Hindsight is 20/20 and it is easy for historians to look back and evaluate actions that, though they seemed appropriate at the time, in the light of current information are now recognized as questionable choices. But, there is nothing you can do about it 40+ years after the fact, is there? Except to rage like a verifiable lunatic about the "if only's". Leave it to Juan Cole, intrepid useful idiot professor, to "if only" us to death.
It's just too bad we don't always have the brilliant foresight to identify who our enemies are going to be down the road in 50 years or so.
Some of you may recall that Juan Cole himself, is not the most prescient or intelligent of Middle East analysts in the first place. So there are many reasons to doubt his present analysis of the past.
But in any case, it would be ever-so-much-more helpful from an historical perspective to proactively identify actions IN THE PRESENT that are detrimental and dangerous for the long-term welfare of this country and its people; and which actively enabling our enemies right now.
As a modest example of the sort of proactive, pre-historical analysis I am talking about, I offer the list below. It has the advantage of just looking at events in the last week or so--not 30-50 years in the past like Professor Cole-- to tease out the present cognitive dysfunction; identify the asinine behavior; and pinpoint the dangerous attitudes and mindless drivel that enable and empower the Islamofascist enemies of civilization in their attempts to destroy us. [For a full review of enabling behavior for terrorism, see this post.]
THE TOP 10 WAYS THE LEFT ENABLES TERRORISM
1. Articles from clueless academics like Cole focus on past policy mistakes from previous administrations (both Democrat and Republican). Those backward thinking poseurs, Cole among them, actively undermine current policy that corrects the philosophical and ethical underpinnings of those mistakes; as well as to generally undermine and discredit our country as a whole.
2. Ex-presidents (also here and here) ; as well as president wannabes indulge their narcissistic longings and place any common sense they might have on hold. These pseudo-patriotic bozos (or summer soldiers, if you will) gratuitously attack the current administration's policies for personal gain. They do not offer any alternative plan--except for surrender, of course--but feel it is perfectly appropriate in the middle of a war to offer their worthless opinions and enable the terrorists we are waging war against .
3. News articles from the MSM that, with pathological hysteria, regularly sensationalize military deaths in Iraq--the lowest number of war fatalities from any war that the US has ever fought. New milestones are invented every day to undermine the war effort and to advance the antiwar, anti-US, leftist agenda. In the link above, the subtext of the article suggests that if military deaths in Iraq exceed 9/11 then the war is a failure! Aren't you glad these editors and journalists weren't around in early 1942, when the death toll in WWII would have surpassed Pearl Harbor? We would all be speaking German or Japanese now.
4. The UN calls for a cease-fire in Somalia --immediately after Ethiopian troops begin to crush the militant, murderous religious fanatics of Al Qaeda. What does the UN care that these fanatics were trying to institute another taliban-like reign on the hapless citizens of Somalia? About their atrocities, the UN has nothing to say. Just as they have very little to say about Darfur; just as they have little to say about Hezbollah and the Palestinian aggression since they are too busy condemning Israel and the US.
5. The abject failure on the part of the press to report on the economic successes and booming economy in Iraq. Outside of Baghdad things aren't so grim as the MSM would have you believe, but to put the violence in perspective would be contrary to the official leftist template that desperately needs Bush and the U.S. to fail in Iraq.
6. The deliberate and opportunistic distortion of articles such as this one, which puts words into a newly dead ex-president's mouth in an attempt to discredit the current president. Pathetic, but nevertheless effective. Everyone sees the Post article--but who will notice this one that put's the words in context?
7. There are over 150,000 individual troops in Iraq. Are we now to poll them to decide if every military decision in a war meets with their approval? How insane is that? Butonce again, it serves to shore up the MSM and left's socialist template of of the poor, oppressed U.S. military personnel; that is when they aren't promoting the alternative template that U.S. military personnel themselves are oppressive, barbaric and murderous tyrants.
8. The rage and vituperative onslaught against this man--one of their own; and their vice-presidential candidate in 2000--who dares to think outside their ideological box when the welfare of the U.S. is at stake. The Islamofascists know they can always count on the brain-impaired Kos Kidz and the dementors of the DU to support their strategic objectives.
9. The ongoing distortions from the many crooks and liars of the left blogsphere in their delusional attempts to convince themselves that the real "enemy of civilization" is George W. Bush and not the terrorist fanatics blowing people up all over the globe. This is certainly very brave of them (i.e., just like those courageous Dixie Chicks who have suffered a loss of --gasp!--fame and box office receipts when they dared to criticize the tyrannical Bush)--speaking "truth to power" and all. As you might imagine, their rantings are the nourishment and soul food that actively enables the real fascists and theocrats --but the left gets to feel good about themselves, and that hallucinatory sense of moral and intellectual superiority they experience is all that matters in their little bubble.
Check out this roundup of leftist hysteria at Gateway Pundit over the execution of Saddam Hussein by the Iraqis. It was much the same when Zarqawi was killed by US forces; and they will undoubtedly howl in disbelief and rage when news of Osama's demise is certain. Let me be perfectly clear: THEY DO NOT WANT THE US TO WIN IN IRAQ OR THE WAR ON TERROR. They sell their country out regularly because they are so blinded by hate for George Bush. This promulgation of this kind of mindless rot that erodes the country from within is just as effective as any suicide bomber. It must please the enemy to no end that they have so many willing allies working for them right here, right now.
10. Last but not least, don't take it from me--just listen to what the head honcho of Al Qaeda says. As Al Qaeda sees it, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and it justifiably considers the recent antics of idiotish Democrats (who constantly seek to discredit their mortal enemy Bush by undermining the Iraq war, as well as the larger war with Islamofascist thugs like Al Qaeda)as somewhat helpful to their plan for world domination.
The Democratic Party, the offical mouthpiece of the lunatic left these days, is so far gone in its narcissistic indulgences that it is wholly unable to step back and consider how their behavior has made this country weak and vulnerable to homicidal organizations like Al Qaeda. For a litle bit of cheap glory they can pander to their leftist base, they are perfectly happy to give Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups the ammunition they need to continue their campaign against civilization. Hence their opposition to every single initiative by the current administration to monitor and thwart terrorist planning.
Now, that, my dear Juan Cole, is real enabling behavior.
***HELPFUL PSYCHIATRIC NOTE: For anyone on the political left who is tired of his or her addiction to the shitty ideology that is destroying their critical thinking capability and is turning them into useful idiots who mindlessly support and enable terrorism; I recommend this 12-step program
Sunday, December 31, 2006
CARNIVAL OF THE INSANITIES - Happy New Year !
Time for the weekly insanity update, where the insane, the bizarre, the ridiculous, and the completely absurd are highlighted for all to see! This has been a week of rare idiocy (as always!). So, if you want to remain sane, the best thing is to poke some fun at the more egregious absurdities.
Send all entries for next week's carnival to Dr. Sanity by 8 pm ET on Saturday for Sunday's Carnival. Only one post entry weekly per blogger, please. And you might read this before submitting an entry.HAPPY NEW YEAR! Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New!
1. Oh no! I'll have to change the Carnival's logo!
2. A very brief neocon retrospective!
3. Only the good die young; but even dictators get their just desserts sometimes; and sometimes the angel of death comes for the wrong person.
4. No matter what may come to pass, the left is always predictable...and completely insane. Definitely, consistently nuts.
5. Saddam's very last interview.
6. Clearly we exceeded the number of deaths at Pearl Harbor in the first few days of WWII, making it an illegitimate war! ......NEW! From the AP! A handy dandy pocket casualty counter so we don't make that dumb mistake again. But, fortunately there is no link between Iraq and 9/11 body counts!
7. Just what we need--the Redneck Special Forces!
8. The NY Times' alternate universe. Just shoot them? At least they don't smell like Hezbollah... Pay per Slay? They really do stink.
