Better to Be Feared Than Loved, cont.

The Weekly Standard ^ | 04/29/2002 | Reuel Marc Gerecht

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Does that go for the Israelis, too?

Israelis who go around attacking individual Arabs are routinely prosecuted. As far as the actions of Israel are concerned, governments have an absolute monopoly on the legitimate use of deadly force. No government, or individual, has the right, for any reason whatsoever, to initiate deadly violence which is directed against noncombatants. Collateral damage is another, and a seperate issue.

[rdb3]

Arabs don't like us because we support Israel with billions annually and provide her with the most technologically advanced weapons.

Well, then! There you have it!

But, you know, this sounds like personal problems that Arabs have. It most certainly ain't on us, you knuckle-dragging, Neanderthal of a paleocon idiot!

[Wonder Warthog]

Sorry, dude, but the only thing the Arabs understand is the iron fist. It is part and parcel of their culture--they WILL sneak around behind you and try to stick a knife in your back UNTIL you stand up and say "if you don't stop this s***, I will tear you head off and feed it to the pigs." THEN they will behave peacefully (at least until weakness is seen again). I learned this from direct interaction with Arabs from many different countries back in the 1960's. Nothing has changed.

[mo]

Son, there are a couple of dozen "isms" in the world-all but Judeo-Christianity having proven through time thir inability to liberate their adherents. Those that remain culturally wedded to inferior left brain software will continue to gaze at the West in confusion and anger-anger which is being misdirected outward at the West from the leaders of Islam.

[rdb3]

Islamist Arab culture of recent years has definitively proved itself to be both inferior and evil. I am not much concerned with their recognition of their place in the scheme of things, but any determination on their parts to do us harm must be defeated using any techniques which are useful and necessary.

You got that right! Praise God and pass the ammo.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Caligula said "I don't care if they hate me, so long as they fear me,"

Actually, according to Suetonius, in his section on Caligula in his Vitae Caesarum, what Caligula said was: 'Oderint, dum metuant.', which is translated: 'May they hate me, if only they fear me.' In any case Feenian has misrepresented both the source and the meaning of the quote on which the thread is based, out of his ignorance, or malevolence.

[neutrino]

Their civilization once surpassed the West's

Once. Not presently. Perhaps long term exposure to islam is destructive? Or, maybe it would be more apt to say such exposure transforms a people into a malignant, cancerous excrescence?

There's a way to deal with them, and it has nothing to do with gentle diplomacy. Think Willie Pete - for those hard to treat infections!

[ODDITHER]

I disagree. Although there is no comparison, look at the Reagan administration vs. the Clinton administration. Reagan was feared by our foreign enemies. As much as the press tried to convince the American people otherwise, the fear of retribution was what kept us safe and our enemies weak.

Fast forward to the Clinton administration who believed the best way to foreign policy was to be loved. Since the administration had no core beliefs, they resorted to bribary and blackmail as their foreign policy.

Especially in the Arab world, to be loved is irrelevent. To be strong, by being a country that means what they say and does what they threaten makes the Arab world fear us, but respect us. Love = weakness and manipulation. Hate = respect and fear. A country that allows 10 year old boys to blow themselves up in the name of ALLa really has no concept of love.

Reagan so far has been the Only American President that has been able to gain the respect (press called it hate) of it's enemies while maintaining the love of his own people. I pray daily that God will allow Bush to achieve this very special status in American History.

[jlogajan]

I disagree.

So you say, but then you ended up demonstrating that it is easier to be hated than loved -- which is what I said.

[Tokhtamish]

With all due respect to those of Irish extraction on this board I say the following.

All the terrorist organizations of the '70s are gone. The Red Brigades, Baader Meinhof, the Japanese Red Army, the Tupamaros, Montoneros. All save two. The IRA and the PLO. Maybe this is because both the Irish and the Arabs share a common culture of rage and resentment, and resentful losers tend to identify with other resentful losers. Both cultures like to run their mouths a lot, never forget a slight, and are hopeless prisoners of the past.

History has no greater success story than the English speaking world, a world to which you relate like the envious neer do well in a rich family. You, like the Arabs, seethe with humiliation at your weakness and failure vis a vis the modern world. Your identification with the Palestinians is therefore completely understandable.

[nopardons]

I know who said it, dear, and Rome was also FEARED . When it no longer was feared, it was destroyed . Their vaunted justice system didn't stem the tide of Vandals, Goths, Vsigothes , nor Huns .

The term " neo-con " is now like " racist ", in its misuse. It no longer means anything at all, and is used as a derogatory term , by people who lack the vocabulary and intellect to say what they actually mean. Such " code words " only muddy the waters and defeat your argument.

Power beats " respect " , every time, amongst nations .

[nopardons]

Oh please ... your 10th rate Cliff Notes, on the history of the Roman Empire is pathetic. The Romans built baths, theatres , and roads, in outlying providences, was for the comfort of the Romans who were there ; NOT for the subdued populace. Roman citizenship didn't apply to all, and Pax Romana was through strength at the point of sword and spear.

No matter what some may claim, the USA isn't engaged in empire building . The president isn't a " Caesar " . The Roman Republic, wasn't " respected " and there wasn't a Pax Romana " until that republic folded.

The old USSR was feared and only respected by idiots. The fear of mutual destruction kept us from stepping in and stopping them from many of the horrors, that they perpitrated. Respect had nothing to do with that. Respect didn't keep the British Empire going either. Fanatical Muslims are mired in Middle Ages think . Even a " Cold War " mindset, is far too " modern " / European for them.

[rdb3]

I didn't stutter.