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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Athenian
Published Letters: 95 Editor's Choice: 12
There is no contradiction in maintaining that Zarqawi was used for propaganda in the run-up to the war while failing to make lots of uses of his name. After all, allowing him to stay in Iraq (in, mind you, an area of the country outside of Saddam's control), gave the administration the ability to refer to known terrorist training camps in Iraq. We had knowledge of such camps run by Zarqawi before the war, and we knew where they were. This meant that the administration could have ordered attacks to destroy these camps had they so desired. On the other hand, allowing them to persist gave the administration a tool for propaganda purposes. That Zarqawi's name was not often specifically used in referring to these camps does not negate the fact that he was being used for propaganda. This makes sense, as, back then, Zarqawi's name meant nothing to the American public, and referring to him by name would have had much effect. Now, however, with him having been in the news by name for three years, his name alone has propaganda value.
Am I the only one who has noticed an oddly strong similarity between tiberius and the rather odious, juvenile troll of not so long ago named joe?
Am I the only one to see this, but doesn't the argument that political officeholders, who are there, incidentally, to represent the will of the people, should have no say in determining the military actions of the US logically end with the proposition that civilian leadership of the military is illegitimate? Isn't it fundamentally an argument for military dictatorship? As an American and a patriot, I find that a most troubling and indeed appalling proposition. Either there is civilian leadership or there is not. For that matter, Bush has been making military decisions that are contrary to the recommendations of the military leadership. How is that okay, but Congress making its views, that have the weight of the popular will via the last election, known not?
Elephantman, I don't understand your last comment. There is not Democrat party in the US. Are you confused as to the national context of the debates on this site? Are you sure you aren't British and thinking of their Democrat party? In the US there is a Democratic party just as there is a Republican party (not Republic party). Perhaps you are just confused. I will be civil and assume that, rather than attributing more juvenile motives to your comments that would make any effort to take any of your points seriously unnecessary, as serious people with serious points to make don't purposefully mangle the names of others.
I don't think anyone could really argue that the vast bulk of the kidnappings, killings, et cetera going on in Iraq could be attributed directly to the American military. We and our brave soldiers make mistakes, sure, but widespread civilian carnage is not American military policy. However, we do need to face the fact that the most of the casualties are victims of terrorists and insurgents and ethnic clensing campaigns that can operate in the country because of conditions that we have created and maintained. Though not directly responsible for those deaths, we are responsible. It is largely because of this that we are so hated in Iraq, and why our presence has generated, and will continue to generate more people willing to go out and kill. It really is not hard to understand. At least not on an intellectual level. On a human and emotional level, though...not so much.
If you want a further laugh, search on Seutonius and Tiberius. Seutonius was a historian who produced short biographies of the early Roman emperors, and whose method was to include any and every piece of scandal he could find. He plainly did not like Tiberius, and included some really appalling details/rumors about what Tiberius was doing during his years on the island of Capri. I will not stoop to our troll's level and imply a connection between him and his historical namesake, but it is still quite funny. Of course, one needs to wonder, why Tiberius as a namesake? Was "Augustus" or "Trajan" already taken?
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
