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Who Says Islam Is A Violent Religion?
I do for one.
Kelly Thomas
September 28, 2006
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(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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A few days ago, I went to an interesting gathering called, The Association of Retired or ex-Intelligence Officers (most military intelligent types, a few NSA). I had been invited by an older friend.
To be honest, I was dreading it, but actually enjoyed the program which included an FBI guy talking about counterterrorism. He was no Jack Bauer but he wasn't bad. He was a very personable guy; and, based on questions, what everybody kept tiptoeing around was the idea of putting all Muslims in the same bag; it is very hard not too since the Muslims are killing us.
My observation has been that even among moderate muslims, we're not hearing wholesale condemnation of terrorism on any front. One friend , a physician, condemns terrorism acts, but always follows with a vitriolic dose of America bashing.
Let's be clear about this: We are in a war. And, I personally believe it is a religious war. Why? Many reasons. But one of the latest truths became evident with the reaction by the Muslim community to the Pope's remarks. He is the Pope, but as a non-Catholic, I take his remarks as simply who he is. But, he is free to make them, regardless of what they are. He's not inciting riots or screaming fire in a crowded building. Here's a guy who is giving a speech in an academic environment and does a little Muslim bashing- role reversal so to speak. And, he is authorized to do so, no questions asked, no holds barred: if someone doesn't like it, f... 'em.
So, what does the Pope say, something from a 14th century emperor who said that Islam was violent. Duh!!!!!!!! And, now the Muslims are burning the Pope in effigy, chanting slogans, threatening, "we shall break the cross and spill the wine," said one statement, moving toward the same sort of intolerance and idiocy they did about the infamous cartoon in a Danish newspaper. This goes beyond being able to take a joke.
There's some irony in all of this. In Iraq, the terrorist are really ticked off. Oh great! Terrorists are mad and vow war on worshippers of the cross. Like this isn't already happening? Think 9-11, England, Spain, France. How about the recently killing of a nun in Somalia over the Pope's remarks. And, let's don't forget the 140,000 GIs in Iraq who are mostly Christians.
Pope Benedict may pander all he wants to the Muslims. Like an apology is going to do some good. A religion that says "death to infidels", meaning anyone who is not Muslim is definitely not riding the peace train. What do they want us to say? Nothing of course. And, other than political correctness, to hell with their intolerance. We have freedom of speech the last time I checked. And, the Muslims can just get over it or not.
I have to agree with Dave Ross, a radio commentator, "about the only people or thing that doesn't create a little controversy if we talk about them these days is bagged spinach." Power in the blood.
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The Generals and Rumsfeld
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Eaton
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Thomas X. Hammes
Kelly Thomas
September 27, 2006
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(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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At a Democratic hearing on Monday, General Eaton said Rumsfeld "continues to fight this war on the cheap" and said he was incompetent. General Batiste said Rumsfeld had "like-minded and compliant subordinates" around him. Colonel Hamm said transferring troops from one regional hot spot to another in Iraq was like playing a fair game "whac a mole."
Neither of the three generals said we should leave Iraq now because leaving could create civil war (worse than now), instability in the region, trouble in the oil markets, etc.(see Plan for Iraq below)
I take the side of the generals especially their comments on how the war has been mismanaged, even though there's comment all around on how their speaking out at a Democratic hearing smacks of politics. Well, it is politics. However, I have followed retired General Eaton and think that he retired out of frustration and was not playing politics.
I listened to much of the hearing. What struck me was that all potential three and four star generals have to be interviewed by Rumsfeld. Now, it doesn't take a Princeton scholar to know that only those parroting Rumsfeld's philosophy are going to be selected for promotion. According to Eaton, there's some bill that is suppose to preclude this: I don't know what it is, but I doubt that any congressional edict is going to deter Rumsfeld, nothing else has. The guy must have testicles of steel.
Let's face it, Rumsfeld is not going anywhere. The President is not going to get rid of Rumsfeld as it might interfere with the parallel universe where most of the current administration resides.
