Targeted assassinations and Zarqawi: he's really most sincerely dead
As Alan Dershowitz quite rightly points out (via Solomonia), the manner of Zarqawi's death is really no different from what is known as "targeted assassinations," often condemned when performed by Israel, and yet in the case of Zarqawi roundly applauded throughout the Western world.
Why the distinction? The Dershowitz piece is short and doesn't really attempt an analysis, except to say that the difference between the two acts appears to be that Israel can do no right in the eyes of many in the international community.
But, although I pretty much agree with Dershowitz that an enormous double standard is always applied to Israel, certainly the international community is not ordinarily in the habit of cutting the US much slack, either.
So I believe something additional is involved here, and that is the fact that Zarqawi was a terrorist whom even extreme leftists and Hamas apologists have had trouble wrapping their minds around. He resembled nothing more than the bogeyman, a figure of horrific brutality more appropriate to the nightmares of childhood.
And yet here he was, seeming to revel in his status as the biggest, baddest, meanest, most-sadistic sonofabitch in the world. With video to prove it. Only the furthest gone on the left (such as, unfortunately, Nicholas Berg's father; see here for a transcript and discussion of Berg's post-Zarqawi's death interview) can find empathy for Zarqawi himself.
The terrorist mastermind targets of Israel's bombs are for the most part faceless to most of us. Their propaganda machines are much slicker than Zarqawi's, and their profiles are much lower. Zarqawi made the error of getting most of the world to hate him with great passion. It's what he wanted, of course; but the consequence is that even most of those who condemn the same acts when committed by Israel can't find it in their hearts to condemn this one.
The form the condemnation takes is rather, a bunch of "yes, buts...", especially the idea that this killing won't help--that, like the proliferating broomsticks in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" of Disney's "Fantasia" (another archtypical child's nightmare), striking down a terrorist only causes a thousand more to spring up in his place.
This is a statement of faith rather than a proven fact, but no matter; it makes good copy. My guess is that not too many have been inspired by the Z-man or the manner of his death, but I certainly cannot prove it.
But in news that has been somewhat overshadowed by Zarqawi's death, it is appears that only hours after the announcement a stalemate was broken and three appointees of the new Iraqi government were approved by its legislature. Austin Bay is paying attention, however, and he has an excellent roundup of the positive strategic implications of Zarqawi's death and of developments in the new government of that beleaguered country. These do not seem insignificant; please take a look.
So, once again: Ding-dong. He's really most sincerely dead.
[Mayor]: As Mayor of the Munchkin City,
In the County of the Land of Oz,
I welcome you most regally.
[Barrister]: But we've got to verify it legally, to see
[Mayor]: To see?
[Barrister]: If she
[Mayor]: If she?
[Barrister]: Is morally, ethic'lly
[Father No.1]: Spiritually, physically
[Father No. 2]: Positively, absolutely
[Munchkins]: Undeniably and reliably Dead
[Coroner]: As Coroner I must aver,
I thoroughly examined her.
And she's not only merely dead,
she's really most sincerely dead.
[Mayor]: Then this is a day of Independence
For all the Munchkins and their descendants...
posted by neo-neocon @ 1:16 PM
31 comments
31 Comments:
One thing that is rarely discussed is how incredibly superstitious arabs (muslims in general) are. They are always looking for portents and signs--almost as bad as televangelists. :-)
Seriously, the arab people are incredibly superstitious, which has been used by propagandists in arab satellite TV and murderous barbarians like Zarqawi to his advantage, but could be equally used by more civilising forces.
It is a long way from the stone age to the modern world, and only a few arabs will make the transition in this generation. If taking democracy to Iraq helps them on the way, it may yet serve a purpose.
Neo, one of the reasons I have never been very much of a fan of the crusade to take democracy to the primitive tribal people's of muslim countries, is that it takes multiple generations to transit from the current level of primitivism to a level of existence where democracy is fairly viable.
The experiment in the US in the 18th century was only successful because most "americans" of that time were uprooted from their old world traditions, yet literate and aware of the deep currents of thought taking place in large population centers such as London and the continent. They were "prepared" for democracy, much as soil must be prepared for the seed.
Muslim peoples in tribal lands are far too primitive in their thinking to go directly to democracy. Their allegiances are to their family, clan, tribe, sect, religion, region, and if their is any allegiance left, to the "country."
How long would it take to prepare the soil for democracy in primitive arab and muslim tribal lands? At least two generations I would say.
In the meantime, during the transition, these primitive lands will be hotbeds of violence and reaction. Just as some westerners flee to leftism to escape modernism, many muslims will flee to medieval Islam and its doctrines of Islamic supremacy and world conquest to escape the modern world--which casts them in a most unfavorable light.
