Bad Juju! You no logged in or no introduced to the frogman. Log-in or register. Or suffer mucho hoo-doos.

The Bar

Have a drink and talk about:

The Difference ♠ La Différence
the dissident frogman | Mon, March 15, 2004 | Permalink | 378 hits

Post

You're not logged-in, so your comment will be held for approval; check the "Help" tab for details.

Vous n'avez pas ouvert de session, votre commentaire doit être approuvé avant publication; voyez "Aide" pour les détails.


Comment form

Red-framed fields required. Email address will NOT be published or shared but may be used for a direct answer, on my part only.

Les champs bordés de rouge sont requis. L'adresse email ne sera PAS publiée ou partagée mais pourra être utilisée pour une réponse directe, de ma part seulement.


Guidelines | consignes

DISCLAIMER: in my experience, the following doesn't apply to 99% of my readership. Unfortunately, experience also shows it has to be written down for the remaining 1%.

The short version, when it comes to my comments policy, goes down to a line taken from the (mediocre) second opus of the Matrix:

"I built this place. Down here, I make the rules."

Let's elaborate a bit:

  1. Try to stay on topic. If you have a beef against the cow-fart(1) induced climate change and this post is about monkey spanking(2), then it's not the place to draw your sword(3).
    I have nothing against a freewheeling conversation, but if it's off-topic AND stupid or offensive, then it will have a badly limited lifespan.
  2. Consider the two following statements…
    • I'm totally open-minded when it comes to rational ideas.
    • It is quite obvious that Anti-Americanism, anti-Semitism, Islamism, Nationalism, Racism, Collectivism(4) and Multiculturalism (non-exhaustive list) exist in complete contradiction with Reason.
    … And guess the total amount of tolerance you can expect from me if you indulge in any of these.
  3. If you shall persist in these ways nevertheless, understand that I'm not spending countless hours of work on this site to "reach out", "debate" with you, "understand" your "root causes" or "learn" about your religion. Unlike race, ideology is something we choose, and for which we must bear all responsibilities. I loathe your sick mindset and what you defend and promote. I've heard all your pitiful excuses for your despicable totalitarian psyche and your compulsion to coerce or enslave your fellow men and women in the name of some "greater good".
    So understand that this is not a public forum: it is my outpost in the culture war you wage against me, my kin, my rights and my freedom — thus, you will only be tolerated here, and only if I decide so. I call the shots and I owe you nothing. As a matter of fact, I don't like having you around, so the only argument you're truly entitled to hear from me would come, if you insist, amplified through the barrel of my Sig-Sauer high powered rifle(5) — because when it comes to intolerant scumbags, I'm an intolerant bastard.
    So keep your distances, and nobody gets hurt.
  4. I also have a very limited patience for social-democrats of all race and creed, center-of-center jellyfish and buttermonkey(6) hybrids, Blame-America-First (and always) Libertarians (usually of the Rothbardian school), Hollywood idiots & Festival-de-Cannes cretins and those Parisians who fancy themselves as an elite when they are nothing but the developed world's rednecks(7). However, I tend to ignore them, so they may consider themselves lucky if they manage to draw some sarcasm in colorful language from me.
  5. Yeah, and don't get me started on journalists and the Wonderful World of Mainstream Media...
  6. American and British soldiers (including the Commonwealth) stand on a special pedestal in my personal pantheon. Disrespect them here, and you'll quickly wish you'd rather stand naked in Mecca during Hajj, wearing only a sign that reads "Muhammad was a pedophile".
  7. I may moderate, remove or edit anything and give neither excuses nor explanations. It has nothing to do with "censorship": I am not a State, you are not a coerced citizen of said State and so you are always free to express yourself on your own facility and by your own means. Commenting is not a right, it is a privilege I grant or take away, according to my right as the owner of this place.
  8. My site is not awfully biased: it's shamelessly opinioned. If you're on my side, you get my vote and are free to rant 'n' roll. If not, live with it or go rot in the gutter.
  9. Oh and, if you're a vegan, be advised that I hunt, kill, cook(8) and eat all sorts of animals, and thoroughly enjoy the whole lot of it. Have fun with your carrots, Doc.
  1. Ha ha. Beef. Cow. Geddit?
  2. It's been known to happen.
  3. Neither is the guestbook by the way.
  4. That includes of course all its variations: Socialism, National-Socialist, Communism, Fascism, etc.
  5. With a loud 'Bang'
  6. Nope, don't know what species is that either, but it does sound like a particularly vile creature, doesn't it?
  7. Tell me London, New-York, Sydney or Tokyo, but Paris is a dump.
  8. Frequently in some sort of wine sauce or with loads of tears-pulling spices. Grapes and pepper count as veggie stuff right?