9. CNN war profiteering.
10. It seems Dr. Johnson was incorrect...lack of patriotism is actually the last refuge of the modern scoundrel.
11. This 3-yr-old is smarter than her mother. Much smarter. This dog is also much smarter than that mother! But, no one could be this stupid--could they?
12. You can't have one without the other...but some are pretty unclear on that concept. Gay sheep(??)--case in point, I guess.
13. Yes, this is a campaign slogan based in reality (NOT). But it will take him far, far into the future.
14. How to organize a legacy. Assuming you've done anything worthwhile to have a legacy about, of course....
15. This explains the billionaire wife...
16. Deep-ish thoughts.
17, I Used To Miss Him...But My Aim Is Improving - useful books for women!
18. As the comic books go, so goes the culture?
19. Europhobia on the rise in Islam--or was it the other way round? Hard to say.
20. At least we're not dead yet!
21. Post-holiday commentary ; considerations coming off the gift-giving season; and resolutions for the New Year: It is hereby resolved...
22. Is there nothing too trivial for the busybody do-gooders? Apparently not.
******************************************
Carnival of the Insanities can also be found at The Truth Laid Bear's ÜberCarnival and at the BlogCarnival.
If you would like to Join the insanity, and add the Carnival of the Insanities button to your sidebar (clicking on it will always take you to the latest update of the Carnival), click on "Word of Blog" below the button to obtain the html code:
Saturday, December 30, 2006
How The Left Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Terrorism
Major T.J. 'King' Kong from Dr. Strangelove rides again, personified by the 21st century crop of useful leftist idiots. Like the most histrionic of narcissists they can't help drawing attention to themselves and the fact that they operate on about the same moral level as a Saddam Hussein. Without a care in the world--except, of course, for the villainy of the imaginary BushHitler--a product of their fevered imaginations--they are pleased to laugh and whoop it up as they ride their bomb down to the ultimate destruction of civilization.Isn't it ironic that in the movie, Slim Pickens' character was mocked because he enthusiastically exemplified all the right-wing ideologues of the day, supposedly hellbent on destroying the oppressive evil that was communism--real evil that resulted in the deaths of millions. Now, fast-forward to today. The political left is hellbent on destroying our own country and its values by supporting and enabling the new generation of oppressors, and they are the ones who sit atop the weapon of mass destruction aimed at the heart of civilization.
They are so twisted and warped, that many don't even understand the nature of the suicide/homicide mission they have been sent on by the intellectual elites that control their thinking. On the contrary, just as all the brainwashed, fanatical suicide bombers that came before them, they believe that their actions are for the 'greater good'.
That is why they are visibly and vocally outraged at the execution of Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity; but have little to say about the victims of Saddam. Truth be told, they never have anything to say about real victims, unless it serves their own narcissistic agenda.
Take a look at one of the most egregious useful idiots of all time who leads the pack in blaming--who else?--America and Bush for Saddam. Just browse the left blogosphere to see how their ideology easily deflects them from having to confront real evil in the real world. (see Radio Equalizer for a roundup of some of the left's dismay--but there is plenty out there he hasn't got around to listing).
Siggy says it best:
The pattern is clear, unmistakable and oft repeated. As the left screams about the execution of Saddam, they only highlight the truth that they don’t really give damn about the victims of evil and never have....
There are no voices from the left for the victims of the Janjaweed any more than there were voices from the left that spoke out for the victims of Saddam. There are no voices from the left decrying the Iranian mullahs repressive regime and their support for terror. There are no voices castigating the Saudis and their bigotry and more than there were voices from the left that spoke out about Taliban bestial behavior in Afghanistan.The fear, intimidation and murder that is a hallmark of the Allawite regime of Assad clan is ignored as is the pornographic behavior of the Palestinians, masquerading as a civilized society that is equivalent to the society the Israelis have built.
The true (im) moral center of the left is exposed every time the perpetrators of the evil or genocide are brought to justice.
Siggy also quotes a post of mine that says in part:
One of the definitions of justice is “conforming to truth, fact, or reason” and, as a psychiatrist, I like to think of psychological insight as a sort of divine justice that implacably forces an individual to become aware of even the darkest parts of his or her soul.
This is why--by refusing to 'conform to truth, fact, or reason'--the left, for all their babbling about "social justice", haven't a clue about the real meaning of the word; for all their claims of being "reality-based", they are living in a delusion; and for all their self-serving preening about being "compassionate and caring", they are exactly the opposite.
CHEERS IN HEAVEN - In Honor of Saddam Hussein's Death ***Updated***
Al-Hurra is now reporting that Saddam Hussein has been executed.
UPDATE IV: More at Malkin, Neo-neocon, and Jules Crittendon, who advises us to "Drink Up". The Times of London has an appropriate obituary. The left is, of course, going nuts (but more on that later).
UPDATE III: And, of course, for the deranged left, it is all about Bush. They are certainly the most consistent poster children for the dysfunctional states of psychological denial, delusion and displacement.
UPDATE II: The Anchoress: has a roundup leading up to the execution; and some sobering thoughts. Gateway Pundit has another great roundup and photos. More at Hot Air.
UPDATE I: Bruce Kesler discusses the morality of Saddam's hanging.
(sung to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven")
Would he beg and plead
Just to get into heaven?
Renounce all his greed,
Just to get into heaven?
Saddam can't contrive, to get out alive;
And we know he won't arrive
Here in heaven
Would he feel shame
If he made it to heaven?
Accept all his blame,
For a passport to heaven?
Ring the martyr's bell, and lead him straight to hell;
He won't be allowed to dwell
Here in heaven
Time has hung him high
Justice won't let loose
There are none who'll cry
as they cinch the noose...
Beyond heaven's door
There is peace we're sure;
Where his victims wait, in suspended state...
Justice is their cure; and soon there will be more
Cheers in heaven
Saddam can beg and pray
Just to get into heaven;
Have remorse each day
Just to get into heaven.
But he can't contrive, to get out alive;
And we know he won't arrive
Here in heaven
And we know that there will be
Cheers in heaven
UPDATE IV: More at Malkin, Neo-neocon, and Jules Crittendon, who advises us to "Drink Up". The Times of London has an appropriate obituary. The left is, of course, going nuts (but more on that later).
UPDATE III: And, of course, for the deranged left, it is all about Bush. They are certainly the most consistent poster children for the dysfunctional states of psychological denial, delusion and displacement.
UPDATE II: The Anchoress: has a roundup leading up to the execution; and some sobering thoughts. Gateway Pundit has another great roundup and photos. More at Hot Air.
UPDATE I: Bruce Kesler discusses the morality of Saddam's hanging.
(sung to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven")
Would he beg and plead
Just to get into heaven?
Renounce all his greed,
Just to get into heaven?
Saddam can't contrive, to get out alive;
And we know he won't arrive
Here in heaven
Would he feel shame
If he made it to heaven?
Accept all his blame,
For a passport to heaven?
Ring the martyr's bell, and lead him straight to hell;
He won't be allowed to dwell
Here in heaven
Time has hung him high
Justice won't let loose
There are none who'll cry
as they cinch the noose...
Beyond heaven's door
There is peace we're sure;
Where his victims wait, in suspended state...
Justice is their cure; and soon there will be more
Cheers in heaven
Saddam can beg and pray
Just to get into heaven;
Have remorse each day
Just to get into heaven.
But he can't contrive, to get out alive;
And we know he won't arrive
Here in heaven
And we know that there will be
Cheers in heaven
Friday, December 29, 2006
SANDY BERGER'S PANTS (AND SOCKS)
Before this story is completely killed and buried by the MSM, I just had to write this.
