Thoughts and prayers for Paris, France.

[shadyJ]

I know many like to use Bush's statement, "Mission accomplished." as a way to mock him and that's fine. His successor has managed to come up with his own...

"We have contained them." Said just before the massacre in Paris.

From Politifact regarding the JV comment...

It is disingenuous to try to paint Obama as inept as Bush, and you know it. By "contained", Obama obviously means ground held. ISIS may claim responsibility for the Paris attacks, but those acts were not committed by ISIS regulars, they were committed by French and Belgian citizens. ISIS can strike anywhere where there is someone dumb enough to go for their ideology. On the other hand, the 'mission accomplished' banner really was intended to intimate that bush (that imbecile) had won the war. I don't know what your beef with Obama is, America has done relatively well under his presidency, all things considered.

 

[herbu]

The very idea that you think the government wants to take our guns means your drinking too much NRA and/or Fox News kool aid. Nobody is coming for your guns.

Gene, I agree we need to fairly and accurately present our ideals to the Muslim peoples, and let them decide what they want. In the meantime, we need to hunt and kill every individual that's trying to kill us.

As for guns, I believe it's a subject you likely haven't really researched. You automatically discount the NRA and Fox in favor of ABC/CBS/NBC/CNN. There you'll hear bogus numbers and conclusions as their agenda is aligned w/ the Dems. Sadly, I doubt anything is to be gained by presenting the facts here.

 

[Chu Gai]

It is disingenuous to try to paint Obama as inept as Bush, and you know it. By "contained", Obama obviously means ground held. ISIS may claim responsibility for the Paris attacks, but those acts were not committed by ISIS regulars, they were committed by French and Belgian citizens. ISIS can strike anywhere where there is someone dumb enough to go for their ideology. On the other hand, the 'mission accomplished' banner really was intended to intimate that bush (that imbecile) had won the war. I don't know what your beef with Obama is, America has done relatively well under his presidency, all things considered.

As inept? Your words. It's far too early to pass anything resembling a definitive judgement on either's presidency. The ground held thing is just Josh Earnest spinning things. I know the nationalities but that doesn't mean they're not ISIS. ISIS recruits stooges from around the world. They indoctrinate children, use women to go boom. I've seen videos of what happens to ISIS regulars when their caught by those they attempted to enslave. They cry. Plead for their lives. Piss their pants when they're the ones facing that one way ticket to a paradise with virgins.

And really, if we are to blame Bush for the destabilizing of Iraq, what does that say for Obama and the destabilizing of Syria, Lybia, etc? Obama is an activist idealog who is hell bent on looking to force the world to conform to his election promises. As the commander in chief he's blind to the realities of the world.

Whatcha doing for thanksgiving?

 

[Chu Gai]

A Scottish town has a message for ISIS.

 

[zieglj01]

Time to wake up and be alert - do not be surprised if things continue to get worse
in the world (and the USA) - continuing now and this coming year.

 

[markw]

Well, Canada has taken a rather pragmatic solution to the Syrian refugee problem.

The federal government’s much-anticipated Syrian refugee plan will limit those accepted into Canada to women, children and families only, CBC News has learned.

Sources tell CBC News that to deal with some ongoing concerns around security, unaccompanied men seeking asylum will not be part of the program.

http://www.allenbwest.com/2015/11/wow-the-new-syrian-refugee-policy-canada-just-announced-is-probably-racist/

It seem Trudeau cares more about his country and it's people than the refugees.

Hey prez. Are you listening?

One final thought on this matter:

Mr. Snake approaches Mr. Turtle on a river bank and asks Mr. Turtle for a ride across the water since he can't swim the river himself. Mr. Turtle politely refuses to oblige, reasoning that if he were to give Mr. Snake a ride across the river, he would surely be bitten. Mr. Snake protests saying that it would be foolish for him to bite the one carrying him, since it would result in him perishing also. Mr. Turtle considers the argument, then agrees to ferry Mr. Snake over the broad river. When they are half-way across the river Mr. Turtle feels a sharp pain and realizes he has been bitten by Mr. Snake. As the venom is beginning to take effect, Mr. Turtle sadly and resolutely asks Mr. Snake why he bit him, since the biting will also result in Mr. Snake's demise. A wry smile came upon Mr. Snake's face. "I bit you because I am a snake Mr. Turtle; that is my nature."

