Iraqies Revolt Against Al Qaeda - Ask for Help!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Army5339 @ Jun 1 2007, 08:42 PM) [snapback]453660[/snapback]</div>

Here's a few for starters:

Branch?
Unit?
MOS?
Grade?
TIG?
TIS?
IZ duty station?
Time frame?
Repeat IZ tours?
Other HFZ tours?
ETS?

 

Well said efusco. This black and white mentality is simply ridiculous - no other way of putting it really.

Going off on a tangent - I'm actually a fan of Gates' approach/thinking...

Gates considers roots of terrorism
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070602/ap_on_...a_st_pe/us_asia

(Not that I ever supported the silly war, and so-called trailers containing labs of WMD's)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 10:13 AM) [snapback]453863[/snapback]</div>

Answer me ONE question BigMahma- why the f--k aren't YOU over there fighting?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 10:13 AM) [snapback]453863[/snapback]</div>

Your analysis is then faulty, simplistic or incomplete, or you are choosing what consequences best fit what you believe.

I think your stadium analogy gives a clue to where you may be straying - they aren't two stadiums, there is only one. It's our planet. Terrorism is not an enemy, it is a form of violence used by those who consider another their enemy.

I believe our actions in Iraq have increased the likelihood of terrorism against the US, not decreased it. To believe and blindly follow an administration that has clearly lied, spun and subverted our own laws to achieve their objectives is foolish.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rudiger @ Jun 2 2007, 11:28 AM) [snapback]453905[/snapback]</div>

Navy
EOD, tasked to Fifth Fleet
5339
E4
22 months
4 1/2 years
2003
Nope, ETS'd out to ROTC
end of 2003, as I was released a little early to start school on time

Was that really what you wanted to ask, or have you just not used the acronyms in a while? Are you sure you didn't want a SSN and a credit card too?

How about you?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 07:13 AM) [snapback]453863[/snapback]</div>

The most miserable, destitute wretch on the surface of the earth is infinitely more valuable than any human being so morally corrupt as to believe that equation. Believe that and you revoke your claim to being a worthy human being, and put yourself at the same level as the primeval filth.

Mark Baird
Alameda CA

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Jun 2 2007, 02:34 PM) [snapback]453978[/snapback]</div>

How would you end Islamic terrorism? Convert? Because, really, that is the only way to appease radical Islam.

Anything else is just stalling for time. Radical Islamists want to kill all moderate Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists, agnostics, pacifists, warmongers, communists, socialists, capitalists, artists, women, children, elderly, Asians, Americans, Latinos.....everyone that does not follow their specific brand of Islam. They have stated this, and have acted upon it. They do not care about national sovereignty. They do not care what you want, or have voted for, or against. They do not want shared wealth. They do not want to impose Marxism on the masses. They don't want to embrace Capitalism. They do not want to end fossil fuel use, and make the planet cleaner for their children. They want to kill your children to make the future spiritually cleaner for theirs.

Whether or not you want war...they do. In their eyes, you have two choices, which is good, because it makes it simple. Convert or die. They never mentioned "quit". They never mentioned, "leave". They believe radical Islam is to spread to all four corners of the Earth through violence. Accept radical Islam, and live under its rule, or die. Many thousands of moderate Muslims are dying because they do not want to live under radical Islam. Muslim girls are pulled out of their houses and stoned to death, for not following radical Islam. Civilians are being ritualistically beheaded because they do not follow radical Islam. Almost 200 Russian children, along with another 100 or so adults, were executed by radical Islamists because they did not wish to live under radical Islam.

Of the two choices, convert or die, I choose neither. I opted out of the two choices they gave me. I choose to fight genocidal repression. I give them two choices: quit your genocidal holy war of conversion, or die. Like other authoritarian regimes, they will be defeated, either from within through reformation, or from the outside, through complete and utter defeat and destruction, like Imperial Japan and Germany.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 2 2007, 03:17 PM) [snapback]453998[/snapback]</div>

Fighting them is not necessarily confined to violence though. The US being in the Middle East does worry many of the countries who help supply funds to radical Islamists. The mere fact that children can now get a modern education sans Hamas-mouse really scares a lot of people. That we are teaching Arab children that Americans and Jews do not kill Muslim children to drink their blood or use it for cooking scares many of those who hold power. I firmly believe the only way for radical Islam to be beaten down to a point of being inconsequential is for the Arab world to modernize and reform, and to end religious tyranny in their regions. Some countries are doing this already, ending the strict enforcement of religious law, and allowing democracy to creep in through parliamentary elections. The floodgates are beginning to open.

What we can not tolerate is radical Islamists gaining the capability to wage nuclear war. The stakes are too high, because they do not care about life, least of all their own. At least the Soviets understood mutually assured destruction, and valued the lives of their own people to a certain extent. If San Francisco, Dallas, or NYC were vaporized, what would the proper response be? They would not use it to gain independence. They would use it in the same manner as they would a jetliner or a car bomb.