(Sung to the tune of "Bette Davis Eyes)
His hair is Clinton-brown,
He never raves and rants;
He doesn't usually frown,
But look in Sandy Berger's pants!
He'll turn his sad song on you
And it's simple truth that he mocks;
He's just so absent-minded--
Look in Sandy Berger's socks
And he'll steal them
To conceal them
He just doesn't want to reveal them
Cause history is his story
And it's bound up in Bill's legacy
He'll walk the walk and dance the dance--
Just look in Sandy Berger's pants
He'll let you take him to court
But he will never recant;
He's safe in Clinton's fort--
Look in Sandy Berger's pants.
He'll take a tumble for him
He's not just any fall guy!
They all want you to think he's dim;
But why would Sandy lie?
He won't expose Bill, since he knows Bill,
And the wind and trash that blows Bill;
He'll ferociously deny it,
Though his actions sure belie it.
In his heart he thinks he's a jock--
But look in Sandy Berger's socks
And he'll steal them
To conceal them
He just doesn't want to reveal them
Cause history is his story
And it's bound up in Bill's legacy
He'll walk the walk and dance the dance--
Just look in Sandy Berger's pants.
(Sung to the tune of "Bette Davis Eyes)
His hair is Clinton-brown,
He never raves and rants;
He doesn't usually frown,
But look in Sandy Berger's pants!
He'll turn his sad song on you
And it's simple truth that he mocks;
He's just so absent-minded--
Look in Sandy Berger's socks
And he'll steal them
To conceal them
He just doesn't want to reveal them
Cause history is his story
And it's bound up in Bill's legacy
He'll walk the walk and dance the dance--
Just look in Sandy Berger's pants
He'll let you take him to court
But he will never recant;
He's safe in Clinton's fort--
Look in Sandy Berger's pants.
He'll take a tumble for him
He's not just any fall guy!
They all want you to think he's dim;
But why would Sandy lie?
He won't expose Bill, since he knows Bill,
And the wind and trash that blows Bill;
He'll ferociously deny it,
Though his actions sure belie it.
In his heart he thinks he's a jock--
But look in Sandy Berger's socks
And he'll steal them
To conceal them
He just doesn't want to reveal them
Cause history is his story
And it's bound up in Bill's legacy
He'll walk the walk and dance the dance--
Just look in Sandy Berger's pants.
NO CODDLING TYRANTS
This is an extremely interesting article :
The problem, of course, isn't if the U.S. "can hold its breath"; it instead revolves around whether the Iranian leadership wants to catastrophically end the occultation and bring back the 12th Imam by facilitating the end of the world.
As I have suggested in a previous post, it's no use saying that such behavior doesn't make sense and is irrational and suicidal. Just think of Ahmadinejad as the ultimate, high-tech suicide bomber who will wrap that nuclear bomb belt securely around his entire country. What matters to him is his own glorious role in fulfilling a prophecy.
The Iranian people, on the other hand, may have a different opionion about this. Particularly those who tend toward real democracy and freedom. The last thing they would want is for the US to legitimize the very leaders who are taking them down the path of economic hardship, religious fanatacism and involuntary martyrdom.
Then there is this tidbit:
Victor Davis Hanson writes today:
Coddling the regime and legitimizing psychotics like Ahmadinejad seems to be all the rage now on the part of the Democrats-- probably because they believe it demonstrates their true committment to peace as well as their "selfless compassion"; while at the same time they are hoping it will firmly establish their anti-Bush bona fides.
They were wrong when they hysterically screeched and demanded appeasement, warning of imminent doom when Reagan confronted the evil empire in the 80's; so, too, are they wrong now to demand appeasement and legitimization of Iran and the mullahs. This is not "realism", but folly.
Ahmadinejad's provocative behavior to the West represents the last gasps of a desperate regime that is failing economically and politically. He knows that the only way to get international respect and maintain control in his own country is to flaunt his nuclear credentials; and then if he can get away with it, use those credentials to further his fanatical religious agenda. Coincidentally, that religious agenda also serves to help him (and the mullahs) consolidate their internal control by blaming all the country's problems on America, Israel, and the Jews. All tyrants have learned that the use of psychological projection with the right amount of mindless paranoia will anesthetize the masses and keep them focused externally.
Instead of coddling these tyrants, it is time to break them. It is in our best interests to further the development of an emasculated Iran by facilitating the decline of their oil exports (and breaking our own dependence on these oil despots in the process by developing alternative energy options) through sanctions and a refusal to buy their oil. This will force them to deal with the rest of the world in a civilized manner. By obliterating their oil facilities we cut them off at the knees. This will either improve their behavior toward the rest of the world or facilitate regime change. We can get them to abandon their nuclear ambitions in this manner also; and if they continue to proceed down the nuclear path, we can always take out the nuclear facilities when that becomes necessary.
On Christmas day, the National Academy of Sciences issued a report which indicates Iranian oil production is about to plunge.
Iran currently earns about $50 billion a year in oil exports. Oil profits account for about 65 percent of Iranian government revenues.
But Iranian oil exports could decline by half within five years, and virtually disappear within ten, said Roger Stern, an economic geographer at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
The effect on Iran would be catastrophic. Thanks to mismanagement by the mullahs, and corruption on a scale so vast as to make even an Iraqi blush, Iran's economy is already a basket case. According to the CIA World Factbook, more than 40 percent of Iran's people live in poverty; the unemployment rate is 11 percent (more than double that for people under 30), and the rate of inflation tops 13 percent. Oil exports are just about Iran's only source of foreign exchange.
Impending fiscal catastrophe could make the Iranians more tractable, Prof. Stern thinks. If the U.S. can "hold its breath" for a few years, it might find Iran to be a much more conciliatory country, he told Barry Schweid, the AP's diplomatic writer, in an interview.
But one of the big reasons why oil production in Iran is declining does not suggest a happy outcome. Iran is spending so much on its nuclear program that next to nothing is being invested in modernizing oil production. Though the West has made it clear it will assist in developing nuclear energy if Iran will forswear its nuclear weapons programs, Iran would rather have the nukes than the carrots the West is offering. (emphasis mine)
The problem, of course, isn't if the U.S. "can hold its breath"; it instead revolves around whether the Iranian leadership wants to catastrophically end the occultation and bring back the 12th Imam by facilitating the end of the world.
As I have suggested in a previous post, it's no use saying that such behavior doesn't make sense and is irrational and suicidal. Just think of Ahmadinejad as the ultimate, high-tech suicide bomber who will wrap that nuclear bomb belt securely around his entire country. What matters to him is his own glorious role in fulfilling a prophecy.
The Iranian people, on the other hand, may have a different opionion about this. Particularly those who tend toward real democracy and freedom. The last thing they would want is for the US to legitimize the very leaders who are taking them down the path of economic hardship, religious fanatacism and involuntary martyrdom.
Then there is this tidbit:
There is a growing convergence of opinion among the leaders of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt that only an aerial bombardment of 17 known nuclear sites could retard Iran's nuclear ambitions by five to 10 years. One U.S. intel topsider remarked (not for attribution), "If we can gain five years that way, it's worth considering." He speculated Iran's moderate reformers could gain power in the interim,
Victor Davis Hanson writes today:
...as Iranians worry that their nation is becoming an international pariah and perhaps heading down the path of bankruptcy in the process, now is not the time for America to give in by offering direct talks with Ahmadinejad. That propaganda victory would only help him reclaim the legitimacy and stature that he is losing with his own people at home.
Better models to follow instead are our past long-term policies toward Muammar el-Qaddafi's Libya and the Soviet Union of the 1980s. As long as Libya sponsored terrorism and attacked Westerners, we kept clear, and boycotted the regime. Only in 2003, when the Libyans unilaterally gave up a substantial program of weapons of mass destruction, agreed not to violate nuclear proliferation accords and renounced terrorism did we agree to normalize relations.
