leads to meaningful development of evidence, as opposed to idly sniping at somebody from a smug and comfortable position of not offering any alternative narrative, then I'd agree.

Yet, somehow, here, I see nothing from the naysayers offering any evidence of much of anything - just repeated rejections from ignorance, no research required. What am I to make of that?

I should add - IN.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 01:12:41 PM
I have still not met a single person with experience of war that would make that choice.

Well you have now... Or technically we haven't actually met so maybe not. I've watched people die in war. People I cared about. And I've watched people die of cancer. People I cared about. I wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 14, 2016, 02:44:03 PM
Well you have now... Or technically we haven't actually met so maybe not. I've watched people die in war. People I cared about. And I've watched people die of cancer. People I cared about. I wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy.

It does not matter what you say, he is just going to come back with a snarky response or sidestep.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 03:38:55 PM
Well you have now... Or technically we haven't actually met so maybe not. I've watched people die in war. People I cared about. And I've watched people die of cancer. People I cared about. I wouldn't wish cancer on my worst enemy.

It is your opinion and i have respect it, i dont agree though. But I will leave it there, I dont see that anything constructive will come out of this debate. Ive taken it a bit too far already.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 05:10:20 PM
Zimme, if I may ask. Do you have personal experience with war and cancer?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 14, 2016, 05:16:21 PM
scholz i have.  but there's a difference of opinion.  he respects yours.  respect his.


semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 05:22:57 PM
I'm trying to ascertain if he has an informed opinion.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 05:29:51 PM
I'm trying to ascertain if he has an informed opinion.

I'm not going turn this into a contest about having the worst personal experiences. But it's clear that you and I do not have the same definition of the term 'war'.. (No, a tour in A-stan is not the same as having barrel bombs dropped over your neighborhood.)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 05:56:43 PM
Does being shelled every other day count?

In any case I'd rather watch a loved one get blasted by a barrel bomb than watch the person being tortured by her own body for six months while begging me to kill her. Years later and I still feel guilt and regret for not doing it. At least the suffering of my friends in Bosnia only lasted minutes.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 14, 2016, 06:00:00 PM
Does being shelled every other day count?

In any case I'd rather watch a loved one get blasted by a barrel bomb than watch the person being tortured by her own body for six months while begging me to kill her. Years later and I still feel guilt and regret for not doing it. At least the suffering of my friends in Bosnia only lasted minutes.

As I said, that's your opinion and I respect it even if I disagree.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 06:01:22 PM
Very well.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 14, 2016, 09:58:47 PM
I'm all for acknowledging their service, more to the point, rewarding it. Veteran care is one of the most odious things about the US.

However we also seem to have a romanticized/glorified view of war, and forget that in addition to the harm, both psychological and physical, it does to our own soldiers, but that their job is to kill other people.


Consider that Russian fellow who is alleged to have called an air strike on himself. The overwhelming response I've seen has been in the vein of  "oh that's bad ass." "That dude is so American, even if he's Russian", *waves rock-hard freedom boner around*.

He's no less dead for his heroism, his wife is no less heartbroken. His daughter still will grow up without a daddy because we haven't been able to move past killing each other as an acceptable solution to disagreements.

Or Chris Kyle. Yes the man was an accomplished sniper. He 100% killed kids. Was it justifiable? Absolutely. But a kid died because of the circumstances he grew up in, and Kyle happened to get him in the scope. Which is a horrible tragedy.

Point being we, as a culture, take far too little time to really try and understand what exactly war is.

Your last sentence is a tell.  War is one of the most studied, explored, dissected, investigated, and written-about topics in the history of literature.  SOME people romanticize war...some.  Not all.  You generalized ALL in your statement and that is simply incorrect.  There are millions of Chris Kyles with equally brutal realities.  You need look no further than Carlos Hathcock and the bicycle full of AK's.  Yes, another dead boy.  He also HUNTED "Apache"...the code name for the most brutal sniper/interrogator the VC had...and it was a woman.  You seem to be floating in a sea of poop and looking out of the boat and proclaiming your hatred for that one poop.  That one poop makes you mad.

All of these things are the nature of mankind.  Its unfortunate.  Its reckless.  Its unapologetic.  Its criminal.  Its sad.  Its not ever going to stop.  I don't say this because I like war, I say it because percentages are on my side that wars, struggles and conflicts will continue as long as the human element is top of the food chain.  And, because it has never ceased in the history of mankind. 

You're cherrypicking current events to support a position that is penalizing the players by hating the game.  Given your logic on soldier recognition, cops should be marginalized because crime sucks?  Firemen shouldn't be recognized because fires destroy lives and property?  This list is endless...those fellas are heros dude.  If for no other reason than they understood and volunteered to be called upon to catch bullets with their bodies in defense of their friends, allies and bystanders. 

