[lit-ideas] Re: Text of bin Laden Tape
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 18:56:27 -0800
As I said elsewhere, Osama bin Laden and the Islamists understand how
important Iraq is. They are opposing us there with all they have. It is
complicated, but I could refer you to several books on the matter if you are
interested. For example, the founder of Stratfor, the private organization
that provides Intelligence info to companies and other interested in
international affairs, George Friedman in America's Secret War, Inside the
Hidden Worldwide Struggle between America and its Enemies, describes how the
removal of Saddam's regime was important in the war against the Islamists.
See also, Kennet Pollack's The Treatening Storm, the Case for Invading
Iraq., The Reckoning, Iraq and the Legacy of Saddam Hussein by Sandra
Mackey, and The Pentagon's New Map, War and Peace in the Twenty-First
Century by Thomas Barnett.
Lawrence
_____
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Andy Amago
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 6:50 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Text of bin Laden Tape
The Islamists hate us. Iraq has no Islamists. We invade Iraq. Iraq
becomes flooded with Islamists and we're into a trillion dollar war with no
way out. Those are living non-sequiturs, but who cares about that, right?
I give up talking to you Lawrence. I'm out to get my own personal windmill
and tilt against it, hope the Islamists go away.
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence <mailto:lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Helm
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 1/20/2006 9:40:29 PM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Text of bin Laden Tape
Hi John.
Okay, lets clean this up a bit. It would be a valid argument to say that
the Islamists do not intend to conquer us and therefore we shouldnt be
attacking them. However, I dont believe you can produce the evidence to
support such an argument. Not only do the writings of Sayyid Qutb and
Ruhollah Khomeini (the main Sunni and Shiite Islamist ideologues) advocate
such an attack, the followers of these ideologues are actively engaged in
carrying out these attacks.
Also, I dont think you are correct in your argument that the Islamist
insurgents represent Iraq. Well over 70% of Iraqis showed up to vote in the
last election indicating that they favor a democratic government and not the
Islamist insurgents. We are viewed as liberators by those who want
democracy (the bulk of the Iraqis). We are viewed as conquerors by the
fascist Islamists.
We have freed Iraq from a brutal dictator. We are encouraging the
development of democracy in Iraq. We will leave when this new government
can handle its own insurgents.
Who says we are conquerors? The Islamists and anti-Americans.
Who says we are liberators? The people favoring democracy in Iraq.
You spoke of evidence. Over the years I have produced evidence in
copious and sometimes objectionable quantities. I have been known to
challenge those who argue with me to produce evidence to support their
arguments. Do you have evidence to show that the Islamists arent attacking
us? Do have evidence that the Islamists have not declared war against us?
Do you have evidence that the Islamists and other insurgents represent the
will of the majority in Iraq?
Lawrence
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of John McCreery
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2006 6:15 PM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Text of bin Laden Tape
Hi, Lawrence. Good to see you here.
I'll even agree that we need to oppose those who want to conquer us.
Problem No. 1 is that, at this point, the evidence is all on the side
of we want to conquer them and not vice versa. We proclaim our good
intentions, but, hey, so do they. They say that they will attack us
until we are off what they see as their turf. They commit terrorist
acts (which I in no way condone) to demonstrate their seriousness;
but, when push comes to shove, we are the ones with armies invading
and occupying other countries.
What was it Christ said? The bit about the beam in one's own eye
before the mote in the other guys? Not to mention turning the cheek
and loving them that hate you?
John
John McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd.
55-13-202 Miyagaya, Nishi-ku
Yokohama 220-0006, JAPAN
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