July 26, 2005

...despite early arguments from Bush administration officials that fighting insurgents in Iraq would help prevent them from launching attacks on Western targets. The war has instead turned into a recruiting tool, experts said.

The constant images on Arab language networks of dead and dying civilians — coupled with U.S. soldiers conducting operations — has only heightened sensitivities.

"Iraq has been an absolute gift to al-Qaida," said Paul Rogers, a professor of peace studies at Bradford University in northern England. "(Al-Qaida) seems to have no difficulty in getting more and more recruits."

11 comments:

RightwingSparkle said...

"The constant images on Arab language networks of dead and dying civilians — coupled with U.S. soldiers conducting operations — has only heightened sensitivities."

THAT, my friend is the recruiting tool. The images shown on Arab TV. Not of our soldiers building schools. NOt of the soldiers who give medical care to a insurgent who just tried to KILL him. Not of them dropping teddy bears to the children. Not of them restoring the water supply or givng money to those whose homes were damaged in the invasion bombings.

It wasn't Iraq that was the gift to Al Quaeda, it was Arab TV.

DAVE BONES said...

And your TV calls foreign jihadi's in Iraq insurgents. Both tell a story their audiences want to "buy"

DAVE BONES said...

Can you see how a Muslim might think that fighting Americans in Iraq might be a noble thing?

RightwingSparkle said...

Yes, I can see that. But I cannot see how they could think BLOWING UP ARAB CHILDREN in the process could be a noble thing.

Sorry. That only makes them monsters.

DAVE BONES said...

that incident is pretty gruesome

DAVE BONES said...

Send us the links. Is that a fairly isolated case? Was it suicide or IED?

I'm aware that I don't want to argue just to be right, but to suggest solutions for both sides which will work.

I can't think of any.

I wish you had seen "the New Al-Qaida" on the BBC. I will have to find a site which collects these sort of things for download.

The Scrutinator said...

DB: "Was it suicide or IED?"

Suicide.

DB: "Can you see how a Muslim might think that fighting Americans in Iraq might be a noble thing?"

Only if they believe a raft of lies. Chances are much greater that they'll kill Muslims (even Sunnis) than coalition soldiers. Saddam is likely responsible for more Muslims' deaths than anyone else in history. So where's the nobility?

DB: "...suggest solutions for both sides which will work... I can't think of any."

Consider that the indiscriminate mass murderers of 7/7 didn't even make demands we could negotiate.

Another question to ponder: what's an effective disincentive for a suicide bomber? Death? That's what they're after. Prison? Doubt it.

Perhaps solutions will come to light. (Could we really live with them?) But more importantly, we challenge one anothers' thinking so that we all see the truth most clearly. (In my humble opinion.)

DAVE BONES said...

"more importantly, we challenge one anothers' thinking so that we all see the truth most clearly."

thats why I'm glad you and 'sparkle hang about.

DAVE BONES said...

as for believing rafts of lies...you pretty much know what I'm going to say on that.

RightwingSparkle said...

You would say that we believe in lies as well. But I ask you to look AT THE PERSON. Who are we? Who are they? I think you can see why some Muslims would believe in a lie, right? But why would we? We have everything here. We feel no oppression. We could easily ignore this war. Ignore the Middle East and play golf and watch reality TV. Secure in the knowledge that our faith will bring us to heaven anyway.
But we don't.
We care. We seek truth. We want answers. We don't believe blindly. Despite what you read.

DAVE BONES said...

I can't see any advantage in believing lies for anyone.There seems to be truth and there seems to be perspective.

I try not to form opinions on things I don't know for myself, but my feelings tell me you've all swallowed whole lies from a group of very rich people who masquerade as patriots.

Where is Iraq's oil money going now?