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 14, 2016, 10:31:27 PM
That was brilliant Changeup.  :cry
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FLOOB on April 15, 2016, 04:14:38 AM
I agree with Bozon. It's either a true perfect story or a perfect story.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 15, 2016, 05:02:24 AM
Spitfires won the war!
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FLOOB on April 15, 2016, 05:23:05 AM
Zach is rustled!  :eek:
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 15, 2016, 06:17:55 AM
What's that mean?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 15, 2016, 08:46:54 AM
What's that mean?

As much as "Spitfires won the war!"
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: pipz on April 15, 2016, 08:51:49 AM
Hater'z goin to hate Zack!  :)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FBKampfer on April 15, 2016, 10:42:27 AM
Your last sentence is a tell.  War is one of the most studied, explored, dissected, investigated, and written-about topics in the history of literature.  SOME people romanticize war...some.  Not all.  You generalized ALL in your statement and that is simply incorrect.  There are millions of Chris Kyles with equally brutal realities.  You need look no further than Carlos Hathcock and the bicycle full of AK's.  Yes, another dead boy.  He also HUNTED "Apache"...the code name for the most brutal sniper/interrogator the VC had...and it was a woman.  You seem to be floating in a sea of poop and looking out of the boat and proclaiming your hatred for that one poop.  That one poop makes you mad.

All of these things are the nature of mankind.  Its unfortunate.  Its reckless.  Its unapologetic.  Its criminal.  Its sad.  Its not ever going to stop.  I don't say this because I like war, I say it because percentages are on my side that wars, struggles and conflicts will continue as long as the human element is top of the food chain.  And, because it has never ceased in the history of mankind. 

You're cherrypicking current events to support a position that is penalizing the players by hating the game.  Given your logic on soldier recognition, cops should be marginalized because crime sucks?  Firemen shouldn't be recognized because fires destroy lives and property?  This list is endless...those fellas are heros dude.  If for no other reason than they understood and volunteered to be called upon to catch bullets with their bodies in defense of their friends, allies and bystanders.


Fine, you have a point. We understand it. Most just don't make any outward attempt at empathizing unless it's brother who had a kid blown to hell.


I have nothing against soldiers they are a regrettable necessity. However, at least in the United States, the less educated (read: majority) seems to feel that criticism is mutually exclusive with recognition and care of veterans.


I guess my real problem is its typically the same love muffines who profess to "support our troops" that also get all giddy at Cruz's "glowing sand" comment, and general war mongering without even a semblance of a coherent strategy.


In any case, war may be part of human nature, but that doesn't mean we should accept it and move on.


You're getting a bit loose with the analogies there. Firefighters jobs isn't to burn down other people's houses. Police don't combat crime being criminals (for the most part). If you go the doctor route, doctors don't fight cancer by giving you more cancer in the hopes that it'll drive off the first cancer.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FLOOB on April 15, 2016, 12:27:36 PM
What's that mean?
Means your jimmies are rustled.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 15, 2016, 03:25:39 PM
My word!

Your a bounder and a cad!
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: NatCigg on April 15, 2016, 06:17:53 PM
british words of the day "bounder" and "cad".

"prior to evacuating the scene he bounder wrists behind her back and left his signature cad in the twine."
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Masherbrum on April 15, 2016, 07:37:31 PM
Your last sentence is a tell.  War is one of the most studied, explored, dissected, investigated, and written-about topics in the history of literature.  SOME people romanticize war...some.  Not all.  You generalized ALL in your statement and that is simply incorrect.  There are millions of Chris Kyles with equally brutal realities.  You need look no further than Carlos Hathcock and the bicycle full of AK's.  Yes, another dead boy.  He also HUNTED "Apache"...the code name for the most brutal sniper/interrogator the VC had...and it was a woman.  You seem to be floating in a sea of poop and looking out of the boat and proclaiming your hatred for that one poop.  That one poop makes you mad.

All of these things are the nature of mankind.  Its unfortunate.  Its reckless.  Its unapologetic.  Its criminal.  Its sad.  Its not ever going to stop.  I don't say this because I like war, I say it because percentages are on my side that wars, struggles and conflicts will continue as long as the human element is top of the food chain.  And, because it has never ceased in the history of mankind. 

You're cherrypicking current events to support a position that is penalizing the players by hating the game.  Given your logic on soldier recognition, cops should be marginalized because crime sucks?  Firemen shouldn't be recognized because fires destroy lives and property?  This list is endless...those fellas are heros dude.  If for no other reason than they understood and volunteered to be called upon to catch bullets with their bodies in defense of their friends, allies and bystanders.