In other words, "talking with" or "engaging" Libya did not bring about this remarkable change in attitude within the Libyan government. In contrast, tough American principles, economic coercion, ostracism and patience finally did.
The United States always maintained open channels with the Soviet Union. After all - unlike with Iran or Libya - we had little choice when thousands of nukes were pointed at us and Red Army troops were massed on the West German border.
But Ronald Reagan nevertheless embraced a radical shift in U.S. policy by actively appealing to Russian dissidents. He used the bully pulpit to expose the barbarity of the "evil empire" in the world court of ideas. All the while, Reagan further enhanced America's military advantage over the Soviets to speed the regime's collapse.
After the fall, courageous Russian dissidents from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to Natan Sharansky did not applaud Jimmy Carter, who had smugly pronounced the end of his own "inordinate fear" of such a murderous ideology. Instead, they preferred Reagan, who had challenged Soviet Premier Michael Gorbachev "to tear down" the Berlin Wall. America came out ahead when we were on the side of people yearning for change rather than coddling the regime trying to stop it.
Coddling the regime and legitimizing psychotics like Ahmadinejad seems to be all the rage now on the part of the Democrats-- probably because they believe it demonstrates their true committment to peace as well as their "selfless compassion"; while at the same time they are hoping it will firmly establish their anti-Bush bona fides.
They were wrong when they hysterically screeched and demanded appeasement, warning of imminent doom when Reagan confronted the evil empire in the 80's; so, too, are they wrong now to demand appeasement and legitimization of Iran and the mullahs. This is not "realism", but folly.
Ahmadinejad's provocative behavior to the West represents the last gasps of a desperate regime that is failing economically and politically. He knows that the only way to get international respect and maintain control in his own country is to flaunt his nuclear credentials; and then if he can get away with it, use those credentials to further his fanatical religious agenda. Coincidentally, that religious agenda also serves to help him (and the mullahs) consolidate their internal control by blaming all the country's problems on America, Israel, and the Jews. All tyrants have learned that the use of psychological projection with the right amount of mindless paranoia will anesthetize the masses and keep them focused externally.
Instead of coddling these tyrants, it is time to break them. It is in our best interests to further the development of an emasculated Iran by facilitating the decline of their oil exports (and breaking our own dependence on these oil despots in the process by developing alternative energy options) through sanctions and a refusal to buy their oil. This will force them to deal with the rest of the world in a civilized manner. By obliterating their oil facilities we cut them off at the knees. This will either improve their behavior toward the rest of the world or facilitate regime change. We can get them to abandon their nuclear ambitions in this manner also; and if they continue to proceed down the nuclear path, we can always take out the nuclear facilities when that becomes necessary.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
BE REASONABLE
Reasonable people have many reasons to be vconcerned about the idea of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. I have written about some of those reasons here, here, here, and here for example.
But then, the political left and its ridiculous minions are far from reasonable, and are only capable of making hysterically absurd statements like this:
Of course, the author of this overblown, and, if I may steal his own word, frivolous nonsense, is writing a book! So this sort of mindless, knee-jerk and vacuuous commentary (which members of the left always--always--claim is in touch with 'reality' (but only if one lives in some parallel universe existing in the bubble that is their brain) seems reasonable to them. Amazingly in their deluded minds, it is the United States that is provoking a confrontation with Iran!
Yes, for them it is always George W. Bush, the Republicans, the neocons etc. etc. who are being unreasonable. It is George W. Bush, the Republicans, the neocons etc. etc. who are the warmongers. Somehow their peaceful little brains never manage to notice real warmongers like Ahmadinejad and the mullahs. Apparently the writer has managed to have his fingers firmly in his ears for the last several years to prevent him from hearing what the big, bad Iranian president has been saying repeatedly and rather provocatively. Perhaps he has failed to notice that Iran has also been helping Hezbollah with their peaceful initiatives in Lebanon? Or Hamas with their government-building in Gaza?
The fatuous commentary by Greenwald, who "feels absurd even dignifying Herman's "analysis" with a substantive response", goes on and on and on and predictably doesn't bother with substantive responses at all. Just dismay, incredulity, and the usual hysteria of a mind twisted by leftist twaddle and isolated in the left's echo chamber. Nowhere does he even bother to address the real issue at stake here: the consequences to the US and its allies (particularly Israel) that would ensue if a nuclear Iran were loose in the real world. That Iran would use such weapons for blackmail and genocide is of less concern to him than that the evil U.S. --under the thrall of the desperate neocons--should dare to proactively respond to such a threat. He seems more concerned with drastic, albeit vague, consequences of provoking the poor oppressed Iranian regime who it seems to him could "worsen" our "horrendous" strategic position "immeasurably."
That we could "worsen" theirs is not an option that he thinks we should be open to.
Like a desperate and terrified child peeing in his pants when threatened by a great big, bad bully, Greenwald would run away and go crying to his mother (presumably the terribly effective and empathic UN who has been so successful at managing the Iranian regime over the last decade or more).
I would suggest that if you want to see how an adult might manage a bully threatening to use nuclear weapons to "wipe Israel off the map", you go read the article in Commentary by Arthur Herman that initiated Greenwald's frightened bout of babbling bullsh**t.
But only if you want to be reasonable.
But then, the political left and its ridiculous minions are far from reasonable, and are only capable of making hysterically absurd statements like this:
But with the fate of our Iraq occupation sealed through the end of the Bush presidency, the most pressing question is whether the Leader will use the last two years of his presidency to provoke some sort of military confrontation with Iran, and people like Herman are not standing on boxes in Times Square where they belong, but instead are writing in Commentary, which continues to exert real influence among the radicals who have driven our country into the state it is currently in (as but one example, Mark Halperin favorite Hugh Hewitt commended Herman's war plan as a "must-read").
When attempting to understand what has happened to the United States over the last six years, the fact that moronic commentary like Herman's was (and largely continues to be) treated as "serious" and "responsible" foreign policy wisdom, while those opposing the commencement of offensive wars were demonized as frivolous radicals, is the necessary starting point. For the same reason, excising people like Herman and his allies from our political dialogue is the highest priority in beginning to repair the destruction they have spawned.(emphasis mine)
Of course, the author of this overblown, and, if I may steal his own word, frivolous nonsense, is writing a book! So this sort of mindless, knee-jerk and vacuuous commentary (which members of the left always--always--claim is in touch with 'reality' (but only if one lives in some parallel universe existing in the bubble that is their brain) seems reasonable to them. Amazingly in their deluded minds, it is the United States that is provoking a confrontation with Iran!
Yes, for them it is always George W. Bush, the Republicans, the neocons etc. etc. who are being unreasonable. It is George W. Bush, the Republicans, the neocons etc. etc. who are the warmongers. Somehow their peaceful little brains never manage to notice real warmongers like Ahmadinejad and the mullahs. Apparently the writer has managed to have his fingers firmly in his ears for the last several years to prevent him from hearing what the big, bad Iranian president has been saying repeatedly and rather provocatively. Perhaps he has failed to notice that Iran has also been helping Hezbollah with their peaceful initiatives in Lebanon? Or Hamas with their government-building in Gaza?
The fatuous commentary by Greenwald, who "feels absurd even dignifying Herman's "analysis" with a substantive response", goes on and on and on and predictably doesn't bother with substantive responses at all. Just dismay, incredulity, and the usual hysteria of a mind twisted by leftist twaddle and isolated in the left's echo chamber. Nowhere does he even bother to address the real issue at stake here: the consequences to the US and its allies (particularly Israel) that would ensue if a nuclear Iran were loose in the real world. That Iran would use such weapons for blackmail and genocide is of less concern to him than that the evil U.S. --under the thrall of the desperate neocons--should dare to proactively respond to such a threat. He seems more concerned with drastic, albeit vague, consequences of provoking the poor oppressed Iranian regime who it seems to him could "worsen" our "horrendous" strategic position "immeasurably."