AVERTISSEMENT : selon mon expérience, ce qui suit ne s'applique pas à 99% de mes lecteurs. Malheureusement, l'expérience prouve aussi qu'il faut que cela soit écrit pour le pourcentage restant.

La version courte, concernant ma politique pour les commentaires, se résume à une ligne tirée du second (médiocre) volet de Matrix:

"J'ai construit cet endroit. Ici, je fais les lois."

Élaborons un brin :

  1. Il existe une subtile différence entre "être familier" et "traiter familièrement". Cela signifie que les culs-sales qui s'imaginent débarquer ici et me tutoyer comme si nous avions gardé les piquets de grève ensemble verront leur contribution à la conversation éradiquée sans autre forme de procès. Quelle que soit la pertinence de ladite contribution. Même si vous n'êtes Vraiment Pas Content® avec ce que j'écris, cela ne vous dispense pas de surveiller vos manières : tant que je n'ai pas été présenté à votre chère Maman, nous nous vouvoierons. Vu ?
  2. Évitez le hors-sujet. Si vous avez une rancune à l'égard de l'impact des pets de vache sur le changement climatique et que cet article traite de la fessée de macaque(1), alors ce n'est pas l'endroit d'où lancer votre croisade (2).
    Je n'ai rien contre une conversation à bâtons rompus, mais si c'est hors-sujet ET stupide ou insultant, ça aura une durée de vie salement limitée.
  3. Considérez les deux affirmations suivantes...
    • J'ai une ouverture d'esprit totale en ce qui concerne toutes idées rationnelles.
    • Il est évident qu' Anti-américanisme, anti-Sémitisme, Islamisme, Nationalisme, Racisme, Collectivisme(3) et Multiculturalisme (liste non-exhaustive) existent en complète contradiction avec la Raison.
    ... Et tâchez de devinez la dose totale de tolérance que vous pouvez attendre de moi si vous cédez à l'une de ces sirènes.
  4. Si vous deviez cependant persister dans ces voies, comprenez que je ne dépense pas un nombre incalculable d'heures de travail sur ce site pour vous "tendre la main", "débattre" avec vous, "comprendre" vos "causes profondes" ou "apprendre à connaitre" votre religion. Contrairement à la race, l'idéologie est le résultat de nos choix, et nous devons en supporter l'entière responsabilité. J'abhorre votre mentalité tarée, et ce que vous défendez et promouvez. J'ai entendu toutes vos pitoyables excuses pour votre détestable psyché de totalitaire et votre compulsion à forcer et réduire vos semblables en esclavage au nom d'un quelconque "intérêt général".
    Comprenez donc que ceci n'est pas un forum publique : c'est mon avant-poste dans la guerre culturelle que vous lancez contre moi, mes semblables, mes droits et ma liberté — vous ne serez que toléré ici, et seulement si je le décide. Je tire les ficelles, et ne vous doit rien. En fait je n'aime pas vous voir dans le coin, et en conséquence les seuls arguments de ma part auxquels vous puissiez réellement prétendre, si vous insistez, se transmettent par le canon de ma carabine de fort calibre Sig-Sauer(4) — Parce dès qu'ils s'agit d'ordures intolérantes, je suis un salaud d'intolérant.
    Alors gardez vos distances, et personne ne sera blessé.
  5. J'ai aussi un patience très limitée pour les sociaux-démocrates de toute confession et couleur, les centristes-du-centre fruits de l'union d'une méduse et d'un cul de singe, les Libertarés de l'École Rothbard conditionnés au "C'est la faute à l'Amérique, toujours et partout", Les Idiots d'Hollywood et les Crétins-de-Cannes, de même que ces parisiens qui se prennent pour une élite alors qu'ils ne sont que les bouseux du monde développé (5). J'ai cependant tendance à les ignorer, et ils peuvent donc s'estimer chanceux s'ils arrivent à me soutirer ne serait-ce qu'un sarcasme en langage fleuri.
  6. Ouais, et ne me lancez pas sur les journalistes et le Monde Merveilleux des Medias...
  7. Les soldats Américains et Britanniques (parmi lesquels j'inclue le Commonwealth) prennent place sur un piédestal particulier dans mon panthéon personnel. Manquez leur de respect ici, et vous souhaiterez rapidement vous trouver plutôt à la Mecque en période Hajj, tout nu avec seulement une pancarte autour du coup sur laquelle on puisse lire "Mahomet était un pédophile".
  8. Je peux modérer, supprimer ou éditer quoi que ce soit, sans fournir d'excuses ni d'explications. Cela n'a rien à voir avec de la “censure”, pour une raison très simple : je ne suis pas un État, vous n'êtes pas un citoyen opprimé dudit État et demeurez donc libre de vous exprimer sur votre propre support et par vos propres moyens. Commenter n'est pas un droit, c'est un privilège que j'accorde ou refuse selon mon droit de propriétaire des lieux.
  9. Mon site n'est pas affreusement partial, il est impudemment orienté. Si vous êtes de mon côté, vous avez mon aval et êtes libre de disserter à l'envi. Sinon, faites avec ou allez crever dans le caniveau.
  10. Oh, et si vous êtes végétarien, sachez que je chasse, tue, cuisine(6) et bouffe toutes sortes d'animaux, et que j'apprécie le tout sans aucune retenue. Soyez heureux avec vos carottes Docteur.
  1. C'est déjà arrivé.
  2. C'est aussi valable pour le Livre d'Or.
  3. Ce qui inclue aussi ses variantes : Socialisme, National-Socialisme, Communisme, Fascisme, etc.
  4. Avec un gros 'Bang'
  5. Londres, New-York, Sydney ou Tokyo, d'accord. Mais Paris, c'est un bled de cul-terreux.
  6. Généralement avec une sauce au vin, ou alors des poignées d'épices à t'arracher la tripaille. Le raisin et les piments, ça compte comme trucs de végétarien, non ?

