Mark Steyn: The curtain will come down on the peaceniks

National Post (Canada) ^ | 02/18/03 | Mark Steyn

[semaj]

"...just in case the driver should take a wrong turn, he drove the streets with his car windows curtained."

I'm confused. Is he talking about America's limousine liberals or Adolf Hitler?

[Pagey]

"But, if you believe that the first non-imperialist great power in modern history is the source of all the world's woes, then logic is irrelevant".

This is quite a succinct sentence. It really doesn't get any clearer than this, in relation to the poseur,I have to belong somewhere, alleged anti-war (actually they're just Bush-Haters,they don't really stand for anything)demonstrators.

[TigersEye]

As a general rule, when it's reality versus delusion, bet on reality.

Hmmmm!?! What a novel concept!!! Bwa ha ha!

[dixiechick2000]

"Seig Heil".

WOW! Good for you!

"...so I presume it is exactly that in Germany."

This is something I just don't understand...especially with their history.

[SwatTeam]

Isn't Mark Steyn great? He has such a talent of getting right to the core of something and disecting it perfectly. Thanks for the ping.

[Boot Hill]

"As a general rule, when it's reality versus delusion, bet on reality."

Kind of reminds me of the line from the Dilbert cartoon, where he's saying (sarcastically): "Okay, in general I admit that the rules of physics are optional."

Boot

[GirlShortstop]

 
BRAVO!       bump

[LS]

U. of Dayton

[LS]

Yes, but you really haven't disagreed with anything I said, which was that there is a certain point at which leftism and Islam simply cannot co-exist. Obviously, neither side (in the westernized Muslim countries) have figured that out yet, but Osama and the mullahs in Tehran have.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thanks for the "ping" and BTTT

[Rocky]

I bet on reality.

A safe bet every time.

This is a Reality bump.

[js1138]

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I wish it were, but I'm afraid we're seeing a convergence of the worldwide leftist-anarchist movements and Islamism.

The convergence happened at least 30 years ago.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The problem with that is that leftism and Islamism can only co-exist to a very finite point. Islam doesn't even accept the basis of civil society---everything, including government, is measured in terms of "Allah's will." So while you may be right in the short run, that's all it can remain . . . a short run.

30 years is a short run? They will turn on each other when we fall and not a moment before. In the mean time they hold that "the West" is the source of all their evils. Common enemies.

In an ally, consideration of race and creed are insignificant beside two prime questions, which are:
1. Can he shoot?
2. Will he aim at your enemy?

The answer here for them is yes and yes.

[the_rightside]

Cool , how did you do that?

[PLK]

Lets suppose the "human shields" survive after a relative quick atttack on Iraq by the U.S and its allies. But then are killed, as the people of Iraq turn on them for prolonging their agony and supporting sadam. Something for the shields to think about.

Won't happen. Even though I support President Bush in his Iraq policy, it is because of national security interests. Muslims, even the most oppressed and mistreated, will always perceive the U.S. as the "Great Satan" because their entire upbringing is rooted in anti-American education and culture. It's too bad, but reality. We aren't purging the world of Saddam's evil to save the Iraqi's, they will only turn on us anyway. We are going to oust him in the interests of national security. Period. He is a nut case with WMD's. Nuff said.

[Neophyte]

Ok, let's agree for a second that it's all about oil - just for the dispute's sake.

They say, Iraq's oil is more abundant than that of Canada, Alaska and Mexico put together.

And here we break in:

This oil is practically out of the market for the last 12 years, since the UN sanctions against Iraq were introduced. And none the less, there is no shortage of oil at all. On the contrary, every OPEC meeting is about keeping the production low in order to obtain higher prices...

Which means that it's fellow Arabs who are most happy to maintain status quo in Iraq: why to have more competition and share petrodollars with poor Iraqi children? Screw them! - they say in pure Arabic.

In this sense it's really all about oil.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Ping for beauty.

[LS]

Well, yes. 30 years in historical terms is a VERY short run. The entire Cold War lasted only 40. And I think that the schism between leftism and Islamism will be far shorter than that. Just look at today's news: several journalists in Jordan imprisoned for "blaspheming" Allah. It won't take long before these to isms are at each other's throats.

In the meantime, we must take care of ourselves and crush whichever one comes against us.

[Neophyte]

The problem with that is that leftism and Islamism can only co-exist to a very finite point. Islam doesn't even accept the basis of civil society...

To begin with the second part of this statement - leftism doesn't accept civil society, too. All is measured by The Party will.

And further on: Leftism and Islamism share a very important and not at all short term ground - both are collectivist ideologies.