That we could "worsen" theirs is not an option that he thinks we should be open to.
Like a desperate and terrified child peeing in his pants when threatened by a great big, bad bully, Greenwald would run away and go crying to his mother (presumably the terribly effective and empathic UN who has been so successful at managing the Iranian regime over the last decade or more).
I would suggest that if you want to see how an adult might manage a bully threatening to use nuclear weapons to "wipe Israel off the map", you go read the article in Commentary by Arthur Herman that initiated Greenwald's frightened bout of babbling bullsh**t.
But only if you want to be reasonable.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
DIVINE JUSTICE
Saddam won't be hanging around much longer......actually, I guess he'll at least be hanging. A matter of days, according to Drudge. He looks somewhat shocked at the realization.This is good.
Generally I'm not much of a death penalty fan for the simple reason that there is always the possibility that an innocent person could be put to death mistakenly.
I don't think my fears apply in this particular case, however.
In an earlier post of mine-- before Saddam went on trial--I discussed a young patient who suffered significant guilt over the accidental death of her younger brother; and the insight and growth that she was able to achieve coming to grips with an unpleasant truth about herself. During therapy, she came to understand how her unhappiness was the punishment she was inflicting on herself because of his death; a death in which she bore some responsibility in truth. Her insight allowed her to painfully acknowledge that responsibility and feel appropriate remorse; as well as to finally mourn the brother she loved, and reclaim her life.
By way of comparison, Saddam Hussein is an individual who takes no responsibility for any of the suffering and pain he deliberately inflicted on many thousands of Iraqis. Nor do I think he suffers much guilt or remorse for his actions. In fact, he is simply incapable of any psychological insight or self-awareness of the forces within that motivate his brutality and arrogant malignancy and entitlement.
One of the definitions of justice is "conforming to truth, fact, or reason" and, as a psychiatrist, I like to think of psychological insight as a sort of divine justice that implaccably forces an individual to become aware of even the darkest parts of his or her soul.
In honor of justice and insight, I am reprinting that post below from May, 2005.
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I once had a very successful female patient named Susan, who was in her late 30's and was rising rapidly in her career; but who felt dissatisfied and fairly unhappy, not only in her career, but also in her personal life. In spite of her demonstrable capabilites, she felt inadequate and like she didn't deserve her wealth or status. Sometimes she felt like she didn't even deserve to live. Susan came to see me because she couldn't understand why she felt the way she did, and --unlike most of my patients--she didn't want medication. "Why can't I just be happy?" she wanted to know; so we proceeded to talk about her life to see if we could discover what might be going on.
Some weeks later, in a casual comment, Susan mentioned that she had never liked her younger brother when she was growing up. I looked up from my notes, surprised, because she had never mentioned her brother before.
"I didn't know you had a brother," I said. "Oh," she commented lightly, "he died. That's why I don't bring him up much."
Obviously she wanted to drop the subject, but I persisted. The brother who died was two younger than she was, and had died when he was 16.
"How sad for you and your family! That must have been terrible for you."
Susan shrugged. "It was a long time ago now," she said.
I considered whether I should pursue this further, since she clearly didn't want to talk about it. I asked her if it bothered her to talk about it.
"Not really."
"Could you tell me what happened to him?"
What followed was a dispassionate account of a family trip with the two parents in one car; and the patient and her brother in the other on their way to the family cabin in the mountains. The brother became tired, and went to the back seat to sleep. Susan, who was new to driving, misjudged a curve and went into it far too fast, causing her to lose control. The car slid off the road, and rolled over twice. My patient was uninjured because she had been wearing a seat belt. But her younger brother, sleeping in the back had been thrown from the car and died instantly.
I was stunned. This was serious stuff, and I knew it could be and probably was the origins of Susan's disabling guilt about her life. Yet the patient had never mentioned it in the weeks before as we had talked about her life, and seemed completely unaware that it could be linked to the very situation for which she had consulted me. Even now, while telling me the story, she sounded like a disinterested observer, rather than an intimate player in the drama she described.
"That must have been so awful for you," I said gently.
She smiled brightly at me. "Well, I guess I only did what every big sister really wants to do to an obnoxious brother!" Her laugh was rather forced.
"I suppose its natural for an older sister to feel very upset and angry with a rather trying younger brother--I have two of them, so I certainly know about that.... But I don't believe for a moment that you would truly want him dead or that you would deliberately kill him....it was just a horrible accident, wasn't it?"
She stared at me for a moment, then burst into tears, with great gulping sobs that went on for more than 15 minutes, as I tried to console her the best I could. Yes, the accident was her fault. She had made a mistake and it resulted in her brother's death. But she hadn't wanted him to die; and she hadn't deliberately gone off the road in order to make her childish and angry feelings toward him come true.
For years she had carried around the terrible burden of guilt about her brother's death, telling herself that she had killed him, feeling that her anger toward him made it deliberate. Her parents, grieving themselves, had never thought to absolve her of the accident.
As you might expect, her unhappiness with her life and her overwhelming feeling that she didn't have a right to live was tied to this traumatic incident in her life. What followed in the weeks after her revelation and sudden insight into her unresolved guilt and grief was the beginning of a cure for the inexplicable unhappiness she suffered in her life.
Her belief that she didn't deserve to live was tied up with her childish --and normal--sibling feelings about her brother. But what had sealed her fate was magical thinking--a belief that just because she had some negative feelings about him, those negative feelings had been responsible for the car accident. It was difficult for her to come to the realization that even if she had had uniformly positive and loving feelings toward her younger brother, the accident in which he was killed because she was an inexperienced driver would have still taken place.
With time, she moved from this dramatic insight, to accepting that, while she might have been a poor driver, she wasn't a murderer. And that also, if her brother had made other choices (e.g., used his seatbelt; waited for another hour to go to sleep; etc.)he too might have survived the accident. Some guilt was appropriate for her to deal with. But the life-destroying guilt she was experiencing was far more than she deserved.
Her insight actually gave her back her brother. Since the accident many years before, she had avoided thinking about him, and had psychologically banished all thoughts--both good and bad--about him from her life. For the first time in many years she could remember happy times with him, and finally appropriately mourn him.
Insight is a wonderful thing. The power or act of seeing into a situation and apprehending the inner nature or motivation of one's self--especially the why--can be extremely liberating, as it was for Susan. Only by being aware of these kind of hidden truths and inner motivations can a person gain control over them and correct the behavior that they generate.
But insight can also sometimes be devastating. Susan's insight freed her from a life of unhappiness and made her guilt over her brother's death much more bearable. But there are situations where achieving insight and understanding the motives behind one's behavior (as well as what one can and cannot control) can generate deserved guilt and shame. That is when such emotions can be productive and initiate a change in behavior for the good. While it is painful to acknowledge horrible truths--but truths nonetheless-- such understanding of one's self is essential for personal growth and normal personality development.
Interestingly, I thought of Susan when I was reflecting on the photos of Saddam Hussein in his underwear that were recently in the news; as well as his rage about it and his intent to file a lawsuit. At no time since he has been in custody, has Saddam expressed one iota of remorse or shame for all the murders and tortures he bears responsibility for; and I doubt that he has suffered a significant amount of guilt or shame because of them. When he looks in the mirror, he sees only a brave, heroic Muslim warrior, and not the pathetic human being he truly is.
Because of her insight and willingness to face her own inner truth, Susan demonstrated more integrity, honesty, courage and human decency than the former dictator of Iraq will ever be capable of.