Help

  1. As an additional layer of defense against comment spamming and surf-by shooting, I enacted a set of restrictions on how you can post a comment as a simple guest on my site (i.e. either when you're not registered as a member, or registered but not logged in), starting with pre-publishing comment approval. As approving comments will take a certain — and variable — amount of time, I invite you to check-in if you're serious about joigning the conversation in real time.
  2. Non-authenticated users are also limited to the following HTML tags:
    • Bold (<strong></strong>)
    • Italic (<em></em>)
    • Underline (<u></u>)
    • Quote (<blockquote></blockquote>)
    Don't bother entering any other tags, as they will automagically get stripped on posting.
  3. Members have access to a greater range of tags and publishing tools, and they can also choose to be informed by email of follow-up comments, for any given thread.
  4. Members also have an easier and more straightforward posting process. Some of the system defenses are lowered for them, and the details fields (name, etc.) are pre-filled with the information they entered in their profile.
  5. Members have a greater chance to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, while it will be assumed that, in addition to an opinion, strangers have stinky feet and greasy fingers. They may therefore be regarded with great condescension by regular members and the dissident frogman alike, and derided accordingly. So wash your feet, your hands, and register.
  6. A reminder: you decide what you write, no matter how brilliant or stupid it might be, and the fact that I let it go published doesn't mean I condone, agree or disagree with it—no matter if I answer it or not. Hey, you're supposed to be a responsible adult, right?

If you need further help with the site, you may want to check the Field Manual. Ultimately, you can also drop me a line. I usually don't answer jellyfish and buttermonkey(1) hybrids however.

