Category Archives: War Commentary

Technology and Society, War Commentary

Maybe They Could Use Crayons

3 Comments

There’s been quite a bit of commentary about the technological backwardness of the enemy. That is certainly a key distinction between this war and World War II and the Cold war, in which we were at war with technologically advanced industrial states (Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union), whereas the hirabis have virtually no industrial or weapons-making capability, short of nail bombs. I think that it was Rich Lowry who compared the two cultures by writing something like “…we build skyscrapers and jet airliners–that’s our idea. They hijack our airliners and fly them into the skyscrapers–that’s their idea.”

Anyway, there was some buzz recently that they had developed a computer graphic of a nuked Washington DC for one of their propaganda videos.

Nope. They had to lift it from a western video game. They’re not only incapable of carrying out our destruction, they’re not even capable of simulating it. But it does speak strongly to their intent if they ever get their hands on advanced weaponry, something that, with advancing technology, will become more and more of a problem in the future.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

What Doesn’t?

Apparently, the phrase “War on Terror” offends Muslims. Words fail.

Well, OK, not completely. Somehow, this reminds me of the (feigned?) outrage that the Democrats exhibited when President Bush talked about appeasers in his speech to the Knesset, but didn’t name names. You know what? If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. It doesn’t really serve your cause when, in response to criticism of someone unnamed, you jump up and shout, “Hey, he’s talkin’ ’bout me!”

Similarly, how can Muslims be offended by a “war on terror”? Do they think that terror and Islam are inevitably and appropriately identified with each other, and inseparable? Well, if so, stupidity like this just fuels that perception.

[Update in the evening]

Robert Spencer has further thoughts on fantasy-based policy making.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

What Doesn’t?

2 Comments

Apparently, the phrase “War on Terror” offends Muslims. Words fail.

Well, OK, not completely. Somehow, this reminds me of the (feigned?) outrage that the Democrats exhibited when President Bush talked about appeasers in his speech to the Knesset, but didn’t name names. You know what? If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. It doesn’t really serve your cause when, in response to criticism of someone unnamed, you jump up and shout, “Hey, he’s talkin’ ’bout me!”

Similarly, how can Muslims be offended by a “war on terror”? Do they think that terror and Islam are inevitably and appropriately identified with each other, and inseparable? Well, if so, stupidity like this just fuels that perception.

[Update in the evening]

Robert Spencer has further thoughts on fantasy-based policy making.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

I’d Buy One

11 Comments

I think that a bumper sticker that said “I’D RATHER HAVE BUSH’S THIRD TERM THAN JIMMY CARTER’S SECOND” would be a hot seller, assuming that Obama is the nominee. Note, contrary to convention wisdom, I still don’t assume that. There’s this little thing called a “convention” coming up that will determine that.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

I’d Buy One

I think that a bumper sticker that said “I’D RATHER HAVE BUSH’S THIRD TERM THAN JIMMY CARTER’S SECOND” would be a hot seller, assuming that Obama is the nominee. Note, contrary to convention wisdom, I still don’t assume that. There’s this little thing called a “convention” coming up that will determine that.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

I’d Buy One

I think that a bumper sticker that said “I’D RATHER HAVE BUSH’S THIRD TERM THAN JIMMY CARTER’S SECOND” would be a hot seller, assuming that Obama is the nominee. Note, contrary to convention wisdom, I still don’t assume that. There’s this little thing called a “convention” coming up that will determine that.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

“The Sun Sets”

10 Comments

…finally, on the British Empire.

Strange to witness one of the oldest and most successful of nations commit suicide without even being aware of what it’s doing.

Strange indeed. And very sad.

[Update, a few minutes later]

You know, if the Saudis wanted to spend their money building Muslim hospitals in the UK (just as the Catholics have their own hospitals in the US), complete with restrictions as to how much hygiene is required on the part of the nursing staff, per sharia law, who could object to them orienting the beds in whatever direction they wished? The only people who would suffer would be the Muslims stupid enough to use their services.

But instead, because Britain, with its NHS (and other programs) has become a welfare state, it’s a lot cheaper for them to spend the money bribing MPs to institute such nonsense in the public hospitals, so they can save their money for funding madrassas that encourage people to bomb the Tube.

This would seem to have parallels to the public school system, and the battles over what kind of “science” to teach in science classes. It is an intrinsic pitfall of state-supplied health and education. Not to mention other vital needs.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

“The Sun Sets”

…finally, on the British Empire.

Strange to witness one of the oldest and most successful of nations commit suicide without even being aware of what it’s doing.

Strange indeed. And very sad.

[Update, a few minutes later]

You know, if the Saudis wanted to spend their money building Muslim hospitals in the UK (just as the Catholics have their own hospitals in the US), complete with restrictions as to how much hygiene is required on the part of the nursing staff, per sharia law, who could object to them orienting the beds in whatever direction they wished? The only people who would suffer would be the Muslims stupid enough to use their services.

But instead, because Britain, with its NHS (and other programs) has become a welfare state, it’s a lot cheaper for them to spend the money bribing MPs to institute such nonsense in the public hospitals, so they can save their money for funding madrassas that encourage people to bomb the Tube.

This would seem to have parallels to the public school system, and the battles over what kind of “science” to teach in science classes. It is an intrinsic pitfall of state-supplied health and education. Not to mention other vital needs.

Political Commentary, War Commentary

“The Sun Sets”

…finally, on the British Empire.

Strange to witness one of the oldest and most successful of nations commit suicide without even being aware of what it’s doing.

Strange indeed. And very sad.

[Update, a few minutes later]

You know, if the Saudis wanted to spend their money building Muslim hospitals in the UK (just as the Catholics have their own hospitals in the US), complete with restrictions as to how much hygiene is required on the part of the nursing staff, per sharia law, who could object to them orienting the beds in whatever direction they wished? The only people who would suffer would be the Muslims stupid enough to use their services.

But instead, because Britain, with its NHS (and other programs) has become a welfare state, it’s a lot cheaper for them to spend the money bribing MPs to institute such nonsense in the public hospitals, so they can save their money for funding madrassas that encourage people to bomb the Tube.

This would seem to have parallels to the public school system, and the battles over what kind of “science” to teach in science classes. It is an intrinsic pitfall of state-supplied health and education. Not to mention other vital needs.