It will take more time than most people understand.
And yet here he was, seeming to revel in his status as the biggest, baddest, meanest, most-sadistic sonofabitch in the world.
I think the Marines or the Special Forces might want to challenge him for that title, if he wasn't dead already.
That bit about the munchkins, Neo, very very cute. Quite satisfactory.
Muslim peoples in tribal lands are far too primitive in their thinking to go directly to democracy. Their allegiances are to their family, clan, tribe, sect, religion, region, and if their is any allegiance left, to the "country."
Al, you're missing something quite obvious. It is not the current generation of Iraqis that will make democracy successful in Iraq, it is the next generation. The children who have had intimate contact with Americans, who are joyous when they hear the sound of American vehicles, children who have been saved by Americans, who have died beside Americans, and who have seen death and suffering beyond the harshest of mercenaries.
What experience do you think they will bring to the New Iraq? What opinion will they hold of tribes, of America, of terrorism, and of governments?
While it is true that it takes multiple generations, this only exists because no one has given them a helping hand. The US took multiple generations because we did it ourselves. Who is to say that with the help of the US, Japan or Germany can't leap frog to the modern world in one generation?
Obviously, my estimates differ from Al's. He says 2 generations. I say within one generation, Iraq will be as pro-American and as staunch an ally of America as Kurdistan today is.
Here is a link that should inspires a hope for a better future, that people should read.
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/04/faith_or_terror.html
Mi Chael Yon also has many segments on the children of Iraq. We did not sacrifice 2000 Americans for the Iraqis as they now constitute, we did it for the future, the future of all children.
I'm telling you, when I say that "we should return the favor of them killing one of ours, by killing 1,000 of theirs", I'm quite serious. If you can find 1,000 terroists that is. But there should be no statue of limitations on punitive expeditions.
Any damage they inflict upon us, we must return a thousand fold, or many many millions will suffer in the meantime while we keep our hands clean for fear of using Our Power.
There is nothing more contemptible than a person refusing to wield his power to save those that he can, because he fears his own power more than he fears his conscience.
Congrats to neo once again for preemptive addressing of liberal pansyass whining and yesbutting.
Peals of derisive laughter to foreign trolls, wasting much of their time and electrons in lecturing patriotic Americans. I fart in their general direction.
Sorry. I know I'm not supposed to respond, but this is just beyond outrageous. Those poor, downtrodden murderous Palestinians.
What a crock.
You're supposed to be celebrating Z Man's death, dude. Go to black five, read the comments, then come back here. You'll feel a lot better. Gogo!
western hypocrisy What about Arab hypocrisy? It's their backyard.
America is inherently evil -- oh yea I forgot!
Speaking recently of top 50 Conservative Songs, here’s one for the trolls:
Beatles: Think For Yourself
I've got a word or two
To say about the things that you do
You're telling all those lies
About the good things that we can have
If we close our eyes
Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
I left you far behind
The ruins of the life that you had in mind
And though you still can't see
I know your mind's made up
You're gonna cause more misery
Do what you want to do
And go where you're going to
Think for yourself
'Cause I won't be there with you
Although your mind's opaque
Try thinking more if just for your own sake
The future still looks good
And you've got time to rectify
All the things that you should….
Many leftists don't believe that Israel has the right to exist. For if they did, they'd understand the actions that the Israeli democracy takes to defend itself.
There is no reason to hate the axis of liberty, i.e. the United States-Australia-UK-Canada-Israel. The Bolsheviks in the media can screw themselves. Islamic terror is NOT the measure of Western guilt.
Throw me a single intelligent coherent question and I'll address it.
This evening I had dinner with an old Serbian professor who told me, "Show me a picture of a rich Jew and a rich Muslim fighting and I'll give you $50" Point? The ones who scream "Crucify, crucify" are always the poor and uneducated -- a courage must be found on both sides to find what touches the human nerve to find some commonality, some reason to live together in peace -- I'm all for it. I think Israel would stop defending herself it its neighbor would stop attacking her.
While it is fun watching kcom go into action and produce reason contrasted with Confud's insanity. Whenever I feel the need to "engage" with Confud or think something he said is preposterous, then I go back and read this exchange with Confud in the Beginning. After that, I have no more desire to engage with Confud
As I said before, there are certain things you don't talk about with Confud, otherwise it will engage his self-defense mechanisms and his prejudices will go into overdrive. The belief that he is on the side of righteousness concerning Palestine, is a keystone of his entire matrix identity. Knock that apart and Confud will be as good as dead.
I think I can do that by putting him in Israel, and having a suicide bomb go off killing a bunch of people he knows in front of him. That might work. Not guaranteed of course. Look at Nick Berg's father. Some people can weave a self-deception web so strong, not even psychological shock can do them in.