  1. Nope, don't know what species is that either, but it does sound like a particularly vile creature, doesn't it?
  1. En défense contre le spam et les tirs isolés, j'ai établi un ensemble de restrictions sur l'ajout de commentaires par les simples visiteurs sur le site (i.e. soit lorsque vous n'êtes pas enregistré comme membre, soit lorsque vous l'êtes, mais n'avez pas ouvert une session), dont notamment la modération avant publication. L’approbation des commentaires prenant un temps certain et variable, je vous invite donc à vous inscrire, si vous envisagez sérieusement de participer à la conversation en temps réel.
  2. Les utilisateurs non authentifiés sont également limités aux balises HTML suivantes :
    • Gras (<strong></strong>)
    • Italique (<em></em>)
    • Souligné (<u></u>)
    • Citation (<blockquote></blockquote>)
    Ne vous fatiguez pas à en utiliser d'autres, le texte passe par un filtre de suppression lors de la publication.
  3. Les membres ont accès à une plus large sélection d'outils et de balises, et ils peuvent choisir pour chaque 'conversation' à laquelle ils prennent part d'être informé par email des réponses.
  4. Les membres ont également un "processus de publication" plus simple et direct. Certaines défenses du système sont abaissées pour eux, et les champs des détails sont pré-remplis avec les informations qu'ils ont entré dans leur profil.
  5. Les membres ont une plus grande chance d'entrer au Royaume des Cieux, tandis que l'on considèrera que, en sus d'une opinion, les visiteurs venus d'ailleurs ont les doigts gras et les pieds sales. Ils pourront de ce fait être traité avec grande condescendance par les autres membres et le dissident frogman de même, et ridiculisés en conséquence. Alors lavez vos mains, vos pieds, et inscrivez-vous.
  6. Pour mémoire : vous décidez de ce que vous écrivez, aussi brillant ou stupide que cela soit, et le fait que j'en autorise la publication ne signifie pas que je l'approuve ou le désapprouve, et cela que j'y réponde ou non. Hé, vous êtes censé vous comporter en adulte responsable, s'pas ?

Si vous avez besoin de plus d'aide avec le site, jetez un œil au manuel d'instruction. Au pire, vous pouvez également m'envoyer un mot. J'ai cependant tendance à ne pas répondre aux fruits de l'union d'une méduse et d'un cul de singe.

Comments | Commentaires

coy | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for coy
United Kingdom
03/15 2004
12:04 PM

I am a spaniard.

I felt proud of my compatriots on Friday because of their solidarity, and generosity, but today I feel ashamed. How coward people can be!

Not all of us are chickens, there are 9,630,512 of us who, like me, believe in fighting terrorism, and have expressed that in the ballots.

For us, today is a sad day.

Chien de vie.


Papertiger | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Papertiger
United States
03/15 2004
12:53 PM

Islam won a victory today. How sad that a few assholes with some sachel charges can swing an election.


RANT | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for RANT
United States
Website
03/15 2004
12:55 PM

DF,

Perhaps you should withold praise for the US until after the November elections!  We will see then whether the resolve of our citizens is still strong.

Coy,

There is no shame in being in the minority.  Especially when you are right!


the dissident frogman | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for the dissident frogman
Website
03/15 2004
01:16 PM
Comment 1290

Coy:

I certainly do not imply that all Spaniards are (neither does my friend Juan Pablo actually), particularly considering the short number of votes that gave victory to the appeasers.

Unfortunately, the choice of hardly more than half of them forces everybody (including beyond the frontiers of Spain) to carry a heavy burden and face a renewed danger. This is truly a disaster, particularly for Europe.

The fight is not over. It just got a bit more difficult.

RANT:

I’m comparing both people’s reaction to the terror attacks, not their behavior in front of the ballot boxes.

I’ve heard some commenter stating that this was Spain’s 9/11. If that is the case - and I would rather agree - then the US fully deserved the praise. Spain on the other hand, has just proved al-Qaeda right to think that they were weak and that two or three strikes would be enough to make them run away.

I’m not sure we can afford to offer those scum such a victory.

Make no mistake gentlemen: my disappointment is largely caused by the fact that I came to admire the remarkable stance of Spain in this war, up till now.


