Thursday, July 22, 2004
American Bounty Hunters in Iraq?:
Of course, the American military had nothing to do with the bounty hunters in Iraq! I seem to remember not too long ago when everyone in Washington was saying that the intelligence failure was in large part due to the fact that they had not been using enough agents abroad and as a result their intelligence gathering capabilities had gone way down. So here we have what would appear to be an obvious example of a not so covert operative and everyone reacts with horror. Just as everyone reacts with horror to the pictures of the Iraqi prisoners being mistreated. I find this all very hypocritical.
First, the terrorists are the ones deliberately killing civilians. If the American have to mistreat them to finally stop them- so be it. My problem with the American record has been primarily the fact that so many innocents seem to be suffering along with the bad guys. The killing must stop! We've all heard the stories of the decapitations. There are many philosophies regarding battle tactics. But it really comes down to one thing. If you have an enemy that is prepared to do what you are not, it is very difficult to win. Vietnam comes to mind. This fact has been the rational behind intelligence and covert ops pretty much forever. If you want to truly defeat terrorism you must accomplish two things. You must stop the fundamental causes of the development of terrorists and you must be at least as ruthless with the bad guys as they are with you. This is the basis for my opinion about extremely violent criminals or pedophiles- put them away forever- no parole, no second chances, that much at least is owed to the victims and to the future victims. Failing to do this, then they should be executed-which I actually don't believe in. But life sentence must mean life sentence to protect the innocents. Ruthless..., perhaps! Sentimentality is trivial in the face of the never ending violent crime and endless stories of the many times convicted violent offenders latest victim. Enough already. Stop the terrorists and stop the violence- no exceptions. Police are better able to track and prove guilt than ever before. Perhaps if they didn't have to waste so much time and money going after the same violent offenders over and over, they would have more chance to get the ones who are currently getting away.
Of course, the American military had nothing to do with the bounty hunters in Iraq! I seem to remember not too long ago when everyone in Washington was saying that the intelligence failure was in large part due to the fact that they had not been using enough agents abroad and as a result their intelligence gathering capabilities had gone way down. So here we have what would appear to be an obvious example of a not so covert operative and everyone reacts with horror. Just as everyone reacts with horror to the pictures of the Iraqi prisoners being mistreated. I find this all very hypocritical.
First, the terrorists are the ones deliberately killing civilians. If the American have to mistreat them to finally stop them- so be it. My problem with the American record has been primarily the fact that so many innocents seem to be suffering along with the bad guys. The killing must stop! We've all heard the stories of the decapitations. There are many philosophies regarding battle tactics. But it really comes down to one thing. If you have an enemy that is prepared to do what you are not, it is very difficult to win. Vietnam comes to mind. This fact has been the rational behind intelligence and covert ops pretty much forever. If you want to truly defeat terrorism you must accomplish two things. You must stop the fundamental causes of the development of terrorists and you must be at least as ruthless with the bad guys as they are with you. This is the basis for my opinion about extremely violent criminals or pedophiles- put them away forever- no parole, no second chances, that much at least is owed to the victims and to the future victims. Failing to do this, then they should be executed-which I actually don't believe in. But life sentence must mean life sentence to protect the innocents. Ruthless..., perhaps! Sentimentality is trivial in the face of the never ending violent crime and endless stories of the many times convicted violent offenders latest victim. Enough already. Stop the terrorists and stop the violence- no exceptions. Police are better able to track and prove guilt than ever before. Perhaps if they didn't have to waste so much time and money going after the same violent offenders over and over, they would have more chance to get the ones who are currently getting away.
# posted by Wil Smith : 7:00 p.m.