I am in favor of killing the Islamists when they fight. Otherwise, we should be helping to rebuild their infrastructure, and train up their military, police, and politicians to work for the betterment of their country instead of practicing nepotism. We happen to be doing just that, just as we did in Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. We took two of the most cruel, military based countries of the 20th century, who collectively killed tens of millions of civilians in horrific fashion, and made them shining beacons of success and peace.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 04:34 PM) [snapback]454021[/snapback]</div>

Just being curious, but what exactly do you do to stand up for everyone else?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 04:34 PM) [snapback]454021[/snapback]</div>

So- I repeat myself- WHY THE F--K AREN'T YOU OVER THERE FIGHTING???


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 04:34 PM) [snapback]454021[/snapback]</div>

Bullshit. You're not standing up for anyone. You're just a chickenhawk.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 2 2007, 04:44 PM) [snapback]454024[/snapback]</div>

I don't believe all cultures are equal. Any culture that has no fundamental problem with dragging a young girl out of her house and brutally executing her via blunt trauma to her body, all over an antiquated religious infraction, does not get my respect, or treatment as equals. At a certain point, Nazi Germany blew all its chances at equal standing in the world. Mainly when they started tossing people into gas chambers and furnaces by the millions. Some things are not going to be tolerated or seen as equal. There is certainly no discussion within radical Islam that Western thought and culture is OK and should be seen as equal and tolerated. I don't even treat Americans who are racists as equals, so the radical Islamists who believe that I, along with anybody else who won't convert, should die will really not get the same consideration.

In other words, if they want to sit at the adult table for dinner and discussion, they need to act like adults. I wouldn't have somebody who beats their wife to death into my home, merely because that is how things are done in their home country.

We aren't talking about minor nuances of how to treat other human beings or practice your religion. We are talking about barbarism on an almost medieval level.

As far as other countries, like the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc., who says we aren't getting them to help influence the tougher nations to deal with? They are taking huge risks, because any interaction with Western nations is basically a death sentence according to the Islamists. They chose the 21st century over 13th century medieval culture. They are moderate nations. As long as they keep on with their progress, they will be fine. They are so tiny though, as to preclude them from achieving any sort of hegemony. Some of them have almost no military. Look at Kuwait when Iraq decided to take it over. Done, without even hesitation. Turkey is it's own issue, and I would not use them as an example of how to go from Muslim theocracy to secular nation. They used brutal methods, including genocide, to form their current state. The Kurds, Greeks, Armenians, along with many other countries and people, despise Turkey for their past actions.

As for radical Islam's organization, all they need are the will of the people, which most credible stats put at around 10% of the global Muslim world, which numbers over a billion. That is around 100 million people who subscribe to radical Islam's policies towards western thought. Pakistan could easily slip into an Islamist state, if the dictatorship there ever fell apart,; and it could. The only thing necessary to get a nuclear weapon is money, and our regional influence is helping to dry that up. We have effectively ruined radical Islam from getting meaningful sponsorship from any nation with the means to afford that kind of transaction, because we are already in the region to react.

I believe we should be doing different things from time to time, but the answer is not to hope that this blows over on its own. They are definitely in it for the long haul, and are playing for keeps. They are most certainly not fighting us because we are fighting them. They are fighting us because they believe it is their religious duty.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 04:59 PM) [snapback]454030[/snapback]</div>

Bullshit. Most Marines, along with Soldiers, sailors, and airmen, make far less than $93,000 per year, and are fully capable of supporting stay at home wives, along with children. Hell, most police officers make far less than that are are fully capable of supporting their family.

The military, any branch, will take you, even if you have a stay at home wife and 3 children. Many people enlist with just those situations. I seriously doubt that if you even attempted to join, that you were turned down for that reason.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 06:24 PM) [snapback]454056[/snapback]</div>

Everyone here who has actually served in the military (me included) knows how full of crap you are. Especially these days, with recruitment quotas impossible to meet, they'll take anyone with a pulse.

 

We must stop feeding the trolls, myself included. We're interrupting their migratory pattern. If you feed their appetite, they'll feel no need to fly to a new website.

We have a similar problem with geese in my town; unfortunately, you can't run the internet ones off with border collies.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 2 2007, 06:24 PM) [snapback]454056[/snapback]</div>

So you weren't willing to compromise, but you want to talk tough about it?

Now I am really impressed. So you will fight the good fight as long as it doesn't take any effort on your part? Got it. Great. Thanks for the support.

Actually, for whatever cheesy, selfish reason you chose not to join, there are plenty of Americans who have served, are currently serving, and will serve in the future, who should be grateful you didn't bless them with your presence.

I'd actually have some shred of respect for someone who can stand up, and say they were not joining because they were scared, or because they didn't agree with the current conflict. I really respect people who flat out say, "The military isn't for me." What I can't respect is people who want to sound tough, and act tough, but when it is required to be tough, that is when they find something else to do.