War on Terrorism

[Rico]

HAHA, Gunny leave him alone, he knows what he is talking about, he learned it in school. SCHOOL! The master facility of endoctrination taught him more in 15 years than you have in a combat MOS in the US Marine corps. You are certainly out-gunned Jason, just give up.

[Eyes On]

I'm not attacking your opinion merly trying to inform/perswade you of mine through inteligent banter.

Then try using some. As of now, if you're in Advanced Honors Global Politics and have such a poor grasp of reality... not "Socially Created Reality" but rather that which is and is real; then I fear for the future of my country. The saddest part of it is that you don't even have a clue as to what it is you don't know, yet you pretend that you do and that you are somehow capable of making an intelligent statement on the matter. It may impress your fellow High School drones, however it falls miserably short in my book.

You are entitled to your own opinion, but having an opinion that is based on something other than objective reality then it's a lot like having a pocket full of monopoly money: you're not likely to travel anywhere using it. I have EVERY right to say your opinion is worthless provided that I am correct in doing so. The fact that you have or hold an opinion is meaningless on its face without that opinion being tested. You can believe whatever you like, I choose to believe that you are a marginal and ignorant mentality. You have yet to show proof to me otherwise.

As for what "the majority" of Americans think... I don't care what civilians think. They'll think what the media companies tell them to think about subjects they have no basis to have a valid opinion about. I could care less how some soccer mom thinks we should be fighting a war. We're IN this current incarnation of the war because of ignorant pukes who fought wars based on opinion polls.

I'd love to read the first page of your thesis, just to get a good chuckle out of it. Thusfar all I've seen out of you is some kind of maliable, soft, gooey relativist tripe. I can imagine that your "thesis" is more of the same. Might I suggest to you that you maybe put down your copy of "Johnny Has Two Dads Who Teach World History", and pick up and read
"On War" Clausewitz
"The Art of War (Annotated Edition)" Sun Tzu
"Terroism Reader" Laquer & Alexander
"Mao Tse-Tung on Guerilla Warfare" Mao
"Airpower and Maneuver Warfare" Van Creveld
"Foundations of Moral Obligation: The Stockdale Course" Brennan
"From Beirut to Jerusalem" Friedman
"On the Origins of War and the Preservation of Peace" Kagan
"Hotel Warriors (Military and the Media)" Fialka
"Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods" Poole & Smith

Once you have read all of those, come back and talk to me.

[Rico]

oh snap!

[Nightshade]

blah blah blah blah blah Adv Honors Global blah blah blah blah perswade

I suggest before you take any more "Honors" courses (at Wilson HS, no less) that you pick up a dictionary and take a 7th grade English class.

[Wood Duck]

I'm not attacking your opinion merly trying to inform/perswade you of mine through inteligent banter.

Then try using some. As of now, if you're in Advanced Honors Global Politics and have such a poor grasp of reality... not "Socially Created Reality" but rather that which is and is real; then I fear for the future of my country. The saddest part of it is that you don't even have a clue as to what it is you don't know, yet you pretend that you do and that you are somehow capable of making an intelligent statement on the matter. It may impress your fellow High School drones, however it falls miserably short in my book.

You are entitled to your own opinion, but having an opinion that is based on something other than objective reality then it's a lot like having a pocket full of monopoly money: you're not likely to travel anywhere using it. I have EVERY right to say your opinion is worthless provided that I am correct in doing so. The fact that you have or hold an opinion is meaningless on its face without that opinion being tested. You can believe whatever you like, I choose to believe that you are a marginal and ignorant mentality. You have yet to show proof to me otherwise.

As for what "the majority" of Americans think... I don't care what civilians think. They'll think what the media companies tell them to think about subjects they have no basis to have a valid opinion about. I could care less how some soccer mom thinks we should be fighting a war. We're IN this current incarnation of the war because of ignorant pukes who fought wars based on opinion polls.

I'd love to read the first page of your thesis, just to get a good chuckle out of it. Thusfar all I've seen out of you is some kind of maliable, soft, gooey relativist tripe. I can imagine that your "thesis" is more of the same. Might I suggest to you that you maybe put down your copy of "Johnny Has Two Dads Who Teach World History", and pick up and read
"On War" Clausewitz
"The Art of War (Annotated Edition)" Sun Tzu
"Terroism Reader" Laquer & Alexander
"Mao Tse-Tung on Guerilla Warfare" Mao
"Airpower and Maneuver Warfare" Van Creveld
"Foundations of Moral Obligation: The Stockdale Course" Brennan
"From Beirut to Jerusalem" Friedman
"On the Origins of War and the Preservation of Peace" Kagan
"Hotel Warriors (Military and the Media)" Fialka
"Tactics of the Crescent Moon: Militant Muslim Combat Methods" Poole & Smith

Once you have read all of those, come back and talk to me.