Phenomenal post Change.    :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 16, 2016, 08:30:35 AM

You're getting a bit loose with the analogies there. Firefighters jobs isn't to burn down other people's houses. Police don't combat crime being criminals (for the most part). If you go the doctor route, doctors don't fight cancer by giving you more cancer in the hopes that it'll drive off the first cancer.

My post was directed to you, not "we".  "We" did t make the statement you did.

I will only address what I've quoted because in your backpeddling, you've decided to move the goal posts after the ball has been kicked.  I'm all for a good, heady argument.  If you're gonna say it, at least believe in it enough to own it.  Don't change it because someone makes an argument against your position.

My analogies are head shots.  Soldiers are only necessary in the event of war because Posse Comitatis rules out their use in other circumstances except humanitarian effort.  If there was no crime would we need police?  If there was no fire, would we need fireman? 

No, we wouldn't.  You hate the game which is understandable.   So do I.  So do I.  Don't punish the player.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 09:17:43 AM
Police use violence to apprehend or stop criminals, even non-violent criminals. Firefighters will light counter-fires if necessary (often in forest fires) and use other destructive measures to combat the flames. Doctors will poison their patients to kill cancer cells in the hope of the patient being stronger than the decease. They will use radiation. They will even use violence by cutting into the patient to remove the cancer. In the Middle-East a small violent segment of the population must be subdued if the whole region is to be saved, and our warfighters will use whatever means necessary to accomplish this. Though using radiation is perhaps going a bit too far, at this point.

Peace, freedom and prosperity is a bloody business.


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26232318/AH/peacebuiltonbloodsacrificetroops.jpg)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 16, 2016, 02:24:04 PM
But war is rarely about a heroic defense of the country and its people, most war is about defending political and economic interests. Like Vietnam, it was about political influence and so is the true for most wars.
Unconventional wars are a bit different but problem there has often been that the soldiers are unable to distinguish the bad guys from the rest of the people and that military force alone cannot solve the problems and might even makes it worse. Killing people will not solve the issues in ME, some killing is necessary but it will not create anything sustainable.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 02:44:07 PM
Most wars are about preventing even worse wars in the future. The Vietnam war, like the Korean war, was about stopping communist expansionism. Stopping it before it became a "heroic defense of the country and its people". Same with the international war on Daesh now. A war that is being fought on several continents.


(http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/78/590x/secondary/ISIS-terror-map-425447.jpg)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 02:49:38 PM
Many people don't realize that this war is almost a world war by now. The French in particular carry a heavy burden fighting against Daesh in Africa.

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 16, 2016, 02:55:21 PM
If not for the Invasion of Iraq there had been no ISIS, we are simply facing the consequences of our bad decisions.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 03:07:19 PM
That's just politically correct bullcrap spread by leftist apologists. ISIS/Daesh was established in 1999 in Jordan under the name of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, and has grown ever since. Daesh isn't one single organization, but an alliance of jihadist groups. In Mali for example the French are fighting Al-Mourabitoun, Ansar al-Sharia, Ansar Dine, AQIM, Boko Haram, Macina Liberation Front, and MOJWA.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 16, 2016, 03:10:58 PM
That's just politically correct bullcrap spread by leftist apologists. ISIS/Daesh was established in 1999 in Jordan under the name of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, and has grown ever since. Daesh isn't one single organization, but an alliance of jihadist groups. In Mali for example the French are fighting Al-Mourabitoun, Ansar al-Sharia, Ansar Dine, AQIM, Boko Haram, Macina Liberation Front, and MOJWA.

Even the U.S Military have admitted it, google "camp Bucca" for a start.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 03:23:07 PM
Saying that the invasion of Iraq created ISIS is just ignorant. Many inmates from Camp Bucca may have joined ISIS later on, but that is an entirely different matter. ISIS was founded in 1999 by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi under the name of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. Literally "The Organisation of Monotheism and Jihad".
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 16, 2016, 03:34:34 PM
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa433/arloguh03/Danger_Political_Thread_zpsf1x99dmp.png)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 16, 2016, 04:04:12 PM
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa433/arloguh03/Danger_Political_Thread_zpsf1x99dmp.png)

Political thread or current events?  As long as people keep reasonable discourse, I hope it does not get locked.  We could use a few more good debate threads to drive traffic here.  There was a time where this forum was very active with a number of great discussions daily.  Along came a few heroes who kept pushing the limits and everything got shut down.  The greatest loser of that process was the community which has been but a small remnant of its former vibrant self.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 04:05:43 PM
Terrorist thread!  :furious
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 16, 2016, 04:15:58 PM
Saying that the invasion of Iraq created ISIS is just ignorant. Many inmates from Camp Bucca may have joined ISIS later on, but that is an entirely different matter. ISIS was founded in 1999 by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi under the name of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. Literally "The Organisation of Monotheism and Jihad".

