If anybody?s had the persistance to read this far, I?d be interested in hearing their opinions?.
Are you kidding? If you want my opinion on this situation, you will have to beat it out of me! :>)
Sounds like a nightmare version of "Waist deep in the Big Muddy." I wonder what idiot One Star recommended that we put troops into this situation? We haven't been able to stop these people since we took over the Philippines, what makes anybody think we can now?
The best of a bad situation would be to send in our combat unit, "Shoot em all, and let God sort em out!" , but lets not do any "Nationbuilding." Declare Victory, and get out. Or, best yet, let the Political opposition win, and order us out.
Thanks for the great "Country Report," Steven. I wish it was circulated at DOD. Or better yet, printed in Atlantic, New Yorker, or Harpers. It would get more notice there. I am sure you have some version of it circulating.
Having watched Discovery Channel, I know that all indigenous peoples are possessed of deep stores of ancient wisdom, but in the case of the Tausug all I can say is that the wisdom is hidden very deeply indeed
Since I live in Waikiki, the home of these kind of "indigenous people" beliefs, that line was worth the read by itself. They have the "Wise Ones" feeding stories to the tourists about the peaceful natives who have always loved one another. But some of the tourists make it up the Mountain to see the Memorial at the top of Pali Pass that celebrates the major battle that cemented the local Tribal Chief as ruler. |