Nightfly | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Nightfly
United States
03/15 2004
02:53 PM

Maybe the Spanish educational system is rotting away like that of many other Western countries, since these supposed journalism students (!?!) didn’t know any history, to wit:  what did Saddam Hussein do while in power?  Why, he brutalized his own people!  (No!) Was it really so long ago that the Spanish electorate can forget?  Can they be so unobservant as not to realize that rolling over to the terrorists simply gives them a softer target to hit?

It bears repeating:  soldiers fight wars abroad so that civilians don’t have to fight them at home.  I wouldn’t want to be killed in a pizza joint or at a shopping mall or in a commuter train, but if that’s how it is, I sure as hell wouldn’t want my fellow citizens to lift their collective legs over my grave by not fighting back.  Voting for appeasers is saying that the deaths of your fellows has taught nothing, and meant nothing.  Scoundrels.


Sasquach | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Sasquach
United States
03/15 2004
08:50 PM

I feel especially bad for those Spanish soldiers that have died in Iraq. Their own government has labled their sacrifice as part of a “disaster” based on the “lies” of the Anzar and the PP.

By every indication of the Milblogers who have met them the Spanish force in Iraq is professional, skilled and steadfast. Shame on the citizens of any land that belittle the courage of such men.

We shall see what the Commie, er, I mean Socialists do in the months to come. It is easy to snipe at those in power when you are the minority party. When you are making the policy and responsible for the outcome it is another story. Perhaps reality will visit their world but I won’t hold my breath.


frenchfregoli | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for frenchfregoli
France
03/16 2004
02:42 AM

An unexpected winner since 14/3 is the city of Munich.From now on, i propose reffering to “madrilene spirit” or “going spanish”.

After all chamberllain and daladier bowed to the nazi military might, the spanish(ok, the “la paz” portion of it), surrnedered to 4 bombs.


the dissident frogman | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for the dissident frogman
Website
03/16 2004
02:53 AM
Comment 1294

frenchfregoli:

Exactly what I had in mind. The whole story has Munich written all over it.

I guess we can “safely” assume that in future history books, the day that initiated the fall of Europe will bear last Sunday’s date.

You’re right, this time it started in Spain.


steve442193549 | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for steve442193549
United States
03/16 2004
06:06 AM

First They Came for the Jews

First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller


Pato | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Pato
United States
03/16 2004
11:07 AM

Shame on all of you from spain who vote with ill-conceived emotion and ZERO intellectual thought.

You have disgraced your dead, you have disgraced western civilization, you have the blood on your hands from all future attacks that these cowards will perpetuate you damn pathetic fools.

You on the left lie in the same bed as these jihad virgin-seeking cowards, you have welcomed al-queda into your population within Spain for years as you seek to prop up your aging population and replace the home-grown youth who flea your society.  You fools say the “bombs that fell on iraq have exploded in spain” How damn foolish you are to talk this nonsense.  The guy who you are all Cabana, towel and Coffee boys for now named bin-laden wants the land of Andalusia back which the Spanish re-took in 1492. You blame the US and Bush for your own failures, you throw a guy out of office who has brought new economic strength to your country.  You think the withdrawal of a meager 1300 troops from Iraq is going to be a “bitch slap” to the US?  Not even close to reality you fools.

You have disgraced the 201 souls that have perished so far by your cowardly retreat into your socialist and nanny-state welfare shell. You show to them by your vote that your hatred of the US and bush is greater than any love you had for the dead.  You disgrace the memory of those murdered by permitting a group of bearded cowards who came to your country to seek welfare monies and freedom to effect the outcome of your election.  Your pathetic gesture is a disgrace to all the souls who were also maimed and wounded.

All of a sudden those in Europe (actually, it’s best to refer to it as EUrabia) say they are “shocked” by these murders and will now appoint another “Super Commissioner” to address this “new” terrorist threat.  Will this commissioner be given both a Speedo and Red cape to wear for his mission?  Where the hell have you people been?  What rock has fallen on all of your heads that make you so damn blind to the world, and blind to reality?

