Bruce Thornton: The Folly of Apology. Americans need to muster the necessary grit to win.

victorhanson.com ^ | October 26, 2005 | Bruce Thornton

[Tolik]

The stories about the video of US troops burning the bodies of dead Taliban are disgusting––but not because of anything our troops may have done to the corpses of fanatical murderers. What’s disturbing is the groveling reaction of our government and military officials, who are falling all over themselves to apologize to people who cheer every time an American is killed.

...The idea that all those millions cheering for the terrorists in Iraq, cheering for bin Laden, cheering for the Taliban are all just misinformed is a monumental delusion, and the most dangerous mistake we are making the war against jihad. The millions of Muslims who support jihadist murder do so not because they’re ignorant of our beneficent intentions and enlightened tolerance, but because of spiritual beliefs that validate jihad, beliefs ratified by 14 centuries of Islamic jurisprudence and theology. We need to get over the peculiar arrogant belief that everything the enemy does is a mere reaction to what we do, as though these people don’t have their own motivations for their actions. They know that we rescued the Muslims of Kuwait, the Muslims of Bosnia, and the Muslims of Iraq. They know that we are sacrificing our own citizens to create an ordered society that will allow Muslims to worship in peace and prosper in freedom. They know that Muslims are killing Muslims all over the world, that the greatest threats to the safety and well-being of Muslims are other Muslims, as we currently see in Sudan. They know all these things, but they don’t care, because what’s important is the jihad against the infidel, the divinely sanctioned struggle to compel the people of the world to accept Islam, live as second-class citizens, or die....

[Tolik]

Very Interesting!

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[Tolik]

Bruce Thornton:

This false belief that Muslims only react to Western deeds also puts a powerful weapon into the hands our enemies, who can then deflect their true intentions and manipulate our behavior, as the jihadists of Palestine have been doing for decades. How else explain the bizarre spectacle of the terrorist Mahmoud Abbas being welcomed to the White House, at the very moment we claim to the world that we are at war with those who use and endorse terrorism? When has Abbas ever condemned terrorism as categorically evil and unacceptable in any circumstance, rather than condemning terrorism for being the wrong tactic at the wrong time? How can we keep saying terrorism “won’t work” when we are giving financial and moral support to a Palestinian regime that incorporates terrorists like Hamas that say explicitly they want to destroy Israel and will use any means necessary to do so?

More important, when our enemies compel us to apologize and investigate and assure the world how much we really respect Islam, they validate their estimation of our spiritual weakness and corruption. From their perspective, why else would we apologize, unless we had doubts about the rightness of our cause and the beliefs that drive our actions? The jihadists, after all, are convinced of the rightness of their belief, one validated by Islam and its traditional intolerant and arrogant disdain for the infidel. So why should they ever apologize? They believe they are right, and that Allah sanctions their slaughter. Christians can be brutalized, as is happening right now in Alexandria, where Egyptian Copts are being murdered and terrorized by Muslim mobs. Christian churches can be desecrated, Christians and Jews murdered and mutilated on videotape, and we never hear even from secular Muslim leaders the sort of anxious protestations of regret that the leaders of the most powerful nation on earth indulge in.

We may think we are projecting the strength of our values when we chastise our troops for sometimes resorting to unpleasant actions in order to win against a brutal enemy. But in fact, the message we send is that because we have doubts about our cause and our beliefs, we will second-guess and scrutinize our own behavior in the midst of a hard fight.

[brownsfan]

"What’s disturbing is the groveling reaction of our government and military officials, who are falling all over themselves to apologize to people who cheer every time an American is killed."

My first thought. Burning corpses is a health issue, not disrespect. If the muslims don't like it, tough sh*t. Don't be murdering terrorists, and we won't kill you and burn your body. Simple, easy, and the right answer.
I feel the same about Abu Ghraib. It's war, they are prisoners. Don't try to kill us, and you won't get panties on your head.

[SMARTY]

"What’s disturbing is the groveling reaction of our government and military officials..."

Critics would of course scream themselves red if the bodies were left alone. What's the difference?

[robowombat]

"More important, when our enemies compel us to apologize and investigate and assure the world how much we really respect Islam, they validate their estimation of our spiritual weakness and corruption. From their perspective, why else would we apologize, unless we had doubts about the rightness of our cause and the beliefs that drive our actions? The jihadists, after all, are convinced of the rightness of their belief, one validated by Islam and its traditional intolerant and arrogant disdain for the infidel. So why should they ever apologize?"

