"My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Suzanne. I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in … Philadelphia."These were the last words of an American contractor in Iraq before he was beheaded on video... CBS.
After reading a statement, the men were seen pulling the man to his side and putting a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as the men cut his head off, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" - "God is great." They then held the head out before the camera.I would hope that like me you are outraged with this barbaric act. CNN commented by saying "that is the difference between us and them." Yes that may be true, but I'm certain the deceased and his family will find little comfort in that.
War is not clean, or cool gadgets that shock and awe. For all our bravado and technology, the fact is you cannot play fair and win against fanatics. Either join them or leave them. Become more brutal than them, or leave them to their own devices. Just ask the ancient Crusaders.
And that ladies and gentlemen is the insanity of war. The sooner we realize that the better.
This war is out of hand and I recommend a new strategy. Instead of just lobbing bombs, throw loaves of bread. In other words make friends not enemies. That would be the smartest bomb ever. Teach them how to self govern and get out of there ASAP.
What a novel idea! Couldn't hurt, but that would be too civilized for the war mongers. Let's show them how Americans kick ass.
I leave with this parting thought. Catch phrases like "we will stay the course" make me shudder as I am reminded of another lost cause. I would hope we have learned our lesson from Nixon, where countless more lives were lost because he fixated on saving face, spouting "peace with honour" as he went down in flames.
Give Iraq back to the Iraqi's and let them determine their own destiny. And do it quickly before another Johny comes home lately in a body bag.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Marc
Of course I assume you're also willing to accept the thousands or hundreds of thousands that will most assuredly die in the next terrorist attack in the US.
Care to explain how the billions of US dollars and "[thrown] loaves of bread" for Arafat has helped.
Sorry pal don't make me a target!
2 - Blog Bloke
Good idea. Let's nuke em all now before they get us.
I recommend you re-read the post and then read your history books instead of playing war games on your Play Station. Could save a lot of pain in the long run.
Unfortunately some people just don't get it.
3 - jadester
"And that ladies and gentlemen is the insanity of war. The sooner we realize that the better."
*someone* has been takign war films rather too seriously, methinks. Apocalypse Now, anyone? how about Platoon?
but i think you're missing the point. if we do not resist the insanity of war, then we will all descend back into a primitive age when we simply clubbed every stranger over the head until they moved no more. or they did it to us.
didn't the likes of Martin Luther King and Gandhi say something along the lines of passive resistance being the best - showing an "enemy" that you weren't prepared to rise to their insults, merely ignore them?
It may be a rather different situation, but that doesn't mean the same basic principle cannot be applied. The terrorists expect the invaders to fight them with force. it's what they want.
I wish we weren't giving them exactly what they want.
4 - Blog Bloke
How lame. Jadester, I gotta go now but I can't believe my ears (or in this case my eyes). Did you misspell your handle? "Jester" perhaps? :-)
Surely you are joking by trying to compare the "passive resistance" of a King or Gandhi to flat-out armed warfare?
My God... as the Bloke slowly walks away shaking his head muttering to himself...
Peace brother.
5 - jadester
"Surely you are joking by trying to compare the "passive resistance" of a King or Gandhi to flat-out armed warfare? "
this is exactly what i wasn't doing. Altho i *did* misread the original post (damn you, beer!), mixing its context up with that of Marc's reply.
I am sorry, i actually agree with the original post, so you can disregard my comment about "the insanity of war" (or kepe it in mind as a reminder that it's not a good idea to post when not 100% sober)
what i am seeing is that the more the US tries to use force to combat the growing unrest, the more the unrest grows. Sort of understandable really, but anyway.
My apologies for the mixup. I will try to remember this next time i'm fired up on hop-juice...
6 - mike
As a result of the Iraqi debacle, of which the prisoner abuse and this horrific response are only the latest signs, two things are coming to the United States:
Another terrorist attack; and then
A military dictatorship, imposed by the Bush or Kerry Administration at the behest of the U.S. military and the far right.
Absolutely guaranteed.