Your list of recomended reading is quite impressive, i'll give you that. the fact that i have read some of books on the list speaks for itself.
"The Art of War (Annotated Edition)" Sun Tzu
"Mao Tse-Tung on Guerilla Warfare" Mao read both in their entireity

My suggested reading list follows.

"All the Shaws Men"
"Bitter Fruit"
"Gerrilla Warfare" Che Guevara
"South Africa, Resistance to Ahpartied"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" Try a classic maybe

Your Anti Gay slur was not appriciated "Johnny Has Two Dads Who Teach World History"

Also, I am not some treehuging flower- loving hippie that goes along with any liberal opinion. I form my own based on my experinces. I do go conservitive onissues such as gun ownership(hello, i'm on an airsoft site), so don't rape me up the @$$ without taking your blindfold of hate off first.

Once Again you attack my oppinion and once again I try to understand and come even with yours wich i actually havent heard much of since you were too buisy Pumping me full of lead.

[Zahrdoz]

WOOT!! Get it on Wood Duck! We love good debate around here! Watch out for those Gunnyisms though.....

[Radduski]

...i May Be young, but Have spent a year of My life in An Adv. Honers Global Politics Class Where Guerrilla warfare was a mane theme and which I did a thesis paper on at least entitle's me to some form of opinion...

I hope for your sake that the teacher did'nt grade you on punctuation and spelling...

EDIT: Didnt see Ricks reply...

[Zahrdoz]

...i May Be young, but Have spent a year of My life in An Adv. Honers Global Politics Class Where Guerrilla warfare was a mane theme and which I did a thesis paper on at least entitle's me to some form of opinion...

I hope for your sake that the teacher did'nt grade you on punctuation and spelling...

EDIT: Didnt see Ricks reply...

Gee Zane... is it "didnt" or "did'nt"... or maybe something else?

[Eyes On]

What do you know about Che Guevara? The fact that you would lend credibility to Guevaras writings or those of Kinzer*... do the world a favor and get a bleeding clue. Hemmingway? I read that in 5th grade... which was something like 25 years before I went to Grad School THE FIRST TIME.

My opinions are clearly stated in my previous posts. Try reading them.

*If you are going to recommend a book as in the case of Stephen Kinzers "All the Shah's Men" or, more correctly "All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror", of which I happen to have a copy on my book shelf. If I thought it was a worthwhile read, I'd have posted it in my reading list.

Further, it is "Guerilla Warfare". I read it in 1984, along with his other books for no other reason than to get into the heads of those who would follow him.

[Wood Duck]

What do you know about Che Guevara? The fact that you would lend credibility to Guevaras writings or those of Kinzer*... do the world a favor and get a f***ing clue. Hemmingway? I read that in 5th grade... which was something like 25 years before I went to Grad School THE FIRST TIME.

My opinions are clearly stated in my previous posts. Try reading them.

*If you are going to recommend a book as in the case of Stephen Kinzers "All the Shah's Men" or, more correctly "All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror", of which I happen to have a copy on my book shelf. If I thought it was a worthwhile read, I'd have posted it in my reading list.

Further, it is "Guerilla Warfare". I read it in 1984, along with his other books for no other reason than to get into the heads of those who would follow him.

Che Guevara's book is a good introduction on the phycological effects of Guerrilla Warfare. Che is most credible in this respect since he helped fight for the liberation of cuba- he was a Guerilla!

All the shah's men is the basis to why the arabs are so pissed at us. since you have read the book i assume you know why.

I am glad that you have read my reading list

The reference to hemmingway was a light hearted joke-- take it as such

[Eyes On]

Guevaras books are meaningless. He said so himself. Checito has no credibility, as all but one of his insurgencies in LATAM failed not only to accomplish thier objectives in all respects, but also increased the amount of suffering in LATAM more than anyone thought possible. Thanks to Checito, Shining Path and FARC are now in the drug business.