Right to the heart of Western liberal-rationalist weakness and confusion about the motivations of non-western enemies. We are so self contained we can't grasp there are value systems, strong value systems that share little or no common ground with the guilt oppressed psyche spawned by the watered down rationalist utilitarian humanism which is what most so called intellectuals (those who are not just focused on the cultivation of hatred for the established order and nihilistic power worship)and upper middle and upper class Americans ascribe to.

Enemies such as the jihadis have to be fought on their terms. They think they are holy warriors on a divinely mandated mission and they will enter heaven if killed while fighting (terror bombings, murders, etc.) the infidel. However, their goof ball religion gives us an opportunity to cancel their ticket on the Paradise Express. Mo's believe that they can't get into the sacred brothel if they are not mostly intact at death or their corpse is 'polluted' with contact with swine or dogs or some other Mo tabooed objects.
Instead of engaging in whiny apologies it should be our stated purpose that every Mo we kill that we can get to we will (a) blow up with explosive (b) burn with scrap oil or (c) disarticulate in some fashion and bury the remains in a dump with pieces of swine or pi dogs.

Pictures of US forces playing football with the heads of jihadis (now literally wrapped in pig skin) or doing other things that show our deliberate hatred and contempt for these POS (driving over their carcasses with tracked vehicles until they are just a smear on a highway) and our determination to see to it that we keep them out of the sacred brothel.

I know with the snivelly culture of cowardice so much of 'educated' America adheres to this is just a dream but I wish US forces would privately do this to as many dead Mos as possible.

[cricket]

"What’s disturbing is the groveling reaction of our government and military officials, who are falling all over themselves to apologize to people who cheer every time an American is killed...."

< WHO is responsible for the 'groveling MO'? Rummy? Lower ranked Demrat holdovers? Who.

Has to be at least as demoralizing as the Libs anti-military version of WOT. . .

Makes me sick. ..everytime we 'go there'. Enough already. . .

[cricket]

[But in fact, the message we send is that because we have doubts about our cause and our beliefs, we will second-guess and scrutinize our own behavior in the midst of a hard fight.]

In an educated nutshell. . .

[sarasota]

Liberals and the MSM have turned us into a nation of the weak willed. And we will suffer the consequences if we don't get some grit.

[Dark Skies]

bttt

[AmericaUnite]

I thought what the troops did was very smart. The enemy should realize there will be no honor in fighting us. I'm sure their Iman's will make up rules to tell their followers they are going to Paradise anyway.

[AmericaUnite]

BTW, Victor David Hanson is so right. We could only hope our children would be taught the historic lessions he presents with such clarity. Instead my seventh grader is getting commie thoughts & history from his English teacher.

[Dark Skies]

More important, when our enemies compel us to apologize and investigate and assure the world how much we really respect Islam, they validate their estimation of our spiritual weakness and corruption.

The weakness against Islam is coming from our leadership. The libs and MSM are not in power.

Praising Abbas, putting the Quran in the WH library, the President praising Islam in his iftar speech, celebrating Ramadan at the WH, holding hands with Prince Abdullah at the ranch...

appeasement (noun): The policy of granting concessions to potential enemies to maintain peace, usually at the sacrifice of principles.

That is the number one weakness being observed by our enemies.

[sarasota]

Good points. I stand corrected.

[Thombo2]

"We've had ample proof for decades that being nice and tolerant doesn't cut any ice....with the warriors of Allah."Good article.They(Muslims)interpet concepts like tolerance and kindness as weakness.Thank the msm,academia,hollywood for shoving multi-cultism and tolerance down our throats.It's a wonder that we can act at all.We the American public have been effectively indoctrinated(brainwashed)into acceptance of the moral superiority of cultures like islam,and the inferiority of our own society aka western civilization.

[Thombo2]

"The libs and msm are not in power."Maybe not,but don't underestimate the power of the msm to shape and influence public opinion.

[Dark Skies]

Hey Sarasota...I wasn't actually trying to correct you (though they say a man or woman stands tallest when they have the courage to say "I stand corrected"...so congrats).

Lately, I am just so dumbfounded at our behavior toward Islam that I rant at the slightest opportunity.

I think the WH is in a funk partly because they haven't spoken clearly about Islam and, too, they have appeased if by nothing else than by bending over backwards not to offend.

I hope the President comes to his senses soon.

[Dark Skies]

I agree...but the President has the bully pulpit. If only he would use it.

[sarasota]

I have spent too much time blaming the MSM and liberals and you brought me to what's left of my senses. We're in a very sorry state and W could make it better by taking a stand. I'm not holding my breath.

[Thombo2]

"The President has the bully pulpit.If only he would use it."I'm confounded by that also.I think our elected officials are scared to death of saying or doing anything that may seem politically incorrect.