7 - Harald
Marc: think that attack won't come if you stay in Iraq? Seems to me it only makes the chance of that happening bigger.
8 - Shark
Marc: "... I assume you're also willing to accept the thousands or hundreds of thousands that will most assuredly die in the next terrorist attack in the US."
Welcome to the Kingdom of Fear -- Where "You're gonna vote Republican or you're all gonna die!" has become the most popular marketing phrase for the GOP. Do us a favor, Marc: stay in your bomb shelter and don't even leave to vote come November.
BTW: It would have been nice to have PURSUED the terrorists around the world -- rather than wasting time, lives, money, and resources on a Neo-Con wet dream in Iraq. I hope the oil revenues and Halliburton's profits can balance the losses the rest of the nation ends up paying ($150 Billion and 700+ lives so far)
Thanks, George!
Harald: "...think that [terrorist] attack won't come if you stay in Iraq? Seems to me it only makes the chance of that happening bigger."
Not only does it increase the chances, but it has increased the number of terrorists by the thousands, if not millions; on top of that, they now have wallet-sized photos courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Defense that give them plenty of 'inspiration' -- as if they needed any more.
Look out for the suspicious vehicle with the "Ask me about my nude pyramid" bumper sticker; it's sure to be driven by a suicide bomber.
Thanks, George and Rummy!
Oh, and did I mention:
WE
LOST
IRAQ.
YANKESS COME HOME --?
9 - BB
For every so-called "terrorist" that is killed, several orphans are left behind to grow up and become American-hating terrorists.
Middle eastern cultures have a long, long (did I mention long) history of hate and revenge. They live for it. It's bred in their culture. They are brainwashed from birth to remember the past and hate. My God, they're still pissed off over Alexander the Great and Ishmael taking a back seat to Isaac.
You will NOT beat them into submission and you CAN'T beat them at their own game. Now do you get naysayers it?
10 - Al Barger
Click here to see the Berg execution video
I urge all interested Americans to see this video for themselves, and form your own opinions rather than take FNC or CNN's word about it.
God bless The Memory Hole. Whenever there are controversial public documents, they're the first stop for getting a look at the raw data.
11 - Sandra Smallson
If it's the abuse of prisoners, if it's the killing of Yassin or now this beheading, the anti-war people don't know when to shut up. This is not a time to parade your views on the war. The actual fact is that this man has been beheaded. They say it is in response to the prisoner pictures. You believe that if you are as dumb as the fuckwits the Osamas and Al sadr's get to do their suicide bombing for them.
This is not the first time they are beheading a foreigner and putting it in the public mainstream. They've slit the throat of a journalist. They've hung some people. All this before any prisoner pics and some even before the Iraq War. These people have been preaching hatred of Western Values for decades and decades. The Orphans supposedly caused by this war have not had the thought process re-directed by the War. The Orphans caused by Sadaam still hated the Western world for not doing anything about Sadaam. WE CAN NOT WIN WITH THESE PEOPLE. Forget the fight for hearts and minds. Thier views are entrenched. Let's deal with the practical. If their parents were alive they would have taught them that the Western World is the enemy. Now, you say the parents are dead, the Western world is still the enemy.
For civilised people to try and find justifications and excuses for these terrorists because you do not like War and claim history supports your opinion that war solves nothing is really a very unintelligent path to follow.
You are entitled to be anti-war. However, when you justify your stance by arguing about the increase in terrorist attacks or terrorists and how brute force in war can be likened to terrorist attacks, then you really begin to sound daft, uninformed and just silly.
Those who do not support war because they do not believe in any shape of violence deserve respect even though we may disagree. Those who do not support the war because they claim it would lead to more terrorists or terrorist attacks and so on are really just ignorant and unintelligent. They have no clue. You say War has not been the answer and history supports you(though it was War that got rid of Hitler in the end. I guess you wanted dialogue with Hitler while Jews were being fried. It was War that got rid of many dictators and tyrants. It was War that freed many countries)
It may have failed sometimes but it's also worked sometimes.
