Assessing the need for assymetric 'deterrence' (Destroying Mecca, Medina & Qom if U.S. attacked)

Townhall ^ | July 26, 2007 | Stephen Carter

[the lone haranguer]

I think you’ll be pleased. Without giving too much away, there seems to be three, maybe four groups: John/Kate, the real bad guys, those in the gov’t who are out of the info loop, and those shadowy figures who, are in the loop, but not acting (for or against).

I found it so easy to get that same bloodthirsty feeling when you hear the history of terrorism described in the book, and it can almost make you think that it’s OK to avenge ourselves to the fullest extent, that we have a right. Only upon close examination, of the book and one’s heart, do you see that the dark (evil) path is so attractive because it’s oh-so reasonable and appeals to our human desire for revenge.

I can’t tell you how many philosophical conversations this has sparked among me and several friends who have read it.

[apro]

"American traitors: "Deterrence? Sorry, we are busy groveling and offering the necks of the American people so that WE might be taken .... last."

For some reason this brought to mind an old Greek folk story titled 'The Marmaromeno Basilia'(The Marble King) about the legendary Emperor Konstantinos Paleologos Dragatsis. As the story goes on May 29, 1453 the last great emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire vowed he would fight bravely to his death Muslim attacks upon the empire. Seeing the end is near, he threw off his purple royal cloak and lead fearlessly the few remaining men who could still fight in a last desperate attempt to push back the invaders, but the story says, he was taken away by Agios Georgos and the Archangel Gabriel right before he was killed. They brought him to the Golden Gate where they turned his body into marble with the promise that the day will arrive when Paleologos will come back to life and lead a victory against all their enemies and liberate Christian lands lost. In the song from above there is a verse that says "And about the Marble King, not even a word could be heard, but he is sung about as a fairy tale, told by the elders to the young." This is referring to the fact that after his death, Christian subjects under Muslim rule were forbidden to speak about the heroic Emperor Paleologo, if they did they were executed or put in prison because talking about him was seen as a form of rebellion. So Christians talked about their legendary king in code, making him into the character known as The Marble King and his legendary last stand into a folklore. It was in this form that his story was passed down from generation to generation his memory not forgotten but given hope to Christians from the Eastern Empire that they would be free once again .

But after reading this article it just makes me shake my head that after everything known about extremists, by their actions and history, there are still morons out there who won't think twice about appeasing them. On the one hand we have people who share the ideology of the legendary Emperor Paleologos about liberating lands lost and on the other have current world leaders want to give everything away. Amazing simply amazing.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I don’t argue with the philosophy. I argue with the practicality.

Both you and I know that tomorrow morning this could all be over. We send one jet into Iran, one into Venezuela and one into Syria. Three bombs and it is done.

As much as we like to believe it and as much as we say, “we don’t give a rats behind about the UN” they are still there and will be there as long as we have elitists in congress.

[oldfart]

There’s a lot of truth to what you say but humans have always needed some sort of hope to guide their lives. While I know much of what I hope for is impractical and even possibly counter-productive, I still hope for a quick, simple solution to all this terrorism/counter-terrorism we’re involved in.
I suppose while I’m indulging myself in pointless hope I might as well hope the UN building would slide off into the river - while in general session. Again, that’s not likely to happen, but I can hope can’t I?

[null and void]

I have always wondered how blowing ones self to bits does not violate that whole “may not enter Paradise without his genitals” thing.

They wrap them in tinfoil to protect them.

Seriously.

[ozzymandus]

Hell, why wait?

[Lancer_N3502A]

[AD from SpringBay]

This article diffuses itself by thinking in terms of retaliation and a democrat administration. Those two things don't often happen. If a democrat becomes president, the retaliation will involve endless appeals to, and abdication towards, the UN.

[roses of sharon]

Hey, I finished “Wild Fire” while on vac last week, and I am reporting back.

Well, overall I would have to give it a thumbs-down.

It seemed to be written quickly, and with a BDS attitude, it was too much the eye-roller for me.

Of course I enjoyed the characters, and the moral issues of fighting an enemy without a state, anyway, unfortunately the real bad guys were quite silly and unlikely.

But still looking forward to his next book!

[Tribune7]

Sounds a lot like my opinion. It was my least favorite next to Spencerville. The only reason I bothered to finish was that I liked the characters.

[oneolcop]

Sounds good except for one thing: The career aides, “specialists”, lawyers and flacks that hide behind the curtain would gain immense and very dangerous power because a bunch of rookie politicians would tend to depend on them for their “expertise”.