Just to FYI those of you who are vacationing and avoiding the news….US and UK citizens, specifically, and as a result of location, Mumbai were attacked last night by terrorists in a large coordinated attack across the city. I understand some of my readership are going to blame this on us, because Americans are always good at blaming themselves. But the fact is, we are now targets, period (and if there’s any doubt that I didn’t think we were before, we have been, even prior to the tower attacks). But do not think that us pulling out of the ME is going to solve any issue with this. It won’t.
That said, offer some prayers for those with family in the areas with your Thanksgiving today.
Freakchylde's 
People who pretend that terrorism isn’t a real problem and that the only issue at hand is orienting policy are being daft.
However to suggest that people pointing out US culpability in specific incidents of terrorism are doing so not because there’s some truth to the argument but because americans have some bizarre guilt complex is way off the mark. Moreover while citizens may feel guilty the government itself shows no remorse over its actions even when they lead to massive loss of life. And it is precisely that last bit that should have citizens worried, because if you tell the world it’s a government of the people by the people and for the people then you better be ready to fix the leaks or go down with the ship.
Which is not me in anyway suggesting these people somehow got what was coming to them…however as you point out there will be time enough to debate the more abstract political implications of this attack and even though I probably fall under the “blame the us camp” right now supporting the victims and their families is the pressing issue.
LikeLike
However to suggest that people pointing out US culpability in specific incidents of terrorism are doing so not because there’s some truth to the argument but because americans have some bizarre guilt complex is way off the mark. Moreover while citizens may feel guilty the government itself shows no remorse over its actions even when they lead to massive loss of life. And it is precisely that last bit that should have citizens worried, because if you tell the world it’s a government of the people by the people and for the people then you better be ready to fix the leaks or go down with the ship.
No, this isn’t what I’m talking about. Being able to point out one’s fault in a situation to learn from it in the future isn’t near what my thoughts were when writing this. I’m talking about the ones who blame the advent and continued terrorism on us and place no onus on the terrorist parties themselves (who, in the vocal cases, specifically state that they will continue to attack us until we kowtow to them and their way of life. vs living in peace and co-existence with both ways able to live side-by-side).
If this had happened in Iraq a year or two ago, that would be one thing. And had the Afghanistan attack come against anyone other than civilians running a road race, I’d have something different to say. But both attacks were coordinated to seek the greatest number of civilian casualties possible. Not military targets, civilian targets. So that is where I’m going to diverge off the path of blaming us.
Once this is all said and done, if you have the chance, check the video that came out from the Mumbai attacks. It was coordinated in a manner similar to an attack on a frat house when I was in college. Thugs go in, get people to run outside, where they think they might be safe, only to have gun fire coming at them from behind. This is flat out bullying. And us fixing leaks is not going to stop their cannon fire.
LikeLike
thanks sweetheart.
LikeLike
You’re welcome.
LikeLike
What is ME?
And the terrorist attacks in Mumbai are all that’s on the news here.
LikeLike
Shorthand for Middle East. We have CNNInternational on here, what’s being shown on the stations there?
LikeLike
Thank you.
BBC world news.
LikeLike
and people think I’m paranoid for owning more than one rifle or handgun.
LikeLike
Of course pulling out of ME won’t solve anything. The harm’s been done. Let’s get down on those poppy fields in Afghanistan (not for recreational purposes, of course :)…
LikeLike
Yeah, only way to go is forward. And it seems Iraq is down with that.
You mean, those poppies aren’t for my bagels?????? Dammit!
LikeLike