Freethought & Rationalism Archive

peacenik · 03-19-2003, 08:27 AM

I believe there are numerous possibilities, but here are a few.

Just Another Infidel · 03-19-2003, 10:09 AM

The invasion of Iraq is a battle of the War on Terrorism (actually the War on Islamism). Iraq will be a forward staging area. It will become especially important once we square off with the Saudis and Iran.

My $.02

JAI

peacenik · 03-19-2003, 10:16 AM

Quote:

The invasion of Iraq is a battle of the War on Terrorism (actually the War on Islamism). Iraq will be a forward staging area. It will become especially important once we square off with the Saudis and Iran.

So you think that this is another crusaude?

The last one turned out real well. Lets just kill all the Muslims, hell there are only a billion or so. What?

The more I hear comments like this one, the more I believe that comparisons between Bush and Hitler are accurate.

seanie · 03-19-2003, 10:22 AM

Try playing this.

If you can't laugh...

peacenik · 03-19-2003, 10:32 AM

The sad thing about this "game" is that this possibility is not out of the question.

peacenik · 03-19-2003, 10:32 AM

The sad thing about this "game" is that this possibility is not out of the question.

fando · 03-19-2003, 12:07 PM

Opportunism and misdirection. There is no real war on terrorism, it's just a facade for hawkish and Orwellian policies. Most of al-Quaeda is captured or effectively disabled. The new focus seems to be preventing terrorism by subduing known "threats"--it is the new tune for strong-arm diplomacy and neo-McCarthyism. Whether I'm correct or not depends on the state of Iraq and the U.S. after Bush's little war, especially the humanitarian line he's been touting around. My bet is that there will be no Marshall Plan for Iraq and that the war on terrorism will continue indefinately. Next up on the terror shitlist is N.Korea, a 'supplier' of deadly capacity to the enemies of the US.

Tom Sawyer · 03-19-2003, 12:30 PM

I don't think that the war in Iraq will have any effect at all of terrorism.

By all accounts, Saddam has not given any aid to Al-Quaeda so removing him from power will not have any effect on their operations. Granted, there are probably Al-Quaeda agents in Iraq, bu there are also probably Al-Quaeda agents in the US - that doesn't mean that the US sponsors terrorism. An upshot of the war will probably be that other governments that might seek to give safe haven to terrorists will be less likely to do so when they see the consequences. This will give terrorists less ability ot organizer and train, lessening their effectiveness.

On the other hand, by flouting what everyone but the Bushies think is international law, terrorist recruiters will be able to say that they were right about the US all along and the inevitable photos of dead children in the streets of Baghdad will rally recruits to their cause creating a larger number upon which to draw.

IMHO, the war will have both positive and negative effects in relation to the war against terrorism, but I think they will essentially cancel each other out and not have much of an effect at all. Having all those troops there will make it easier to go into Iran, though.

Alonzo Fyfe · 03-19-2003, 12:56 PM

The attack -- or, more precisely, the way in which Bush was able to muster so much hatred for the attack -- will generate countless numbers of young people, now in their teens, who will be eager for a chance for revenge in the decade to follow. The results may not be apparent in the near future -- in the next few years. It will take a little while for these fresh seeds of hatred to nurture and bloom before we will start to reep what Bush has sewn here.

Don't worry, he would have already won re-election by then.

Just Another Infidel · 03-19-2003, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by peacenik
So you think that this is another crusaude?

The last one turned out real well. Lets just kill all the Muslims, hell there are only a billion or so. What?

The more I hear comments like this one, the more I believe that comparisons between Bush and Hitler are accurate.

Peacenik,

No, not a crusade per se, not against mainstream Islam. The war is against Islamists, the minority of muslims who advocate Islamic theocracies and Jihad against the USA and the Jews. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are crawling with them. Iran's democracy is being thwarted by them. They are creating tension in Kashmir between Pakistan and India, they are causing the Russians problems in Chechnya. Pick a problem area in Central Asia, the mid-east or Africa. The Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Islamists are probably involved.

Al Queda is only the tip of the iceberg.

Stepping off of the soapbox.
JAI

View Poll Results: How will this war impact the U.S.'s "war against terrorism."
The war will only stregnthen terrorists groups like al-Qaida.	16	34.78%
The war will weaken terrorists groups like al-Qaida.	2	4.35%
The war will make the U.S. more prone to terrorist attacks in the short run, but in the long run will make the world safer.	8	17.39%
The war will have no impact on the "war on terrorism."	2	4.35%
The war on terrorism is a ploy by the Bush administration to consolidate power and play on the fears of the American Public.	17	36.96%
None of the above.	1	2.17%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll

03-19-2003, 08:27 AM	#1
peacenik Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 331	How will this war affect the U.S.'s war on terrorism? I believe there are numerous possibilities, but here are a few.

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03-19-2003, 10:09 AM	#2
Just Another Infidel Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 370	The invasion of Iraq is a battle of the War on Terrorism (actually the War on Islamism). Iraq will be a forward staging area. It will become especially important once we square off with the Saudis and Iran. My $.02 JAI

03-19-2003, 10:22 AM	#4
seanie Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Edinburgh. Scotland Posts: 2,532	Try playing this. If you can't laugh...

03-19-2003, 10:32 AM	#5
peacenik Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 331	The sad thing about this "game" is that this possibility is not out of the question.

03-19-2003, 12:07 PM	#7
fando Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 1,372	Opportunism and misdirection. There is no real war on terrorism, it's just a facade for hawkish and Orwellian policies. Most of al-Quaeda is captured or effectively disabled. The new focus seems to be preventing terrorism by subduing known "threats"--it is the new tune for strong-arm diplomacy and neo-McCarthyism. Whether I'm correct or not depends on the state of Iraq and the U.S. after Bush's little war, especially the humanitarian line he's been touting around. My bet is that there will be no Marshall Plan for Iraq and that the war on terrorism will continue indefinately. Next up on the terror shitlist is N.Korea, a 'supplier' of deadly capacity to the enemies of the US.

03-19-2003, 12:30 PM	#8
Tom Sawyer Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto, eh Posts: 42,293	I don't think that the war in Iraq will have any effect at all of terrorism. By all accounts, Saddam has not given any aid to Al-Quaeda so removing him from power will not have any effect on their operations. Granted, there are probably Al-Quaeda agents in Iraq, bu there are also probably Al-Quaeda agents in the US - that doesn't mean that the US sponsors terrorism. An upshot of the war will probably be that other governments that might seek to give safe haven to terrorists will be less likely to do so when they see the consequences. This will give terrorists less ability ot organizer and train, lessening their effectiveness. On the other hand, by flouting what everyone but the Bushies think is international law, terrorist recruiters will be able to say that they were right about the US all along and the inevitable photos of dead children in the streets of Baghdad will rally recruits to their cause creating a larger number upon which to draw. IMHO, the war will have both positive and negative effects in relation to the war against terrorism, but I think they will essentially cancel each other out and not have much of an effect at all. Having all those troops there will make it easier to go into Iran, though.

03-19-2003, 12:56 PM	#9
Alonzo Fyfe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 920B Milo Circle Lafayette, CO Posts: 3,515	The attack -- or, more precisely, the way in which Bush was able to muster so much hatred for the attack -- will generate countless numbers of young people, now in their teens, who will be eager for a chance for revenge in the decade to follow. The results may not be apparent in the near future -- in the next few years. It will take a little while for these fresh seeds of hatred to nurture and bloom before we will start to reep what Bush has sewn here. Don't worry, he would have already won re-election by then.

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