The people who committed this cowardly act are both spanish and arab. They have been attempting to butcher and kill in your country LONG BEFORE you fools even knew who g bush was. They are living among you like dirty flies at a picnic, simply waiting to apply their brand of Islamo-fascisim to your society.  You fools on the left in Spain coddle and embrace these murdering coward monkeys as if they were part “of your struggle against modernity”.

Shame on you again! as these cowards continue to kill in EUrabia- the blood is now all on your hands.

Your actions are a disgrace to modern and progressive/forward thinking people everywhere.

To hell with all of you.

Your country and the full EUrabia land was THE training ground for those who killed 3,000 US office workers.  it is YOUR country that created the environment for these cowards to turn 3000 people into dust.  You lose 201 souls and you fall to your knees at the feet of these coward monkeys, begging them to “spare you”.  They are laughing in your pathetic faces at this moment.


vince leta | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for vince leta
United States
03/16 2004
06:13 PM

These perpetuaters of war crimes against the Spanish people are the same scum that have declared Jihad on the west for the last 40 years. This has about as much to do with the war in Iraq as the recent bombings in Bali, the bombings in Turkey, the bombings in Saudi Arabia etc, etc etc. If we all pulled out of Iraq tommorrow, you would not be one iota safer. That some terrorist group did this in the name of the Iraqi people sickens me. The Iraqi people have suffered enough, 40 years of tyranny, then on the dawn of them signing a interm Constitution they have a massive terrorist attack, killing hundreds of Muslim pilgrims, by supposed individuals concerned about the Iraqi people. Ask yourelf this, how many Iraqi’s were arrested for the attack on Spain, none! These facist Muslim Terrorists would murder a Muslim as easily as they would murder a Spaniard. These murderers do not care about the Iraqi people, only their cause, and that is the exorcism of all western influence in thier dogmatic hate-filled world. This terrorist attack in Spain proves more than ever, that Iraq was never a cause they cared about, just another excuse to vent their hatred of western Euro-centric, Judeo-Christian values. My heart goes out to the victims in Spain of this latest terrorist attack, I would just hope that you would re-evaluate your position in and on this war against western ideals.


Mike H. | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Mike H.
United States
03/16 2004
10:49 PM

I will remain quiet on Spain. We will remain in Iraq.

Spokane , WA


Nuno C. | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Nuno C.
Bulgaria
03/17 2004
03:20 AM

The majority of Spain is not against the war on terrorism. They just feel that the war on Iraq (without the UN) was not the proper way to fight it. They had expressed their opinion before and now they did it again.

The statements from those two spaniards reveal exactly that. War on terrorism didn’t seem that important before it came to spanish soil.

It was the same in the US. Suicide bombings in Israel didn’t seem to justify and invasion of Afghanistan or Irak. Even the attack on the USS Cole didn’t seem a reason enough.

But after those planes murdered US civilians, well that shifted the balance and made the war on terrorism a crucial issue on politics. And they acted the way they felt was best to fight it. And if there was an election you can be sure economic issues wouldn’t weigh anything compare to the war on terrorism.

Well Spain is in that situation. Terrorism after 11M became a central focus on public opinion and they acted, not out of fear, but out of courage to tread the path they feel is better to fight terrorism. And that opinion they didn’t change. They stood still and prepared for walking the path they had chosen even before the attacks. It just wasn’t a priority.

Why should we be hipocrits and say that they had to act before? If the 11/09 had been in Spain would the US have acted? I don’t think they would. Even now the path Bush has taken is not clear for ALL americans.

Fear? There is no fear in Spain. They are acting about it, not retreating.

I see more fear in opinions that say that their option will lead to more attacks. If your choices depend on that, well...THAT is fear.


Duke | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Duke
Spain
03/17 2004
05:35 AM

I am another spanish man who voted PP. I read Oriana Fallacci’s book, and that is a war, Democracy vs Islam, Freedom vs Islam, laicism vs Islam..., I am so sorry…

Regards.


Nightfly | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Nightfly
United States
03/17 2004
12:19 PM

That’s an odd definition of fear, Nuno.  The Spanish elections were a Sir Robin moment ("He bravely ran away, away!").  Once upon a time the Spanish waved red flags in front of bulls; now they’re waving white flags in front of bullies.  To say that they courageously chose that action is to say that they bravely chose to bleed after getting socked in the nose.

