Military Analyst's Conflict of Interest

[blutzski]

Originally Posted by heliodorus04

That seems to be what the zealots want. A new calliphate. To destroy Western civilization's paganism. To kill us in order to save our souls, if necessary. It's got nothing to do with US foreign policy over the last 50 years.

If what you say is true (and I believe it is) that radical Islam wants to destroy western civilization's paganism, do you think forcefully inserting our civilization into their lives, regardless of how good our intentions are, will make them want to kill us more or less? Do think they will gain more or less recruites every time we start a military campaign or build a military base in their land? I know I would be pissed off if China decided it would benevolently bring their way of life us and set up shop here, especially if they already had troops in 130 countries around the world like we do.

[caspermike]

Originally Posted by gh

Well if you are going to open the discussion to religion vs sprituality vs atheism then that is just a whole nother ball of wax. I will say this about that. I have never witnessed a better way to hypnotize a group of people and polarize them to either work, fight your battles, etc than the religions that we have that promise rewards in the afterlife. Its pure genius.
I will go to Jim Morrison for this one...."No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn."

Doors all the way

[heliodorus04]

To say that the modern-day Christianist movement of Dobson and Robertson is generally no different than that movement of the Reconquesta and conquest of the New World is to ignore the comfort with barbarism in the Old World era.

Most of our discourse around here, in my opinion, ignores the history of man's innate (and I believe, inescapable) barbarism. Which is not to discount his present examples of barbarism in the tucked-away corners of the world where mass media fears to tread (and humanity fears to examine), places like Myanmar, Eritrea, Sudan, Liberia...

While the Christianists of today's world are still evangelical, in that they feel a divine call to action to make everyone believe what they believe, they pursue such zealousness in the legal arena of our institutions. THey only want to put you in jail for defying their order. Cortez and Pisarro were far more brutal. More like, say, Dick Cheney...

There may be a few bombers of abortion clinics, and they may receive a narrow band of support among some enclaves, but one should, I feel strongly, retain a perspective of how bad it's been in past eras. Sure, 2008 is quite different in the arena of political-religious ideology than 1978, but man, it's not nearly as bad as 1508.

[gh]

Only because up to this point there has been a seperation of church and state. So they dont actually have any power except for what they take upon themselves. Org's like the KKK, Army of God and various splinter groups do their power plays but nothing government sponsored to this point.

[gh]

How Much Did Rumsfeld Know? - TIME
Additional parts to the story. I stand by my assertion that a deliberate attempt to lie to the american people from any cabinet/white house position is treason.

[blutzski]

Originally Posted by gh

I stand by my assertion that a deliberate attempt to lie to the american people from any cabinet/white house position is treason.

Does this mean we can get rid off all politicians? Treason is punishable by death right?