Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Policy Discussion Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: kumar who wrote (3903)	2/13/2003 8:53:12 AM
From: michael97123	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 15987

Kumar, This article rings very true to me and it should for both pro-war and anti-war folks. No duct tape for me. My dad's generation set the bar for bravery. Now it's our turn. A couple of sayings to start the day. "Live Free or Die" "Nothing to fear but fear itself". mike

To: kumar who wrote (3903)	2/13/2003 9:02:13 AM
From: lorne	Respond to of 15987

Muslim loyalties February 13, 2003 If bin Laden's latest audiotape is indeed the precursor to another horrific terror attack on the United States, then American Muslims had best decide quickly to whom and what they are loyal. The first rule of wartime survival is to know your enemy. That's a lesson America learned the hard way at Pearl Harbor. To their credit, the politicians of that day only needed one horrific lesson – the result, regrettably, was Japanese internment camps: "From 1942 to 1946, the United States government imprisoned more than 110,000 Japanese Americans, including more than 70,000 U.S. citizens, in camps called internment camps. The United States and Japan were at war, and U.S. officials believed, with little evidence, that Japanese Americans threatened national security." – World Book Encyclopedia Whether or not we agree with World Book's characterization, we should all note well the words "with little evidence." Mr. bin Laden's terror missives have repeatedly made it clear that Muslims worldwide – including those living inside the United States – have a duty to overthrow violently the American government. Internationally, that is the goal of such warfare. Domestically, it is the textbook definition of treason. American Muslims have raised barely a whimper of protest to bin Laden's call for their participation in terrorism and treason against their homeland. I'm not talking here about phony front groups and their paid public-relations mouthpieces. I'm talking about real Muslim leaders – like the Rev. Louis Farrakhan – or like the imam down the street leading prayers and religious studies at your local mosque. Where is the anger against bin Laden among American Muslims? Where are the protests? Where are the fiery sermons in local mosques urging believers to denounce terrorists hiding in their midst or to expose them to the FBI or the police? Where is the religious rage against those who have murdered the innocent in pursuit of personal political power? Where are America's Muslims in America's time of need? America echoed in its deeds the words of Jesus Christ toward Muslim immigrants who came to this country: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." America gave food, shelter and safety from the despotic Islamic hell many had fled. We gave respect to their culture and honored their traditions and holy days. We did this because it was the right thing to do. What has been America's reward? Egotistical, empty words spoken by religious bigots and racial conmen who claim – without grassroots refutation – to speak for America's Muslims. Worldwide hatred by despotic Arab regimes and murderous, profiteering dictators – many of whom rely on American consumers for their oil dollars. Cowardice and loathing by our European "allies" profiting in the arms trade. Self-serving smear campaigns by greedy, mindless celebrities who actually believe that lying for a living – for what else is acting? – qualifies them to conduct world affairs. Self-serving political grandstanding by domestic politicians so eager for power that they would sell out the nation to govern during its dying days. It is a testament to America's intrinsic goodness and greatness that we have shrugged off this treatment by our enemies. Only a great nation, secure in itself and basking in peace, could quietly endure such treatment. It is frequently said that the terror attack of 9-11 "changed everything." It did not – it merely confused everything. It is the next terror attack – whether in days, weeks, or months – that will change everything. That is the point at which confusion will coalesce into anger. America's eyes will be opened and we will clearly see our enemies. Confusion about the World War II coalesced into anger at Pearl Harbor. That is what will happen in post 9-11 America. The current generation and its leaders are not smarter, more ethically pure, or more secure than Americans who experienced Pearl Harbor. We are their children and grandchildren. When the war begins in earnest, we will do what they did: We will fight to survive, and we will act preemptively against our enemies. This is not a threat toward or a call for violence against American Muslims. It is a courtesy wake-up call. Every four years Americans pause to watch our president take a solemn oath to "preserve, protect and defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." In fact, every American takes this same oath by virtue of citizenship in this great land. Bin Laden has cast American Muslims' duty toward Allah, and that may well be. But in the trenches, American soldiers still sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." The time of decision for America's enemies has arrived. Choose well. worldnetdaily.com

To: kumar who wrote (3903)	2/13/2003 2:44:50 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 15987

National panic plays right into his hands Yep... That's why I get a bit irate when I see people be defeatist, or asserting that some terrorist who isn't even able to show his face out of fear of being killed by US forces is outsmarting the US... Or asserting that somehow we're not interested in catching Bin Laden... It's nice to be prepared, but folks should do this in advance of ANY potential emergency.. And asserting that "duck tape and plastic wrap" is the answer is far too simplistic a response.... Bottom line.. Try and act like we more than just a bunch of scared sissies running from our own shadow.. Yeah.. we've been attacked.. and yes.. thousands of people have died.. But we're all going to die someday.. It's HOW WE DIE that makes all the difference (and how many of the bad guys precede us in departing this existence).. Now if you want to hear a conspiracy theory.. listen to this one... What if Bin Laden is actually dead and US intelligence agencies have created a "false" Bin Laden.., a ficticious POC for people trying to reach him, and are creating a asossciation matrix that fully outlines all the various sleeper cells waiting for activation??? Sounds crazy and far fetched, right?? Well.. think about it. We haven't seen a photo of Bin Laden that can be confirmed as "post-Tora Bora" in late 2001, over a year ago... We have a tape that is telling the Arab street to rise up when the US invades Iraq.. And Washington Times has a story showing how many Arabs are not heeding Bin Laden's call, and probably won't react when the US invades Iraq, out of fear of being cast as Al-Qaeda supporters and detained..... Arabs ignore bin Laden war call By David R. Sands THE WASHINGTON TIMES washtimes.com Arab and other Muslim governments yesterday brushed aside a new tape by Osama bin Laden calling for a regionwide Islamic war against the West, and Saddam Hussein's regime said the United States was unfairly using the tape to link Iraq to bin Laden's al Qaeda terror network.... con't And now we have a tape that supposedly suggest Bin Laden with die in a "martyrdom" mission later this year... But what purpose would Bin Laden have in announcing his own death?? Might he be already dead and US intelligence is preparing to "wrap up" it's operation (assuming they have now broken up and tracked Al-Qaeda's structure) and officially "bury" Bin Laden?? I mean.. were I Bin Laden... I wouldn't announce that I was going to personally engage in a martyrdom operation.. I would just do it and have a tape ready to be released upon confirmation of my death.. Why give the enemy any advance warning and make my job even harder??? Just a wild @ss conspiracy, but one I was bouncing around this morning with folks at the office... If something like this actually has occurred, it would be the greatest deception operation since Operation Fortitude during WWII.. Hawk