Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
Try telling the average Iraqi citizen that removing Saddam had little or no benefit. If Bush holds true to his word (no reason to think he won't), the U.S. will be out of there as soon as it is stable and they can elect their own government. That will do more than anything to convince the Arab world that we don't WANT to conquer them or colonize them.
If Bush holds true to his word? There has been alot of ifs and buts recently in the media about the USs position with regards to the future of Iraq. Who will rule it, coaltions or muslims? Muslims? Will it be shia or sunni? Shia is the majority, so what faction of the Shia do you choose? Is it the faction of the guy who was just murdered by other Shias days after returning to Iraq from London? Or what about the warlords in the township next to him?
Or else maybe the threat that if you install the only regime possible which is Iraqi and fair (Shia) is also the religion of its neighbour, Iran? These people dont give a f*ck about borders, religion is their only vice and if 2 countries bordering each other have the same religious tendencies, there will be a common bond.
Remember, Iran is also part of the 'Axis of evil'. So what then?
I really fear this is questions which, i will give Bush/Blair the benefit of the doubt they have considered, but I doubt very much they have found a solution. Cos there is none.
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
You should really study Israel a LOT more closely. It isn't ignorance that drives the "Palestinians". It's fear. Arafat is Saddam on a smaller scale, and backed by more small parties (read: Hamas, Hezbolla, Islamic Jihad, PLO, PLA, and others). The average "Palestinian" doesn't have much choice, Arafat and the rest keep them in their current condition for the express purpose of creating the "cause" against Israel. And Arafat is a freakin EGYPTIAN for crying out loud and NOT a "Palestinian". They manufacture those homicide bombers. They ARE educated, just not with the truth. If you think the Israel-"Palestine" problem can be solved without crushing Arafat and the rest I listed on an order of magnitude about ten times that of what was done to Saddam, you are in for a rude surprise.
What makes you believe that the Palestinians are simply sheep that will follow Arafat and dont actually believe it is their will and right to have their own homeland? Daily, the Israelis claim more and more of Palestinian land for their own 'settlements' and the people of Palestine are subjected to daily attacks on their life.
Im not condoning the actions of terrorists, but you simply dismiss them offhand as if they have no cause and are just simply stupid and brainwashed. What proof do you have of that exactly?
How does the US intend to solve the problem of Palestine? Or what now of Syria? I could be misinformed, but I heard today from a guy in Finland (neutral?) that GWB was on the news saying that Israel has WMDs and has been helping Iraq. Does he mean they are next? Are you going alone? What is the purpose now? Where does it end?
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
You've got a lot to learn if you think the UN can re educate those people peacefully and we'll all sing Kumbaya and live happily ever after. Fanatical terrorism responds to one thing and one thing only. Overwhelming force. The people responsible for the terrorism are not "average Palestinians", they are fanatical terrorists who hate western democracy and everything it espouses.
Did the IRA respond only to overwhelming force? They are the most recent terrorist organisation that has been subdued and so are a worthy example. Living in Scotland, I am only too aware of the problems that are caused by the conflict in NI. The religious hatred has scarred my country and even more, my home city Glasgow.
For nigh on a century the IRA fought the UK Govt. Well, they fought the Govt for the largest part. Then recently (in last 20-30 years) they became desperate and started attacking civilian targets.
So how did we get through this terrorism on our doorstep? We spoke to them, we looked at the problems they had in general and had with us specifically. And through dialogue we, to a great extent, solved them.
Trust me when i say the situations are the same. The
only difference is the magnitude. And the solution is, imo, definitely the same.
Some will not listen to reason no matter the circumstances, hence why the current war was necessary imo. The next logical step however is a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian problem, not to mention prolonged and sustained aid. Im starting to have doubts, given the noises coming out of Washington, that this is everyone's priority.
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
You couldn't be more wrong. Study history. They (the "Palestinians") were abandoned by their Arab brethren after they tried to destroy Israel, which is a sovereign nation recognized by every major nation in the world EXCEPT the Arab nations that tried to destroy it. The "Palestinians" were refused entry or were driven out of Jordan and other countries by their own Arab brethren (see Black September), because the Arabs did not WANT them. King Hussien of Jordan FORCED them out of Jordan. If you believe that homicide bombers are just everyday people who are opressed and despondent you couldn't be more wrong. They are EDUCATED to believe that all that is not Islam is their enemy, and that they will be rewarded with paradise for killing themselves. That is as far from average and ordinary as you can get. If it were average and ordinary there would be tens of thousands of them and there are not.
Be truthful. Israel was a country created by us (the West) after the end of WWII when the Jews needed a homeland. We had the Middle East by the balls and told them, effectively, we were taking the land we now call Israel. They got a few concessions (keep schtum and we wont stop the aid) and the Israelis had their land. But they werent happy with this. In the name of 'protecting' themselves, they have dug deeper and deeper in to Palestinian terrority and violated the basic human rights of the people living there.
They have also broken numerous UN resolutions with regards to the welfare of the Palestinian people, not to mention many indiscriminate rocket attacks on suspected terrorists in urban streets, with absolute and complete disregard for the innocent civilians.
Do you really believe the Palestinians feel free and able to speak as they please, walk where they please, get the education they deserve, get the jobs that gives them a chance of a decent way of life?
They have none of those rights, the Israelis with our help removed every one of them years ago. Sad when you think about it, aint it?
Glas