ISIS was the result of a fusion of the Iraqi Al Quaida and the remains of the Baath party, the command structure of the Ex-Saddam regime allowed The extremism to become efficient on a previously unseen scale. Nothing of this would have happen Iraq hadnt been invaded. Saddam would not have allowed a group like AQ to gain any sort of power. The invasion created an environment that made it possible for a group like ISIS to be created and gain power, like it or not. It was not the intention but it was the unexpected side effect.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 16, 2016, 04:22:02 PM
That's just politically correct bullcrap spread by leftist apologists. ISIS/Daesh was established in 1999 in Jordan under the name of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, and has grown ever since. Daesh isn't one single organization, but an alliance of jihadist groups. In Mali for example the French are fighting Al-Mourabitoun, Ansar al-Sharia, Ansar Dine, AQIM, Boko Haram, Macina Liberation Front, and MOJWA.

This is pretty much correct.  The formation of the Islamic state itself though is only the result of a series of events.  To say it was the result of the 2003 invasion is a substantial reach, to the point of being irrational.  The political situation turned to poo afterwards due to the power vacuum caused by the invasion which led to the Sunni rebellion which became co opted by the Jihadis whom they originally welcomed as co conspirators.  After a couple years the Jihadis became far more of a threat to the Bathist/ Sunnis than the other option of a greater Iraqi reconciliation.  This lead to the Awakening which was essentially a US backed rebellion by the Bathists against their former allies, the Jihadis.  With the Awakening, the Jihadis were either killed or driven from Iraq and it looked like there was finally hope for a viable peace.  Unfortunately, The US change of leadership in 2009 lead to the complete withdrawal from involvement in Iraq and minimal involvement is supporting the Arab Spring which lead to the Islamist chaos we now see in the region.  By withdrawing from Iraq, the Shiites, backed by the Iranians pushed the Sunnis/ Bathist from the US brokered deals of shared power and they had but one real path to follow, right back into the arms of the same Islamists they had evicted from their lands years before.  Right now, the leadership of the Islamic State is comprised primarily of that Bathist/Islamist coalition.

So, saying it was caused by the 2003 invasion is at best marginally accurate.  When you walk away from power, other powers step into the void and bad things can happen.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 05:30:09 PM
Zimme... By your logic it is Reagan and Gorbachev's fault for saving the world rather than blowing it up. One unintended consequence is that ISIS could be founded in 1999.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 16, 2016, 05:34:23 PM
didnt the cia funded a few of the terrorists organizations at the begining?


semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 16, 2016, 05:52:39 PM
didnt the cia funded a few of the terrorists organizations at the begining?


semp

Conspiracy theory or legit question?  A reasonable person would assume that whatever groups the CIA supported, they did so because they believed they were in alignment with US goals.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 16, 2016, 06:12:01 PM
just like the cia supported every single dictator in central and south america?


semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 16, 2016, 07:26:13 PM
Only the anti-communist ones.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: BuckShot on April 17, 2016, 12:19:53 AM
Only the good bad guys, or is it bad good guys?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 17, 2016, 02:24:16 AM
If you don't have a job all the above is hot air :old:

Points of view are over rated for the masses

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 17, 2016, 06:26:48 AM
If you don't have a job all the above is hot air :old:

Points of view are over rated for the masses

So are pointless posts.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 17, 2016, 06:29:24 AM
Only the good bad guys, or is it bad good guys?

Herein lies the problem.  The world is all sorts of shades of grey.  If you can't back rainbows and unicorns then you are stuck with supporting the lesser evil to help keep the greater evil in check.  Realism sucks but it's still there.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 17, 2016, 11:33:53 AM
Gibberish

Evil?

What are you gibbering on about?

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: LCADolby on April 17, 2016, 03:58:44 PM
If only the British Empire lasted for 1000 years, this could have been our finest hour, removing another evil from the world.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 17, 2016, 04:05:10 PM
What are you gibbering on about?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 17, 2016, 04:14:00 PM
ISIS was the result of a fusion of the Iraqi Al Quaida and the remains of the Baath party, the command structure of the Ex-Saddam regime allowed The extremism to become efficient on a previously unseen scale. Nothing of this would have happen Iraq hadnt been invaded. Saddam would not have allowed a group like AQ to gain any sort of power. The invasion created an environment that made it possible for a group like ISIS to be created and gain power, like it or not. It was not the intention but it was the unexpected side effect.

The vacuum created by the Coalition forces leaving too soon created the environment for ISIS to thrive, not the war itself.  They are mutually exclusive events sir.