Soon, Saddam will have his day in court (**note: soon he will have his day with the executioner). He will have lawyers arguing passionately for his lack of responsibility for the brutal deaths of literally thousands upon thousands of his own people. He will undoubtedly demonstrate the same arrogance and pride that beggared his people while making him a wealthy and powerful despot. Any suffering he is now experiencing; any shame or humiliation will not be due to the heinous crimes he has committed over the years, but only to the superficial wounds against his outward vanity and pride.
Saddam will never achieve anywhere near the personal growth and development that my young patient Susan was able to; because he is incapable of any real psychological insight into his own evil, malignant behavior. Nor is he capable of the inner courage required to look at yourself in the mirror and truly know the person looking back.
But then, that is what defines true evil, isn't it? The inability to acknowledge any degree of responsibility for their behavior; or to see clearly into their own souls. And that is the ultimate purpose of, and necessity for, Justice -- to impose insight; force awareness; and to reflect reality for those who refuse to look in the mirror.
UPDATE: Oh, and speaking of divine justice.... Does anyone imagine that this person might have had a blinding flash of insight into his own character while he was sitting there all alone? Unlikely, but always possible.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
RHYMES WITH HITLER***Updated***
Iran is defiant after the UN decided to impose some watered-down sanctions for its continued nuclear ambitions:
It is hoped that the world is finally coming to realize the declared, homicidal intentions of this regime are not a joke, and that its psychotic leaders mean what they are saying.
Americans should also consider that far from "helping" us in Iraq, the Iranians only wish to further their own fanatical agenda and squash democracy there as they have managed to do in Lebanon and Palestine.
There is no way to predict with any certainty what the future will be. But we cannot passively wait for the reason-impaired president of Iran to see the "light" and hope that he is only joking about his plans for dealing with Israel. A moment is fast approaching when a decision will have to be made about how to deal with Iran--and no matter what the enlightened journalists or members of the Left say, the problem is not Israel.
It is not useful to reduce everything and everyone to Hiter and the Nazis, but I hope in this particular instance, I may be forgiven for emphasizing the real and frightening parallels. Perhaps we can still learn from history before Ahmadinejad and the mullahs make a perfect rhyme with Hitler and the Nazis?
UPDATE: I forgot about this photo, which also makes my point:
UPDATE II: Neo-neocon has this to say, linking to an earlier piece of mine, Memento Mori, and pointing out that Israel is now home to about half the world's population of Jews:
Iran on Sunday reacted defiantly to the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing sanctions because of the country’s nuclear program. Iranian officials vowed to continue efforts to enrich uranium and warned that the Security Council action would change Iran’s relationship with the United Nations’ nuclear monitoring agency.
It is hoped that the world is finally coming to realize the declared, homicidal intentions of this regime are not a joke, and that its psychotic leaders mean what they are saying.
Americans should also consider that far from "helping" us in Iraq, the Iranians only wish to further their own fanatical agenda and squash democracy there as they have managed to do in Lebanon and Palestine.
There is no way to predict with any certainty what the future will be. But we cannot passively wait for the reason-impaired president of Iran to see the "light" and hope that he is only joking about his plans for dealing with Israel. A moment is fast approaching when a decision will have to be made about how to deal with Iran--and no matter what the enlightened journalists or members of the Left say, the problem is not Israel.
It is not useful to reduce everything and everyone to Hiter and the Nazis, but I hope in this particular instance, I may be forgiven for emphasizing the real and frightening parallels. Perhaps we can still learn from history before Ahmadinejad and the mullahs make a perfect rhyme with Hitler and the Nazis?
UPDATE: I forgot about this photo, which also makes my point:
UPDATE II: Neo-neocon has this to say, linking to an earlier piece of mine, Memento Mori, and pointing out that Israel is now home to about half the world's population of Jews:
...the "ingathering" of Jews that the formation of the state of Israel represented, which was supposed to have been essential for Jewish survival, has instead facilitated the work of Hitler's heirs.
A great deal of Hitler's energy was involved in rounding up a widely scattered people--one of the main Holocaust themes is the cattle car, the trains on which the Jews were transported to their doom.
But now there's no longer need for any such effort. Because of the "ingathering" that Israel already represents, one strategic bomb would destroy half of world Jewry in a moment. If the Jews are the canaries in the mine (and I believe that's an apt metaphor), half of them are now in a single mine, and it's sprung a gas leak.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
CARNIVAL OF THE CHRISTMAS INSANITIES - Special Edition !
Time for the weekly insanity update - OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION!-- where the insane, the bizarre, the ridiculous, and the completely absurd are highlighted for all to see! If you want to remain sane this holiday season, the best thing is to poke some fun at the more egregious absurdities.Send all entries for next week's carnival to Dr. Sanity by 8 pm ET on Saturday for Sunday's Carnival. Only one post entry weekly per blogger, please.
NOTE: Those non-Holiday related submissions that came this week will be included in the next carnival. And you might read this before submitting an entry.
Thanks for all the submissions. I try to use as many as possible! SO MANY INSANITIES! SO LITTLE TIME!!!
1. Have a dysfunctional family Christmas! The SC&A Institute studies family holiday values...
2. Evil Santa - make your own! And, a do-it-yourself Christmas movie!
3. A lonely man; a cave; a conversion to Christianity and a Merry Christmas, God Bless Us Every One....
4. Kris Kringle, P.I.
5. Oh little besieged town of Bethlehem.... Hark the herald, shar'ia reigns..... Sad Santa.
6. Ho! Ho! Ho! and Bah Humbug
7. Old Saint Nixed
8. Taking away or banning the magic of the holidays - a new international pastime. But there is still a spark of that magic!
8. And a Baby Jesus came to West Virginia! Latest innovation on the Yule log.
10. A very un- Merry Marxist Christmas! And a Mountain Dew Christmas for all those capitalists out there!
11. This will keep you busy for days during the holidays! Happy Star Wars Christmas!
12. A modest Christmas wish list.
13. Frosty is a victim of a vicious crime.14. Global warming takes it toll on a holiday tradition!
15. Bet you didn't know that opening a Christmas present can be a crime ?
16. Silent Night in a hundred languages.
17. I don't recall an "alternative Ramadan" message being given out...
18. Even at Christmas the bizarre abounds! Mince pie risk assessment?? DANGER DANGER!
19. What Christmas ornament would you be!
20. Happy (belated) Hanukkah 21. Hanukkah's message to all Americans
22. What do Jews do on Christmas ?
HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE ! [Liberals and Conservatives alike!]
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Carnival of the Insanities can also be found at The Truth Laid Bear's ÜberCarnival and at the BlogCarnival.
If you would like to Join the insanity, and add the Carnival of the Insanities button to your sidebar (clicking on it will always take you to the latest update of the Carnival), click on "Word of Blog" below the button to obtain the html code:
Saturday, December 23, 2006
LIGHT CHRISTMAS BLOGGING
Except for the Carnival of the Christmas Insanities that will be posted tomorrow morning, I intend to take tomorrow and Christmas day off from blogging.
I have much baking and cooking to accomplish (as well as eating) ; and, more importantly I don't want to let the insanity of today's world to intrude on Christmas and the traditions I cherish.
I should be back on Tuesday sometime doing my usual blogging thingy (I am addicted to it, after all) ; and I hope to be refreshed and eager to do battle with all the craziness again.
Watch for the special edition of the Carnival tomorrow morning; and have a wonderful and safe Holiday...May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white!
ZAWAHIRI, CHEAP GLORY, AND THE TRIUMPH OF NARCISSISM
I'm a little late with this story, but I can't help comment on it anyway. Guess who has some friendly advice for the Democrats?