As an aside, anyone who listened to Condi Rice on 60 Minutes the other night has to realize, that, without a doubt, she and others of the same philosophy simply don't exist where we do. I actually like her and think she is gutsy, but the most sanguine human being on the planet cannot conclude we are winning in Iraq. It is about as preposterous as Rumsfeld resigning, being fired, or just hitting the road.
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A Possible Plan For Iraq
Kelly Thomas
September 26, 2006
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(AP Photo/Mahmoud Al-badri)
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Just yesterday, on NPR, I listened to a report about how leaks within the Iraqi government and the Iraqi military were interfering with joint US and Iraqi military raids on suspected insurgent hideouts. In other words, the bad guys were informed and took off before the raids happened.
What can be done? As I have said over and over, it's a mess.
Last week(see article below), I was discussing with a few of my buds Michael, Ray, Gary, and Jerry(“my girlfriends” as my wife calls them) about how we have no plan for Iraq.
My buds and I are a bunch of old guys who sit round four or five times a week at breakfast and shoot the breeze about many subjects: politics, world affairs, elections, and the fairer sex. Occasionally, we are reminded that we are not an encounter group, but a bunch of guys "BSing" about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
After we decided there was no plan for Iraq, the next day, we decided to come up with one to get out of "the mess". Let's forget issues of how we got there, the stupidity of it, and how we have stubbornly mismanaged the war on every turn. We are there, so we need to think about what we can do:
OK, here are my and some of the " girlfriends' " (Michael, Ray, Gary, Jerry) suggestions:
1) Divide the country into three regions--Shiite, Sunni, Kurd wth a loosely defined central government.
2) Make sure that the three ethnic groups equally share in the country's riches, i.e., oil. Each region will have its own standards of rules and police itself-Maybe this can be done within the existing constitution.
Three things need to be accomplished:
i. The goal is to stop the sectarian violence.
ii. Improve the standard of living of all the people.
iii. Be a stabilizing influence in the Middle East.
3) The American military forces will be beefed up to around 200,000 with the front line troops being mostly Special Forces and Special operations troops, dressed in non-military gear, attempting to keep the peace and assisting in controlling violence where it might exist. The supplemental troops are only there for backup in case the sectarian violence spills over.
4)This is a two year plan. At the end of two years, American forces will leave other than a small contingency of military for whatever assistance may be required.
Will this work? Who knows? Well, it is better than any plan I've seen thus far. Special thanks to Michael, Ray, Gary, and Jerry
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What's The Plan?
Kelly Thomas
September 22, 2006
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(AP Photo/Mahmoud Al-badri)
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A few days ago, I had breakfast with a couple of buddies. Both were well versed and well read in world events. And, on Iraq, it is always, "What can we do?"
I admire and respect these guys and led with the question; What's the plan? One of them gave me the same old tired stuff about Iraq: training the Army and police till they take over, establish democracy and so on. Not much comfort.
It is a "known secret" that most of the police are Shiites and are mostly tied to the militias. In a sense, it's almost simple: Under Saddam the Sunnis were in power; Saddam reeked havoc and death against the Shiites and the Kurds. Now, the Shiites are in power. It is payback time. Two thousand years of violence and we're caught in the middle of it.
Everyday, scores of killings occur in Baghdad. American forces are "whacking a mole" (rushing to wherever trouble is to stem it, which they haven't and can't). Soldiers are to a person, simply doing their job- what they're told and trying to stay alive. And, this is our plan?
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| Airborne Press Weekend Webzine Musings
These are just a few inspirational thoughts (we hope) put together for those of us who couldn't get to the mosque, synagogue, or church of our choice this weekend. If you don't gain any inspiration, maybe you'll enjoy reading something a little different.
Airborne Press Webzine Musings
The link above requires adobe acrobat reader. If you don't already have it, you can download at Adobe.com. If you have adobe reader, click first on the link above. It should open; but, if not, then open adobe reader and then click on the link above.
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American Casualty Report in Iraq
Thanks to Keyvan Minoukadeh
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