Perhaps the time spent studying history should also be spent studying the history of terrorists and see whether you can find a peaceful solution all through history that you naysayers can suggest as the best way to solve this modern day crisis. Until you can suggest a reasonable and effective solution, Shut the hell up as you sit with freedom and liberty and a right to life itself.
Let those who think War is the way carry on. We succeed. Thank God. We fail, we try again and fail better.
12 - BB
Sandra if I could understand your point I would be happy to respond.
Al, I just saw the video and I must confess that I had to shut it off. I couldn't watch it all. I'm astonished. I'm stunned.
No mind can fathom such evil or so much hate to do such a monstrous thing. There can be no justification and there is no defence. I'm speechless.
13 - Sandra Smallson
BB, and I am all the wiser for you not having responded. As is the rest of the world, I dare say.
14 - BB
Sandra, I was being serious. I could not follow your rambling.
Sorry, and no offence meant.
15 - Sandra Smallson
No offence taken. I know you were being serious but I am aware of you on this site too so I did not expect you to follow my rambling. You lack the equipment.
16 - bb
Now golly gee wiz Sandra. This is our first conversation and you've been insulting and hurt my feelings. Shame on you girl.
Well, it's my beddy-bye time and as much as I would love to chat, frankly this conversation isn't worth the effort. So go ahead and fight with yourself dear. And besides this topic is much too serious to be soiled by your nonsense.
Hey, look... I see Barger over there, so go pick a fight and knock yourself out.
Nighty-night.
17 - jadester
Sandra, you actually said it yourself in your own post
"WE CAN NOT WIN WITH THESE PEOPLE"
and by trying to "win" we giving them exactly what they want; ammunition with which to recruit more terrorists, and generally spread the hate. I.e. where before, you may have had a load of people who weren't really interested in hearing how bad the West is, cos they were just getting on with their lives, you now have an audience that is willing to listen to the extremist views.
Is the US still in iraq? yes!
Is Iraq now ruled by Iraqis? no!
Are iraqi civilians still getting caught in the crossfire? yes!
Are the invaders taking our oil at knock-down prices? yes!
the invaders are evil i tells ya! Evil! Eeeee-viiiiil!
see how easy it is? of course it's distorted, wholly one-sided and not even 100% truthful, but that's how the terrorists work. We've made the recruiters' jobs much easier for them.
18 - Sandra Smallson
Jadesester: I.e. where before, you may have had a load of people who weren't really interested in hearing how bad the West is, cos they were just getting on with their lives,...
Sandra: Wishful thinking of the highest order. You yourself know that is a gross distortion of reality and a complete lie.
Jadester: you now have an audience that is willing to listen to the extremist views.
Sandra: The point of my entire post. How can you claim that it is our actions that have recruited these people? They have existed since time immemorial. Our recent actions may give them another reason to justify their acts but even without us doing anything, they were always going to have reasons or find reasons. I guess we both agree we can not win but for competely different reasons.
BB, have a good nights rest and retrieve your medula oblaganta from the spirit world then maybe you will understand my ramblings.
At this point your responses show that you are a dunce with wits and a wit with dunces. I tried to laugh at the attempted sarcasm but I am not a dunce and that is where your wit gets all it's success obviously. Amongst the dimwits.
19 - jadester
I just want to clarify something because i'm not sure what you mean by:
"Sandra: Wishful thinking of the highest order. You yourself know that is a gross distortion of reality and a complete lie."
do you mean to imply by this that before the Iraq war, the average Iraqi was prepared to carry out terror attacks against Western countries, or even worse, sacrifice themselves in doing so?
or do you mean that you took me to mean all Iraqis now think ths way - if so i apologise for not making myself clear, it is seemingly a major flaw of mine. I did NOT mean that, by any stretch, ALL iraqis (or even the majority) are now prepared to fight the West. I simply meant that now there are a good deal more Iraqis who are prepared to listen to the extremist preachers, and once they start listening, it's hard to stop - those preachers may be rather crazy but most of them know how to manipulate an audience at least to some extent.