Just checking, but you people already know that Confud doesn't post in old threads because he wants the attention from new ones, hijacking them, and having the topic be what he wants it to be rather than what neo has written about, Right?
Most regular people who have personal beefs will keep it going on an older thread, they don't usually drag it unto new ones. Here's another psychotic person, and I mean psychotic seriously.
Mudville has some good agent provocateurs as well
I returned the favor, kcom.
Stumb and Nyo are both nice. Ymar isn't nice at all. But Sakar is pretty agreeable.
the ability of you lot to admire israeli violence is impressive.
Any of you care to condemn this action? or is their some good reason behind it? Is it targetted?
We executed Z-Man, and everyone on the Right is celebratng. Except David Duke and their ilk.
Btw, Z-Man wasn't in Israel.
There's a reason why Neo said it would be best to stop engaging with trolls, stumb.
To reiterate the reasoning, Confud is here as an enemy provocateur in order to sabotage, steal, and to confuse the enemy, which would be anyone here that disagrees with him, including the blog author Neo.
Asking why Confud is here when he is not convincing anyone, is a no brainer question. Confud is not here to convince people, Confud is here to draw attention to himself, sabotage conversations and discussions, and make things about himself rather than anything truely important like Z Man dieing.
Kcom can engage 1 on 1 with Confud, and Confud will never give up, while other commenters have to scroll through a bunch of garbage comments that don't mean anything except rehashed stuff about Israel.
In fact, Confud will stop talking on this thread, and transfer to the newest topic, just to make sure that people can't ignore him. THen we'll see another Kcom vs Confud on the newest topic. Then version two, on the newest new topic. Then version three, and so on and so forth.
This is why you shouldn't engage with trolls. Agent provocateurs are rabid dogs. Either avoid them or put them down, but don't play with them and then be surprised that you get bitten.
Australia is not a very welcoming place because they don't get why people need weapons for self-defense.
On the absolute ranking scale for weapons, handguns and rifles are a mediocre 3.
It takes a greater comprehension of the warrior ethos, to know what the other 7 higher weapons are.
Troutsky, eating his cheetoes while watching tv, is thickest I tend to believe.
You're thicker than Sally. oh come on thats a bit harsh. Madder yes
It is not about evidence, it is about psychological and emotional shock.
but Sally is definitely thicker.
confud is one of the worst of the deranged left, someone who defends islamofascist thugs as freedom-fighters
Does Conned have a blog, or does he focus all his rage and desire to play at neo-con games, by saving the quotes of random people he sees on the internet?
no
no
no hang on Sally has learned parody....
The Simple Song of the Trolls:
Sickos, rascists, Oh. Mi. God.
You lot have really lost it this time.
Thats quite clever.
So that leaves yrmdwnkr as the thickest and comrade wasp as the maddest. Little apple thief is quite dumb but lacks the wonderful intellectual pretension to his stupidity that yrmdwnkr uses to entertain us all.
Not to mention his fantasy gaming nonsense..
On the absolute ranking scale for weapons, handguns and rifles are a mediocre 3.
It takes a greater comprehension of the warrior ethos, to know what the other 7 higher weapons are.
no yrmdwnkr is the maddest...by a long way
There is a life and a vibrancy amongst the barbarians, the head choppers, the Islamic jihadists, that is not present in the decadent Western systems of beliefs.
I mean. Well. What can you say in reply. This is from the latest post on his highly comical blog.
If ever Neo's therapist skills were needed it is with this young man. Get him some help. I am serious neo. Email him, the guy needs some positive encouragemnt and direction from someone he clearly admires.
By all means, click on my name, blog link is there for you to see for yourself the glories that Conned speaks of.
Publish your comments, you refering to these comments?
OK Ymar, what are these "untoward effects" you are pontificating on?
You'd better clarify which criminal code and which jursidiction you are talking about first though. Wise to be accurate after all.
Maybe you need a vision check or something Confud, because all of your comments are there. Don't tell me you got sucked into the twilight zone after your deal with the Devil went bad...
Come on knob cheese breath. Answer the fucking question you little toe rag.
When a country has 11.9 trillion in GDP and 3.2% GDP real growth, it doesn't worry about "other nations" with 90% GDP growth when their GDP is like 100,000 dollars.
Some of these dudes have like 600,000,000 GDP, and have 10% GDP growth. Big freaking deal, Confud wants to deceive himself into believing bigger perentage means jack when it is 11+ trillion vs 600 million. Google makes more than 600 million per year.
Deficit getting better.
http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=20&artnum=3&issue=20060613
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