Captain Ed goes on to try and dissuade the right side of the blogsphere from gleefully pointing out the alliance between Al Qaeda and the Democratic Party. As Al Qaeda sees it, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and it justifiably considers the recent antics of idiotish Democrats (who constantly seek to discredit their mortal enemy Bush by undermining the Iraq war, as well as the larger war with Islamofascist thugs like Al Qaeda)as somewhat helpful to their plan for world domination.
The Captain is correct in a way, but what bothers me the most is the fact that the Democratic Party is so far gone in its narcissistic indulgences that it is wholly unable to step back and consider how their behavior has made this country weak and vulnerable to homicidal organizations like Al Qaeda.
But then, hysteria and self-aggrandizement--as opposed to rational reflection--is more in the style of the Democratic leadership these days.
Thomas Sowell recently wrote a column about the cheap glory pursued by our political and intellectual leaders:
Sowell rightly wonders how long a country like ours, born in freedom, can be sustained when a belief in freedom is displaced by a pervasive narcissism that seeks cheap glory and is willing to sacrifice all values for the transient and childish thrill of getting attention.
The triumph of narcissism and the embrace of political correctness and multiculti worship in our political, academic, and cultural elites has led them to take the easy path to fame and cheap glory. All one has to do is "heroically" and sincerely
bash America, as you proudly displaying a casual contempt for its values. It also helps to publicize how your courageous stand is being "oppressed" by the BushHitler Administration, well on their way to making the U.S. a fascist theocracy.
The righteous anti-semitism of people like Baker and Carter fits nicely into the larger anti-American paranoia constructed by the political left and its useful idiots, the Democratic Party. Zawahiri clearly understand this to be the case, as he warns against any continued American support of Israel.
As I said, Captain Ed is basically correct. Zawahiri is actually engaging in a cheap sort of glory himself, by taking credit for the Democrats' recent victory at the polls. He would like to turn that Democratic victory into his organization's victory--and he knows he has a chance to do that.
It is all a matter of attaining that "cheap glory". Cheap glory for the Democrats who feel they best express their patriotism by heroically and honorably caving into the religious fanatics whose principal desire is to destroy our country; and cheap glory for Zawahiri and the other terrorists who, knowing they cannot possibly win on any other battlefield of this war, cleverly plan to achieve victory by letting America defeat itself.
The Democrat's quest for cheap glory is nothing more than the sociopathic selflessness (a form of malignant narcissism) of an organization that puts its overweening obsession for power above the needs of the country--and primly tells us that they are doing so "for our own good". Through the magic of postmodern irrationalism, they can always spin any defeat and surrender into examples of honor and integrity.
But they are betrayed by their own pathology. Those who engage in such narcissistic behavior, spend a lot of time rationalizing it, too. That is why those who exhibit the most blatant examples of unpatriotic behavior are so wildly sensitive to any comments about their lack of same. The criticism hits too close to a truth they cannot face.
Patriotism, for them, is always 100% compatible with their narcissistic sense of entitlement. They bash America because they love America--or, rather, they love their own personal and private image of what America should be.
The pursuit of cheap glory is characterized by denigrating the parent--and feeling somehow as if this is a courageous thing to do. You see the Hollywood elites, for example, patting themselves on the back for the brave, valiant behavior of standing up against BushHitler. I'm sure they truly believe they will imminently be dragged to a jail cell for saying the ridiculous things they say; just as they fiercly denouce the coming Christian theocracy (that has for some inexplicable reason failed to materialize in the last 6 years)--all the while totally ignoring those who would like to impose an Islamic theocracy.
You also see the pursuit of cheap glory in the left's sneering contempt and devaluation of their fellow citizen siblings who are willing to defend freedom in the real world, instead of the fantasyland that exists only in the windmills of the leftist mind.
Meanwhile, in that real world, every day people are being murdered for desiring freedom and democracy. Standing up against real world villians, though, is far too frightening for the narcissistically preoccupied.
It is much much easier, as Zawahiri's message to the Democrats demonstrates, to bask in the light of cheap glory.
Al-Qaeda's number two nutcase sent a new message to the West as expected, and this time he had a special message for the winners of America's last election. Ayman al-Zawahiri wants Democrats to understand that they owe a debt of thanks to radical Islamist terrorists for their control of Congress, and he expects some gratitude ASAP:"The first is that you aren't the ones who won the midterm elections, nor are the Republicans the ones who lost. Rather, the Mujahideen -- the Muslim Ummah's vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq -- are the ones who won, and the American forces and their Crusader allies are the ones who lost," Zawahri said, according to a full transcript obtained by ABC News. Zawahri calls on the Democrats to negotiate with him and Osama bin Laden, not others in the Islamic world who Zawahri says cannot help.
"And if you don't refrain from the foolish American policy of backing Israel, occupying the lands of Islam and stealing the treasures of the Muslims, then await the same fate," he said.
Captain Ed goes on to try and dissuade the right side of the blogsphere from gleefully pointing out the alliance between Al Qaeda and the Democratic Party. As Al Qaeda sees it, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" and it justifiably considers the recent antics of idiotish Democrats (who constantly seek to discredit their mortal enemy Bush by undermining the Iraq war, as well as the larger war with Islamofascist thugs like Al Qaeda)as somewhat helpful to their plan for world domination.
The Captain is correct in a way, but what bothers me the most is the fact that the Democratic Party is so far gone in its narcissistic indulgences that it is wholly unable to step back and consider how their behavior has made this country weak and vulnerable to homicidal organizations like Al Qaeda.
But then, hysteria and self-aggrandizement--as opposed to rational reflection--is more in the style of the Democratic leadership these days.
Thomas Sowell recently wrote a column about the cheap glory pursued by our political and intellectual leaders:
We have now been through at least two generations of constant denigration of American society, two generations in which cheap glory could be gained by flouting rules and mocking values.
Is it surprising that we seem to have dwindling numbers of people willing to take responsibility and make sacrifices to preserve the social framework that makes our survival and advancement possible? Harvard is just one small example.
There was a time when being at war meant accepting a great weight of responsibility, even among politicians. After Wendell Willkie waged a tough presidential election campaign against Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940, winning more votes than any Republican ever had before, nevertheless after it was all over, he became FDR's personal envoy to Winston Churchill.
In the midst of war today, we see former presidents and defeated presidential candidates telling the world how wrong we are -- sometimes collecting big bucks in foreign countries for doing so -- and members of Congress playing demagogic party politics with national security.
Sowell rightly wonders how long a country like ours, born in freedom, can be sustained when a belief in freedom is displaced by a pervasive narcissism that seeks cheap glory and is willing to sacrifice all values for the transient and childish thrill of getting attention.
The triumph of narcissism and the embrace of political correctness and multiculti worship in our political, academic, and cultural elites has led them to take the easy path to fame and cheap glory. All one has to do is "heroically" and sincerely
bash America, as you proudly displaying a casual contempt for its values. It also helps to publicize how your courageous stand is being "oppressed" by the BushHitler Administration, well on their way to making the U.S. a fascist theocracy.
The righteous anti-semitism of people like Baker and Carter fits nicely into the larger anti-American paranoia constructed by the political left and its useful idiots, the Democratic Party. Zawahiri clearly understand this to be the case, as he warns against any continued American support of Israel.
As I said, Captain Ed is basically correct. Zawahiri is actually engaging in a cheap sort of glory himself, by taking credit for the Democrats' recent victory at the polls. He would like to turn that Democratic victory into his organization's victory--and he knows he has a chance to do that.
It is all a matter of attaining that "cheap glory". Cheap glory for the Democrats who feel they best express their patriotism by heroically and honorably caving into the religious fanatics whose principal desire is to destroy our country; and cheap glory for Zawahiri and the other terrorists who, knowing they cannot possibly win on any other battlefield of this war, cleverly plan to achieve victory by letting America defeat itself.