You give the game away in your own post when you point out that Spain stood by the USA after Sept. 11, despite not being a direct target.  That was bravery.  You are also unfortunately correct that the US didn’t act to help its own allies until they were bombed.  But note the different reactions to being thus attacked:  rooting out scumbags and petty tyrants vs. sitting back and hoping that quiescence will hide one from further notice.

It doesn’t work that way.  Do something and you may get attacked by a crippled enemy, preoccupied with battles in his own backyard.  Do nothing and you will not impede the enemy in any way; he will be free to act as he pleases, limited only by the resources that you are no longer trying to deny to him.  To say so is not fear but knowledge.  You don’t need a Weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.


the dissident frogman | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for the dissident frogman
Website
03/17 2004
01:06 PM
Comment 1302

I was about to add that Nuno’s brilliant exercise in self-delusion reminded me greatly of the daily performances of the French political class, but I guess Nightfly rounded up the issue nicely enough.

What the triumphant appeasers of this new troïka (France, Germany, Spain) – who, since Sunday, are congratulating themselves over that “rebuttal” sent to “Bush that moron” and “Blair that dickhead” (the French radio is having a field day. I mean week.)—fail to understand, is that the signal sent to terrorists from the Spanish ballot is less a blow at the US than the promise of other bombings in continental Europe.

Although they may try it again in the US and the UK (simply because their goal is to murder us whenever they can) they know that they have no strategic impact otherwise: Americans and British demonstrated that attack means retaliation.

In other words, although I’m nowhere near *hoping* it will happen, I can easily imagine that the same kind of attacks in the US next November would have the opposite effect.

Yet they learned that they can blackmail (continental) European voters now. And the non-Islamic terror groups will start thinking about strategy too…


vince leta | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for vince leta
United States
03/17 2004
04:09 PM

As a minor student of history, it seems as if we are re-visiting the Europe of the 1930s. You, the socialists and labor parties, tried to appease and compromise with Hitler. You beleived if you conceded to his small schemes of a greater Germany, that would pacify his hunger for power. You were wrong then, and 40 million people paid with their lives for your pandering to evil. If you wake up tommorrow to find that London, Moscow, Rome and a few other cities are gone because these megamaniacs nuked them, will you still blame it on the U.S.A. and our war in Iraq. You were targets before 9/11, and you were targets before our war in Iraq, and you are still targets despite your myopic outlook. There are thousands hacking at the branches of terror but only one who is willing to strike at the root of terror. Terrorism will surely succede in Europe, because in healthy societies the criminal is the good citizens nemesis not the police.


Nightfly | 4 years, 8 months ago
Avatar for Nightfly
United States
03/18 2004
12:12 PM

DF - thanks for the kind words.

I thought I’d post something I came across this afternoon, straight from Spain.  It doesn’t hurt to get an opinion straight from the source.

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/bardaji200403180918.asp


Comment page 1 / 1 pages |

Trackbacks

Post title: The Difference ♠ La Différence

Date: 15th March, 2004

Trackback received from : The Axis of Weasels United States
Spain Bends Over and Grabs Its Ankles
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the candidate that 4 out of 5 terrorists recommend, has made it clear that Spain will be pulling out of Iraq unless the feckless and corrupt United Nations is put in complete control of the entire...Go read it all...
Sent from 66.93.203.87 on March 17, 2004
Trackback received from : Watcher of Weasels United States
Spain Bends Over and Grabs Its Ankles
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the candidate that 4 out of 5 terrorists recommend, has made it clear that Spain will be pulling out of Iraq unless the feckless and corrupt United Nations is put in complete control of the entire...Go read it all...
Sent from 209.152.161.117 on March 17, 2004
Trackback received from : Le blog de Polyscopique Germany
Espagne
Ase reacts to the Spanish elections and points to the reactions of some European French-speaking bloggers while Pejmanesque does the same in English. See also the interesting comments of Victor Davis Hanson, The Dissident Frogman, Oliver Kamm and Vince...Go read it all...
Sent from 217.160.226.3 on March 16, 2004