 

[Tao1]

One final thought on this matter:

Mr. Snake approaches Mr. Turtle on a river bank and asks Mr. Turtle for a ride across the water since he can't swim the river himself. Mr. Turtle politely refuses to oblige, reasoning that if he were to give Mr. Snake a ride across the river, he would surely be bitten. Mr. Snake protests saying that it would be foolish for him to bite the one carrying him, since it would result in him perishing also. Mr. Turtle considers the argument, then agrees to ferry Mr. Snake over the broad river. When they are half-way across the river Mr. Turtle feels a sharp pain and realizes he has been bitten by Mr. Snake. As the venom is beginning to take effect, Mr. Turtle sadly and resolutely asks Mr. Snake why he bit him, since the biting will also result in Mr. Snake's demise. A wry smile came upon Mr. Snake's face. "I bit you because I am a snake Mr. Turtle; that is my nature."

That thought is a non-sequitur, since the concept of a person's 'nature' is a myth.

There is a good video that discusses human behaviour. It is part of a larger documentary, but it stands on its own.

**Skip to 9:05 to skip the intro.

That video gives us one piece of the puzzle when it comes to understanding terrorists, but it also clarifies a lot of thing when dealing with people in our everyday lives.

 

[markw]

I'm not gonna waste 45 minutes of my time on this drek. Either state your point or keep out of it

As for understanding terrorists, all I need to know is that a) they don't play by the rules and b) have no problems lying to get their way, and ) they target unarmed innocents as opposed to armed opponents..

 

[Tao1]

I'm not gonna waste 45 minutes of my time on this drek. Either state your point or keep out of it

As for understanding terrorists, all I need to know is that a) they don't play by the rules and b) have no problems lying to get their way, and ) they target unarmed innocents as opposed to armed opponents..

It is not drek. It is a collection of interviews with a biologist, psychiatrist, criminologist, and one or two other specialists outlining the factors that impact human behaviour. It dispels the myths of 'human nature' and 'nature vs nurture' and discusses how human biology and psychology react to environmental factors.

I share it because it has an impact on how we view day to day relations with other people.

 

[markw]

Capsulize it for us. Inquiring minds want to know. ...but not enough to waste 45 minutes.

 

[Tao1]

Capsulize it for us. Inquiring minds want to know. ...but not enough to waste 45 minutes.

Can't really make a summary about it. It already is a 40 minute summary of some pretty advanced topics from different fields. All I can say is that people should find that 32 mins or so (without the intro) enlightening, and not a waste of time.

 

[markw]

Terrorists are like yellowjackets. Hide underground and lash out. To destroy them one must burn the nest and if that requires some scorched earth, so be it.

When you watch 2,700 people die before your very eyes by their hands, one tends to be somewhat less than tolerant of them.

 

[crossedover]

 

[crossedover]

 

[Tao1]

Terrorists are like yellowjackets. Hide underground and lash out. To destroy them one must burn the nest and if that requires some scorched earth, so be it.

When you watch 2,700 people die before your very eyes by their hands, one tends to be somewhat less than tolerant of them.

I am fairly sure that both these statements are also expressed by the ISIS recruits out of Iraq. Like the article I linked a few pages ago, many are the children who suffered from the American occupation. Watching people in their communities being killed, along with family members killed or detained, hasn't made many of those people very 'tolerant' of Americans, or westerners in general.

I try to show Americans that they are engaging (somewhat hypocritically) in the same behaviour that the terrorists are. Hateful rhetoric, lumping entire groups into the same pile via 'guilt by association', calling for violence and attacks, etc.

I believe the first step into ending world violence is to stop engaging in these behaviours that perpetrate the cycle.

 

[Chu Gai]

Here's a 3 min synopsis markw.

 

[Bizarro_Stormy]

 

[GO-NAD!]

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/world/turkey-military-plane-1.3332171

Uh-oh.

 

[Chu Gai]

On one hand, Russia has been testing country borders for some time whether by air or sea. On the other, Russians have been conducting operations in the Turkmen mountains where reportedly there are rebels but no ISIS. Although there was a time when Turkey was pro Syria (Assad), now they'd like to see him removed. Syria now wants to play in the fight against ISIS but only so long as they can take out Kurd elements that they feel also destabilize Turkey. Sheesh.

All said, not a good idea to ignore repeated warnings against someone who's armed to back off even if you think you're not in their airspace. Interesting times.

 

[markw]

I am fairly sure that both these statements are also expressed by the ISIS recruits out of Iraq. Like the article I linked a few pages ago, many are the children who suffered from the American occupation. Watching people in their communities being killed, along with family members killed or detained, hasn't made many of those people very 'tolerant' of Americans, or westerners in general.

I try to show Americans that they are engaging (somewhat hypocritically) in the same behaviour that the terrorists are. Hateful rhetoric, lumping entire groups into the same pile via 'guilt by association', calling for violence and attacks, etc.

I believe the first step into ending world violence is to stop engaging in these behaviours that perpetrate the cycle.

Tao, by your comparing the occupation of Americans who went there to liberate those people to terrorists merely confirms my opinion that I'm dealing with an idiot. We're done.