Your typical Iranian citizen is not an enemy of the US regardless of what Kinzer would like you to believe. You have to see how the Revolutionary Government operates to see the real underpinnings of the conflict. That leads us to the real reasons, which could fill volumes. Some legitimate, most fabrications.

Finally, "Your" reading list: Lets get something straight... you have nothing to teach me. There is nothing I can learn from you. You are, at best, a mediocre intellect. For someone who has "studied Global Politics", you have no grasp of history. As I stated, your opinions are meaningless and invalid. If there was a grain of truth or reality in them... if they were formed with some historical reality edit to add I'd have some respect for you or your opinions end edit. Instead, your opinions are little more than satements that are little removed from posting "I like pie." Move along, these aren't the droids you're looking for.

[CharlesAFerg]

You're assuming that he's IN Afghanistan. You're also thinking in 1 dimentional terms.

We could have 1,000,000 men standing shoulder to shoulder 3 feet apart and you have them walk through the Hindu Kush without finding anything. It's a game that the Afghans play very well.

Year after year the Soviets sent 20,000, 30,000, even 40,000 people into the Shah e-Kot Valley after Massoud, Ismail Khan, Karzai... they were looking for a force that was never really more than 2,000-3,000 men at any one time. The solution is not in numbers in Afghanistan, the mountains will simply make your army disappear. The solution in Afghanistan has much more to do with Predator Drones and Close Air Support.

As CAFerg said, another part of the problem is in Western Pakistan. I'd take it a bit further and add Iran to the calculus. It's not as if the Iranians only have to worry about an American military force in Iraq, nor is it a matter of the Iranians being opposed to every member of the former Taliban or Al Queda either. Remember, the phrase "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is Persian.

Finally, don't make Afghanistan a one issue item. It's not about all about religion, it's not all about culture, it's not all about power etc... it's all about all of those things when you look at it historically. Once you get your head wrapped around that fact, and the realities of fighting a war on the roof of the world (OK, it's not the actual "roof" which is in Nepal, it's more like the attic), you'll see how pedestrian and simplistic the common assumptions about A-Stan by the lay-public really are.

Well said Gunny, Also for clarification I personally believe he is in Pakistan MOST of the time. I had some documents on soem research I did on the people that were most likely holding him and the privinces he would most likely be travelling through, but for the life of me I cannot find it! Damnit!

Also, this phrase ""The enemy of my enemy is my friend"" I bring up a lot, I was tlaking to Zahrdoz about it. I completely disagree wth it, and there are many examples of why. Mostly relating to the long term effects on different variables. You get the idea.

[Eyes On]

Also, this phrase ""The enemy of my enemy is my friend"" I bring up a lot, I was tlaking to Zahrdoz about it. I completely disagree wth it, and there are many examples of why. Mostly relating to the long term effects on different variables. You get the idea.

I can't disagree with you, but history is rife with the examples. If you think of the word "friend" in the literal term, you'd be wrong. In this context, "friend" is more like "something temporarily useful". That is the context you'll find the phrase being applied in.

[Wood Duck]

Guevaras books are meaningless. He said so himself. Checito has no credibility, as all but one of his insurgencies in LATAM failed not only to accomplish thier objectives in all respects, but also increased the amount of suffering in LATAM more than anyone thought possible. Thanks to Checito, Shining Path and FARC are now in the drug business.

Your typical Iranian citizen is not an enemy of the US regardless of what Kinzer would like you to believe. You have to see how the Revolutionary Government operates to see the real underpinnings of the conflict. That leads us to the real reasons, which could fill volumes. Some legitimate, most fabrications.

Finally, "Your" reading list: Lets get something straight... you have nothing to teach me. There is nothing I can learn from you. You are, at best, a mediocre intellect. For someone who has "studied Global Politics", you have no grasp of history. As I stated, your opinions are meaningless and invalid. If there was a grain of truth or reality in them... if they were formed with some historical reality. Instead, your opinions are little more than satements that are little removed from posting "I like pie." Move along, these aren't the droids you're looking for.

I'm not looking for droids. you engaged me in conversation and i replied. PERIOD.

Never the less i have enjoyed arguing with you. You may not have anything to learn from me, but i do from you. i'm not afraid to admit it. I am young. and by the way, my parents voted for bush. i was built on on my political foundation by myself. not some authority figure.

[Skywalker]

Jeez, this was a heated argument. Go Wood Duck! Get in there little Cannon Fodder!! I am NOT saying that I choose his side or anyone's side. I am on my own side.