The Ex-Saddam regime had absolutely NOTHING to do with ISIS.  Syria did.  The unpatrolled lands to the west of the Kurds along with the Syrian civil war ENABLED ISIS's growth and polarization in the area, not the Saddam leftovers.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 17, 2016, 05:02:31 PM
Except that you are wrong. Do some research on the subject.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 17, 2016, 06:22:48 PM
Except that you are wrong. Do some research on the subject.

It's fine to disagree but your argument is less compelling when it lacks any points.  In what ways is he wrong? 
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 17, 2016, 08:31:26 PM
https://www.quora.com/How-did-ISIS-form-When-and-where-did-ISIS-begin. (https://www.quora.com/How-did-ISIS-form-When-and-where-did-ISIS-begin.)

(http://www.espreso.rs/images_arhive/original/1457512800_radioactivity.gif) (http://il2.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/7657270/thumb/1.jpg)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 18, 2016, 08:02:00 AM
When writing web links is one of the few cases when you should not use punctuation.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 18, 2016, 12:28:37 PM
Except that you are wrong. Do some research on the subject.

My research was summarized in my post.  Let me know if you need anything else
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 19, 2016, 07:20:36 AM
My research was summarized in my post.  Let me know if you need anything else

Well.. Research usually means that there are some kind of sources that the conclusions are based on. There are a lot of evidence that support my claim (for ex the link I posted earlier) but you maybe think that the scores of Ex-saddam folks among the higher ranks of ISIS is a pure coincident?


http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/mideast-crisis-iraq-islamicstate/
http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-saddams-former-army-is-secret-of-baghdadis-success-2015-6?r=US&IR=T
https://theintercept.com/2015/06/03/isis-forces-exbaathist-saddam-loyalists/
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 19, 2016, 08:04:59 AM
Well.. Research usually means that there are some kind of sources that the conclusions are based on. There are a lot of evidence that support my claim (for ex the link I posted earlier) but you maybe think that the scores of Ex-saddam folks among the higher ranks of ISIS is a pure coincident?


http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/mideast-crisis-iraq-islamicstate/
http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-saddams-former-army-is-secret-of-baghdadis-success-2015-6?r=US&IR=T
https://theintercept.com/2015/06/03/isis-forces-exbaathist-saddam-loyalists/

Your original claim was that ISIS was a result of the war.  All your "research" proves is that leftover Saddams needed a job in I-Hate-America and found it.  There is no correlation that research that proves your claim nor does it disprove early withdrawal was the reason for the ISIS bloom.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 19, 2016, 08:15:21 AM
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/camp-bucca-the-us-prison-that-became-the-birthplace-of-isis-9838905.html

But yes - the withdrawal of U.S forces is also a factor among others. But I have never tried to claim otherwise either, I just said that the fusion of radical groups like iraqi Al-quaida and the leftover from the Saddam regime created a far more destructive group since it added a military command structure to the jihadists. Without this they would not have been so efficient as they have.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: GScholz on April 19, 2016, 08:56:12 AM
No. This is what you claimed:

If not for the Invasion of Iraq there had been no ISIS, we are simply facing the consequences of our bad decisions.

And now you're backpedaling. The fact that ISIS existed (under different names) before the war is in itself enough to disprove your entire argument.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 19, 2016, 09:03:18 AM
I believe he's talking about the large present influence of Daesh, which did not exist prior to the war. And putting the blame on the withdrawal is pretty much saying that the better option was a permanent bloody occupation of Iraq, which most rational minds know was unsustainable. I can't believe I got dragged into another political argument. Oy.   :(
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 19, 2016, 09:24:50 AM
They have used a lot of names and the embyro was created already back in the 80:s but it would only be confusing to trying to use all the names, its easier to say ISIS or Iraqi AQ. No one would have a clue if I called them Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad for example.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 19, 2016, 09:56:34 AM
putting the blame on the withdrawal is pretty much saying that the better option was a permanent bloody occupation of Iraq, which most rational minds know was unsustainable.

By the end of 2009 there was very limited US involvement in Iraq and there was no "permanent bloody occupation".  The US transition from the Awakening to Iraqi sovereignty was well in motion with the US functioning as an advisory and stabilizing influence that gave hope to Sunni and Shiite reconciliation and sharing of power.  The complete withdrawal of forces and diplomatic involvement empowered the militant Shiites emboldened by Iran that led to the melt down that followed.  It was the change in policy towards disengagement in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East in the Arab Spring that followed that empowered the Jihadis which led to the Islamic Caliphate know as ISIS.   


