July 19, 2005
As to what Mr Tancredo said...
I don't think it's a very useful or smart idea. (To bomb Mecca if the US gets hit with a big terrorist attack.)
On the other hand, it is very good for certain people to be aware that America is much more dangerous than our normal behavior might lead them to believe. For their own good.
America is not a fake democracy, like European countries, where you get them same ruling-class crowd no matter which party you vote for. It's often pointed out that this or that congressman is a drooling idiot, and perhaps some of them are...but what this also means is that our congress-critters don't all come from a few Ivy league Universities. Skull 'n Bones doesn't get you far in American politics.
Which means that, here, voters get a real choice. The Emir of Q'uu-Bai and the Pasha of P'zumba should be be aware. We are perfectly capable, if we get angry enough, of electing Mr Tancredo President, and telling him to collect some scalps.
I think a better threat would be that the next 9-11 will result in two more "Iraqs." And if the attack is bad enough, the first country to be democratized and Globalized will be Arabia. That's something that will scare people like Osama bin Laden. We should let certain people know, in a polite diplomatic way, that they are in real danger of having Barbie Dolls for sale at the Medina WalMart
Posted by John Weidner at July 19, 2005 08:01 AM | TrackBackStupid lack of sleep-- last post was from me
Posted by: Andrew Cory at July 19, 2005 10:53 AMOne of the biggest issues that the terrorists have with us is the sinking fear that their little girls would rather buy a Barbie in Bahrain than a ceremonial goat-sacrificing stone in Mecca. Me? I don’t have a problem with that. Hell! In principle, I’d be willing to die (or at least give my left hand) for that little girl to play with that Barbie...
All things considered, the US government would have a hard time keeping Hasbro from selling that Barbie. This is because Hasbro is an international entity with only the vaguest ties to America. And Hasbro is probably more easily controlled by Washington than Al-Quiada is by Riyadh...
All of which is to say that holding governments responsible for terrorist actions is not going to be a very effective tactic in most circumstances*. Holding random governments hostage against the good behavior of small groups of individuals is probably self-defeating...
*The Taliban being a notable exception-- and they weren’t really a government...
Andrew,
In the case of Saudi Arabia, it might prove to be a very effective tactic, if for no other reason that a democratized and "globalized" Arabia (note that I don't write "Saudi Arabia") would give so many Islamofascists fits of apoplexy and quite likely kill a few. :)
Posted by: Hale Adams at July 19, 2005 05:05 PMWho are you more likely to offend:
1. Someone who wants to understand what you have done to offend them and desperately wishes not to over react.
or
2. Someone who is capable of committing massive violence toall and sundry because of percxeived slights and insults.
Tancredo's statements will hopefully put the fear of God into those that offer succor and sanctuary to these scum.
Posted by: TJ Jackson at July 20, 2005 07:40 PM"fear of God" is what already drives them to blow themselves up...do you seriously think they give a hoot what a wingnut GOPer from CO says???
If anything, its just another rabble-rousing piece of advertising for al-Jazeera and the other mideast TV stations (by the way...why is it when a Democrat says something that might get an Arab riled up, it shows he's an America-hater, but when a GOPer does the same thing, its "putting the fear of God" into someone who clearly isn't afraid to meet God?).
By the way - catch the latest in the Bush democracy spreading exercise? Iraq is rewriting their Constitution and are placing laws pertaining to women's issues, marriage, family law and inheritance under Sharia (?sp?), the Islamic law still based on 9th century tradition. If it stands, men can divorce by saying 3 times "I divorce thee" in the woman's presence. Women can't divorce. Women (of any age) can only marry with family permission. Inheritance will be from male to male, never female. Soon we'll be seeing burkqas in Iraq, at this rate! Incredible this is happening under U.S. control, given Iraq established the most secular law (re: women) in 1959 in the Arab world, and it stood even through Saddam. Thanks to Bush, its on its way out!
Oh, and I was reading Iraq's PM was in Iran a few days ago...establishing "a new era in relations between Iraq and Iran", as Iran's PM put it. And then he went and placed a wreath in "homage" to Ayatollah Khomeini! Gee, soon they'll be calling us "the Great Satan" in Iraq, too!
