Saturday, April 28, 2007

Vote to lose

Omar Fadhil at Pajamas Media about the attempt by Congress to set a deadline of October for withdrawal.

I am an Iraqi. To me the possible consequences of this vote are terrifying. Just as we began to see signs of progress in my country the Democrats come and say, ‘Well, it’s not worth it.Time to leave’.

I said it before and I say it again; this war must be won. If it is not the world as you in the United States know it today (and as we here in Iraq dream for it to become) will exist only in books of history. The forces of extremism that we confront today are more determined, more resourceful, and more barbaric than the Nazi or the communists of the past. Add to that the weapons they can improvise or acquire through their unholy alliance with rogue regimes, combined with their fluid structure and mobility… well, they can be more deadly than any forces we have faced in the past. Much more.

The American Democrats make me weep with rage and frustration. Their self-righteous grandstanding is exactly the reaction the bombers have been wishing for. If they should get their way, there will be so much more, and we'll be so much less able to fight it.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2007

What could it be that moves them?

Another boycott of Israel.

The NUJ has not passed any motion to boycott China, where there are hundreds of political prisoners. Nor has it picked on North Korea, a totalitarian state in which millions of people have been deprived of the bare necessities of life. The same could be said of Burma. I do not believe that the NUJ has puffed itself in indignation against Saudi Arabia, an autocratic state where women do not enjoy rights that are taken for granted in Israel.

Whatever criticisms can be justly made of Israel, it is a functioning democracy with a free Press and a robust tradition of free speech. Even if one takes the harshest view of its treatment of Palestinians, it is not to be compared with the genocidal policies of countries such as North Korea and Zimbabwe, against which the NUJ has applied no boycotts.

So, why Israel as opposed to the dozens, scores of worthier targets? Could it be something beyond politics? It is certainly beyond logic or reason. It must come from somewhere deeper. Any ideas?

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Sunday, April 22, 2007

Opinion makers

What must be realized is that as long as the U.S. is strategically present, the enemy has no hope of achieving any of his objectives. This enemy knows this only too well; and his prime objective is to bring about this withdrawal and retreat by all means. He pins his hopes on the internal situation in the U.S., and this is his most potent weapon. Therefore most of his actions and attacks are basically publicity stunts aimed primarily at the MSM and American and western public opinion.
In this at least, it is like Vietnam.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Prison life

Richard G. Fecteau and John T. Downey were CIA agents captured by the Chinese in 1952 and not released until 1971 and 1973 respectively. They survived their years of often harsh imprisonment well enough to live very full and useful lives on their release. They have never gone to the media about their time in China and even this CIA Journal article was written with minimal input from them. There's a short version from The Times here.

Their techniques for survival

Never Give Up Hope
Scale Down Expectations
Create a Routine
Get Physical
Keep a Secret Space for Yourself
Remember that a Brain Cannot be Washed
Care for Each Other
Find Humor Where You Can
Be Patient