In short, Zimme's assertion of the US invasion itself leading directly to ISIS is contradicted by what most every credible source describes.  It was one step among many in an evolving chain of events but to then draw a causal relationship in spite of that evidence seems implausible. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forces_%E2%80%93_Iraq (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forces_%E2%80%93_Iraq)

"During 2008 and 2009, all non-U.S. foreign forces withdrew from Iraq. Withdrawal of all non-U.S. forces was complete by 31 July 2009. As of 1 January 2009, the Iraqi government became fully responsible, through its security ministries, for maintaining and providing security and rule of law for its populace. Furthermore, as of 28 June 2009, no foreign forces were stationed within any of Iraq's major cities. The United States decided after negotiations to cease combat operations, that is, patrolling, serving arrest warrants, route clearance, etc., within Iraq by 1 September 2010, and transition to a pure advise, train and assist role. The changing mission entailed major troop reductions; from 115,000 on 15 December 2009, to 50,000 by 1 September 2010, and to zero by 31 December 2011."
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 19, 2016, 10:11:28 AM
If not for the invasion Saddam and Baath party would most likely still have been in power and their commanders would not have join ISIS... The Invasion started the chain of events that eventually have led to the present situation. Does that mean that everything is US fault? No - There are still a lot of other factors in this.

My point was still only to use it as an example of how wars can have unintended consequences but obviously people were too butthurt by it...
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 19, 2016, 10:26:53 AM
If not for the invasion Saddam and Baath party would most likely still have been in power and their commanders would not have join ISIS... The Invasion started the chain of events that eventually have led to the present situation. Does that mean that everything is US fault? No - There are still a lot of other factors in this.

My point was still only to use it as an example of how wars can have unintended consequences but obviously people were too butthurt by it...

Sure, there is a very remote relationship if you ignore the observable fact that the Bathist/Sunni uprising in Iraq of 2004-2009 was quelled by the Awakening and was a non factor until the reconciliation process championed by the US was abandoned by a change in US policy.  If there was a continued uprising without the multi year reversal you could make a more rational correlation but that is not there.

No one is butthurt by your statements.  They are simply shallow and myopic and others are pointing out facts that illustrate that. 



P.S. Thank you Skuzzy for not nuking the thread.  I appreciate a good debate and reasoned discourse.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 19, 2016, 10:50:57 AM
But there would still have been no uprising in 2004 without the invasion.

The invasion created a security vacuum in Iraq that were used by Al-Zarqawi to start a wave of terror in order to divide Shias and Sunnis. This was largely suppressed by 'the surge' were most of the leadership were killed or captured, However the captured AQ leadership were allowed to merge inside the prison camps and was then put back on the streets. So even though you are right that the  change of US policy was an important factor it still not the point. Point is that the Invasion led to a number of problem that were both unforeseen and unintended by the US.

There are several examples of how a regime like Saddam's can suppress internal conflicts and were it boils over once the regime falls. It did happen in Yugoslavia and it was what happened in Iraq. The invasion opened the Pandora's box. The Surge almost closed the box again but then came the withdrawal..
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 19, 2016, 11:02:12 AM
But there would still have been no uprising in 2004 without the invasion.

The invasion created a security vacuum in Iraq that were used by Al-Zarqawi to start a wave of terror in order to divide Shias and Sunnis. This was largely suppressed by 'the surge' were most of the leadership were killed or captured, However the captured AQ leadership were allowed to merge inside the prison camps and was then put back on the streets. So even though you are right that the  change of US policy was an important factor it still not the point. Point is that the Invasion led to a number of problem that were both unforeseen and unintended by the US.

There are several examples of how a regime like Saddam's can suppress internal conflicts and were it boils over once the regime falls. It did happen in Yugoslavia and it was what happened in Iraq. The invasion opened the Pandora's box. The Surge almost closed the box again but then came the withdrawal..

the withdrawal ..  which along with further US disengagement from the turmoil in the middle east led to the rise of the Islamic State. 

I understand and agree with unintended consequences but you have to agree it's a lot more reasonable to say that the original 2003 invasion was far less the cause of the rise of the Islamic State / ISIS than US disengagement once the pandoras box of the Arab Spring was cracked open.  It was just one step along the way and could have led in an entirely different direction if other decisions had been made in 2009 onward.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 19, 2016, 11:11:00 AM
Again: I only said that the invasion was the event that started the chain of event, if the right decisions had been made afterwards, and especially after 2009 the situation would most likely have been fundamentally different.

But it seems like we do agree on the vital parts so I think this is the time to end the debate.  :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 19, 2016, 01:04:19 PM
How come no one is rule # ?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 19, 2016, 01:24:40 PM
Again: I only said that the invasion was the event that started the chain of event, if the right decisions had been made afterwards, and especially after 2009 the situation would most likely have been fundamentally different.