20 - Sandra Smallson
Before the Iraqi War, jadester, the average Iraqi could barely think, eat, sleep, speak or do anything let alone carry out any terrorist acts on the Western world. Infact, those who were members of terrorist groups probably joined as a way out of Sadaam's rule.
My point is, be it iraqi, be it Syrian, be it Lebanese, with or without the Iraq War we were always going to have more and more terrorists and more and more anti-western feelings. We needn't have done a darn thing to make recruitment easier. They were doing well by their damn selves and the only reason you may think they are on the rise now is because America is no longer isolated and you are all now more aware of the outside world since 9/11.
The existense of an alarming number of terrorists is nothing new. Anti-American sentiment is nothing new. You just paid no attention then because nothing major had happened on your soil. What difference does it make if it is an Iraqi that bombs the American Embassy in Lebanon or if it is a Syrian? These people existed before the Iraq war, they exist now, and they will continue to exist. If you think the war is a failure in stopping the matter, well we will keep trying and keep failing better. It certainly is far better than sitting down knitting and doing fuck all.
If Dialogue was the method they used against Hitler, far more Jews would have been fried. Enough were cooked already as it is.
At some point you have to let go and realise that some people just dont understand. You go into the jungle you operate with the laws of the jungle. It's as simple as that.
21 - Shark
(BB, don't feel bad; Sandra is not familiar with the concept of brevity. She might have something to contribute, but I usually skip her garrulous posts.)
I do think this beheading plays into the hands of Bush and the Neo-Cons. We've started down a slippery slope that will end with massive escalation of violence around the world.
Next Trend: Americans seriously wanting to "nuke" the Middle East. (whoops! This just in...)
Another Trend: Suggestions to instigate "The Final Solution" for all Muslims -- followed by millions of Americans thinking it's a great idea.
Bush and Co. are loving it.
After 9/11, we coulda been a contender. Now, thanks to Iraq, we're the Universal Satanic State for the balance of the 21st century.
America's days are numbered.
Thanks, George!
22 - Shark
Big Al: "I urge all interested Americans to see this video for themselves, and form your own opinions rather than take FNC or CNN's word about it."
Just curious, Al:
How would you hope that people react differently when viewing this video versus hearing a graphic description of the act?
What sort of reaction are you hoping for that you don't think you would be satisfied with from a simple 'graphic description' etc. from CNN.
Please to explain.
23 - Sandra Smallson
Shark: (BB, don't feel bad; Sandra is not familiar with the concept of brevity. She might have something to contribute, but I usually skip her garrulous posts.)
Sandra: And I am all the wiser and very grateful for this kind act of skipping my posts. Now, a further act of kindness would be if you could skip referring to me altogether, I assure you the kingdom of heaven could be well within your reach.
24 - Blog Bloke
Some people don't have the capacity or good sense to take a hint. This is a serious topic hijacked by a twit that is too 'small' minded to understand the meaning of collecting her thoughts and proper sentence structure. Perhaps a topic about Howard Stern's transvestites from planet moonbeam would be more to her liking.
Please, by all means carry on with your hateful vendettas on another thread and get a brain while you're at it.
25 - Sandra Smallson
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
-Edmund Burke
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
-Albert Einstein
"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph."
-Haile Selassie
The above is my point.
Now, a postulate invertebrae, another wit with dunces and a great dunce with wits, has run in here calling himself Mr Blog Bloke.
The ineffable dunce has nothing to say and says it with a liberal embellishment of bad delivery, embroidering it with reasonless attitude. There never was a blockhead so stupid, a crank so variously and offensively daft. He makes me tired.
Thank you Ambrose Bierce for saving me the effort:)
Atleast I have a chance to find a brain. Though I am quite happy with the one I possess. I am also happy with my sentence structures on blog. Reading yours and those of your friends, I fit in perfectly. As for you, the best part of you ran down your mothers legs. The rest of you has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Gods speed.