But it seems like we do agree on the vital parts so I think this is the time to end the debate.  :salute

Glad you came around!   :grin:

 :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 19, 2016, 02:12:40 PM
I believe he's talking about the large present influence of Daesh, which did not exist prior to the war. And putting the blame on the withdrawal is pretty much saying that the better option was a permanent bloody occupation of Iraq, which most rational minds know was unsustainable. I can't believe I got dragged into another political argument. Oy.   :(

No need to speculate.  There is no reason to believe that a continued US presence amounting to an occupation or "transitional assistance group" in Iraq would have resulted in anything different than a US occupation of Japan or Germany for 40+years.

1.  Ground commanders predicted the early withdrawal would cause a vacuum
2.  Regional Commanders agreed
3.  Pressure from coalition partners leaving at a rapid rate forced the weakly played US hand

To say the withdrawal played no part of to minimize that event flies in the face of US political leaders opinions, ground commanders documented disagreement, regional commanders documented disapproval and theater commanders documented tactical assessments predicting the instability it would create.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 19, 2016, 02:43:35 PM
No need to speculate.  There is no reason to believe that a continued US presence amounting to an occupation or "transitional assistance group" in Iraq would have resulted in anything different than a US occupation of Japan or Germany for 40+years.

There's every reason to believe such. Germany and Japan didn't have radical insurgents like Iraq. The correlation you're better off using is Vietnam. Many predicted the problems the world is now experiencing due to such an invasion prior to its undertaking. Now, I'm leaving Palmyra before the bombs drop. ;)
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 19, 2016, 02:58:18 PM
There's every reason to believe such. Germany and Japan didn't have radical insurgents like Iraq. The correlation you're better off using is Vietnam. Many predicted the problems the world is now experiencing due to such an invasion prior to its undertaking. Now, I'm leaving Palmyra before the bombs drop. ;)

You're oversimplifying.  There were plenty of America-hating Germans and Japanese, lmao.   Both countries had all their personal weapons policed up (including katanas and knives in Japan.  Please see the story of the Honjo Masamune).  There was no thorough occupation of Iraq on that level and therefore you have weapons in the hands of insurgents.

We lost Vietnam.  You can't occupy a country that you lost.  That pretty much proves you're just arguing to argue.  The US had been in draw down mode for years so there was no vacuum.  We handed the South to N Vietnam.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 19, 2016, 03:07:48 PM


http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/iraq/etc/synopsis.html

Oy. Now, gotta go.  :salute
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Changeup on April 19, 2016, 03:34:14 PM
https://www.quora.com/How-did-ISIS-form-When-and-where-did-ISIS-begin

You're about 20 years too late.  There hasn't been any refuting "no proper occupation + a shock and awe exit = vacuum that facilitated the ISIS growth.   No one has disproved this...even after all the noise and exits and re-entries.  Haha.  I'm going to adopt the "throw poop at the wall and see what sticks" argumentum philadeum troll tooooooooooo.  Hahaha
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: PJ_Godzilla on April 22, 2016, 11:06:43 AM
Sure, there is a very remote relationship if you ignore the observable fact that the Bathist/Sunni uprising in Iraq of 2004-2009 was quelled by the Awakening and was a non factor until the reconciliation process championed by the US was abandoned by a change in US policy.  If there was a continued uprising without the multi year reversal you could make a more rational correlation but that is not there.

No one is butthurt by your statements.  They are simply shallow and myopic and others are pointing out facts that illustrate that. 



P.S. Thank you Skuzzy for not nuking the thread.  I appreciate a good debate and reasoned discourse.

I want'ed to add a little understood corollary on "the awakening", because I think many find it baffling that you could have, in the space of but a few years, both the Sunni Awakening and the rapid genesis of ISIS.

Before I write and link that, though, I want to express admiration for your, Change's, and Scholz's handling of this topic - all of which was competent. I also want to point out a valid truth to which Zimme alluded and that weas given short shrift: leaving Saddam in power may have had a set of attendant problems, but ISIS as we now know it was not one of them. Recall, one of the old adages of US foreign policy - and one we seem to have forgotten - is that foreign SOB's can be useful, even if they're not necessarily YOUR SOB.

As for the Awakening, though, it looks to me as though it had more to do with a cry, from the Sunni, for mercy from the Shia death squads. It wasn't so much directly a consequence of the US surge as the fact that the surge put the US in a position to stop what was really putting the hurt on the Sunni. Once that US presence was gone, well - it was time for paybacks.

I was a little stunned by this article on the matter: http://atimes.com/2015/12/romancing-the-sunni-a-us-policy-tragedy-in-three-acts-act-ii/ (http://atimes.com/2015/12/romancing-the-sunni-a-us-policy-tragedy-in-three-acts-act-ii/)

Afterthought: Standing there at the urinal, I always do my best thinking, probably because of the increased oxygen supply available to my brain.

The real problem, imj, of the Iraq war in particular, but actually of US military ventures in the ME generally, is a failure to comprehend Machiavelli - and I'll paraphrase:

You embrace a Prince or kill him. Men will take revenge for slight injuries but are incapable of taking revenge for great ones.

In our context, "state-building" or humanitarian efforts are a misuse, imj, of the military because they are the equivalent of slight injuries. The proper way, per Machiavelli, to run a war would be to clearly identify the enemy, get unalloyed support across the represented base of our government (our mechanism for ensuring that, while some may undoubtedly profit from war, the war must be justifiable in the eyes of the represented base - a test, if you like, not available to non-rep forms of government and a refutation of at least one of Zimme's allusions to opportunistic drivers of wars), and then prosecute the war against that singular enemy until it is incapble of retaliation.

In the case of the awakening, "we" (State, mainly, if not DoD) misread the willingness of the Sunni to come to the table as "friendliness". See W.T. Sherman on how "convertible" are people's core convictions. They aren't - and the fools negotiating with the Sunni militas should've been snapping pics and getting addresses so that the CIA could send assassins post-agreement. That's just US dilettantism and naivete. A true weasel como yo would've cut the deal even as he singled those dudes out for annihilation, shaking their hands only to guess their weight (to size the height of the hangin' drop, decelxmass equaling force, a certain amount of which is needed to break a neck, see?).
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 22, 2016, 04:47:13 PM
How come this political thread is not closed?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 22, 2016, 06:44:36 PM
How come this political thread is not closed?

Because it's a reasoned discussion about global events.  How about you start up a thread more your style instead of being a backseat moderator?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 23, 2016, 01:37:01 AM
 :aok
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: FLOOB on April 23, 2016, 02:58:28 AM
How come this reasoned discussion about global events is not closed?
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: guncrasher on April 23, 2016, 03:06:53 AM
thread was about a hero not about why he was there.



semp
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 23, 2016, 05:40:35 AM
How come this reasoned discussion about global events is not closed?

Perhaps there has been a turn at HTC and we will see more reasoned discussions that breath life into this community.  It would be great to have that back. 
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 23, 2016, 07:33:07 AM
Perhaps there has been a turn at HTC and we will see more reasoned discussions that breath life into this community.  It would be great to have that back.

You have an exaggerated sense of 'life' and 'death' on a bull board.  :blank:
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 23, 2016, 07:38:42 AM
You have an exaggerated sense of 'life' and 'death' on a bull board.  :blank:

Are you telling me this place is any where near as vibrant as it was in the past?  It sees less than 10% of the traffic it used to when there were lots of good debates and informative posts on a daily basis.  Constantly locking threads is nearly as deadly as a few toxic posters.  The medicine caused as much damage to the patient as the disease.  I hope they let a bit more life come back as it will help grow the community and thus the game.

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 23, 2016, 07:39:36 AM
Calm down, Francis.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 23, 2016, 08:36:49 AM
Calm down, Francis.

Glad to see we agree! 
 :aok
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 23, 2016, 10:07:23 AM
 :rofl
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 23, 2016, 10:25:43 AM
:rofl

See Zach, even if a thread is a bit outside your safe zone, it's alright.

Mustangs won the war.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 23, 2016, 11:26:59 AM
I have more money than you :old:
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 23, 2016, 11:32:53 AM
I have more money than you :old:

Monopoly money does not count :neener:
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: zack1234 on April 23, 2016, 12:45:35 PM
 :)

Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: PJ_Godzilla on April 24, 2016, 11:17:29 AM
I'd guess Zack's money, monopoly or otherwise, is at least older than yours.

I also think we should morph this thread into an argument about why the bbs has atrophied. MAybe that will succeed in getting it locked.

For the record and to start or continue that "reasoned discussion", I'd agree that the cure was worse than the disease, some rough-and-tumble being worthwhile.

If I were Skuzzy, what I'd impose is a rule much like one a judge here in the US imposed on the difference between art and porno. Regarding the latter, he said, "I'll know it when i see it". Skuzzy can autocratically tell the diff b/w reasoned discussion and habanero urethra traffic (flame p***ing).
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Arlo on April 24, 2016, 11:25:44 AM
habanero urethra traffic

Sounds like a rather painful hobby.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: rabbidrabbit on April 24, 2016, 07:37:47 PM
Sounds like a rather painful hobby.

No wonder it makes people pissy!

BTW, nice link PJ.  Read all three articles.
Title: Re: Battle of Palmyra. Last words...
Post by: Zimme83 on April 28, 2016, 11:06:35 AM
Russian media now reports that his body has been recovered by YPG forces in Palmyra. https://www.rt.com/news/341202-russian-rambo-palmyra-body/

I however doubt that, mostly since YPG have never been anywhere near Palmyra..