The Democrat's quest for cheap glory is nothing more than the sociopathic selflessness (a form of malignant narcissism) of an organization that puts its overweening obsession for power above the needs of the country--and primly tells us that they are doing so "for our own good". Through the magic of postmodern irrationalism, they can always spin any defeat and surrender into examples of honor and integrity.
But they are betrayed by their own pathology. Those who engage in such narcissistic behavior, spend a lot of time rationalizing it, too. That is why those who exhibit the most blatant examples of unpatriotic behavior are so wildly sensitive to any comments about their lack of same. The criticism hits too close to a truth they cannot face.
Patriotism, for them, is always 100% compatible with their narcissistic sense of entitlement. They bash America because they love America--or, rather, they love their own personal and private image of what America should be.
The pursuit of cheap glory is characterized by denigrating the parent--and feeling somehow as if this is a courageous thing to do. You see the Hollywood elites, for example, patting themselves on the back for the brave, valiant behavior of standing up against BushHitler. I'm sure they truly believe they will imminently be dragged to a jail cell for saying the ridiculous things they say; just as they fiercly denouce the coming Christian theocracy (that has for some inexplicable reason failed to materialize in the last 6 years)--all the while totally ignoring those who would like to impose an Islamic theocracy.
You also see the pursuit of cheap glory in the left's sneering contempt and devaluation of their fellow citizen siblings who are willing to defend freedom in the real world, instead of the fantasyland that exists only in the windmills of the leftist mind.
Meanwhile, in that real world, every day people are being murdered for desiring freedom and democracy. Standing up against real world villians, though, is far too frightening for the narcissistically preoccupied.
It is much much easier, as Zawahiri's message to the Democrats demonstrates, to bask in the light of cheap glory.
Friday, December 22, 2006
MEMENTO MORI
Simon says that this is a depressing post by Ron Rosenbaum regarding Iran. I agree:
And, for those who may have forgotten or never known, Iranian clerics have already issued a fatwa approving the use of nuclear weapons against the enemies of Islam. One can reasonably assume that they are getting their religious ducks in a row to use nuclear weapons which they already possess or soon will. Either interpretation goes along with the arrogant, smirking demeanor accompanying the calculated baiting of the West that Psychopath-in-chief Ahmadinejad has been doing in the last weeks, as his holocaust denial conference sets the secular stage for removing Israel and the Jews.
Is there anyone naive enough to think that these homicidal fanatics would hesitate for one second to use a nuclear weapon against Israel--even if it meant millions Iranians would be also destroyed in a counterattack? From their warped perspective, the involuntary martyrdom of a few million muslims in Iran is a small price to pay to "wipe Israel off the map" and finish the job that Hitler started.
What a grand gesture for the muslims of the world to witness and emulate! Iran strapping on the suicide bomb around its entire population to gloriously rid Islam of the Jewish menace.
It is important to notice that the rhetoric and the defiance; the threats and the danger have only escalated , as the clueless leaders in the West repeatedly bend over backwards to appease and mollify the sociopathic bullies of Islam.
From a psychological perspective, the increasingly amused and smug Iranian response to efforts of appeasement and negotiation has always been completely predictable. Bullies will always push the envelope of bad behavior when they think they can get away with it; and if they think that you are weak.
And they are getting away with it, aren't they?
Why shouldn't Iran's mullahs and their puppet Ahmadinejad think that, when we have supposedly senior statesmen like Baker and Carter, as well as the current crop of idiots in Congress behaving like a bunch of scared schoolchildren who are perfectly willing to give up their lunch money and abandon the entire school playground rather than stand up agains the scary bully?
With every grandiose statement issuing forth from every nickle-and-dime political hack; with every self-serving moronic proclamation by some Hollywood star who thinks he is a foreign policy wonk, I can imagine Ahmadinejad rubbing his hands together like Mr. Burns in The Simpsons, cackling, "Exxxxcellent!" as he watches the West implode from its unresolved intellectual and moral contradictions.
It is easy to understand Ahmadinejad's increasingly arrogant attitude; as well as his supreme confidence in Islamic superiority. He is convinced that he is the instrument of Allah's will, and this is only reinforced when he witnesses the pathetic appeasement and fear emanating from the infidels he means to destroy.
It's no use saying that such behavior on his part doesn't make sense and is irrational and suicidal. Just think of Ahmadinejad as the ultimate, high-tech suicide bomber who has wrapped that nuclear bomb belt securely around his entire country.
Rosenbaum bleakly concludes that: There is no deterrent to suicidal martyrdom, involuntary mass martrydom. No deterrent that depends on belief in the value of life by genocidal murderers on a “martyrdom mission”. Then asks, Is there a solution to this problem aside from pre-emptive strikes which will likely be catastrophic for both sides and probably only postpone a second Holocaust? Are there any deterrrents that will stop Ahmadinejad and his ilk from carrying out their genocidal designs?
I have a modest suggestion. The only way to deal with bullies is by overwhelming force and unyielding moral will--directed specifically at the bully himself. It is not necessary to wipe all of Iran--or Syria, or Lebanon for that matter-- off the map. Narrowly targeting the bully and his immediate gang for complete destruction would be a good first step. Then, repeat as often as necessary for the next group of bullies who take their place; until you finally get someone in control who is capable of reason, and who values his own life and the lives of others sufficiently to be able to work with toward peace.
In each area of conflict--Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan), Syria, Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza--there are key individuals (Sadr, Bin Laden & Zawahiri, Assad, the mullahs & Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah; and all the lesser potentates) who need to be "deterred" with extreme prejudice and sent to their promised reward with Allah. It is either target them as individuals; or, as Rosenbaum concludes, we must be prepared for the catastrophic deaths they will inflict both on us and their own people.
We are talking of preventing the death of millions of innocent lives that would be forfeit if these fanatical madmen are allowed to continue leading their followers on holy genocidal missions. Chances are that the egotistical maniacs of Islam have not truly considered their own mortality, or that they, themselves might die--as they regularly importune their mindless minions out to do that dirty jihadi work on their--and Allah's-- behalf.
What narcissist (particularly the malignant variety) truly believes in his own mortality? They see themselves as gods; special and protected. That they are mortal does not occur very often to them.
Let us remind them.
Let their targeted deaths; their glorious martyrdom, be an artistic memento mori that reminds all those who preach and practice religious genocide and believe only in death, that we in the West sympathize with their desire for martydom and will gladly assist them in reuniting with the god they profess to serve.
What could be more compassionate and understanding than that?
Once Israel had a nuclear deterrent to conventional attack. Now however consider the words to be found in footnote 55 to the indictment of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for inciting to genocide. Footnote 55 to the indictment, the “Referral” to the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention described in the previous post, is the heart of the matter, the heart of darknesss.
These words, this genocidal sentiment, which I have been citing since 2002 in writing about the situation, in postulating the prospect of a second Holocuast, were uttered by the leader of what the Western press has lately taken to calling the “pragmatic conservatives” in Iran, Ayatollah Hashemi Rasfanjani:
“If one day the world of Islam comes to possess the weapons currently in Israel’s possession [meaning nuclear weapons]—on that day this method of global arrogance would come to a dead end. This…is because the use of a nuclear bomb in Israel will leave nothing on the ground, whereas it will only damage the world of Islam.”
“Nothing on the ground” versus mere “damage”. In other words, as one rather dramatic version has it, Israel is “a one bomb state”. A state you can wipe off the map, along with its people, with a single nuclear device.
And, for those who may have forgotten or never known, Iranian clerics have already issued a fatwa approving the use of nuclear weapons against the enemies of Islam. One can reasonably assume that they are getting their religious ducks in a row to use nuclear weapons which they already possess or soon will. Either interpretation goes along with the arrogant, smirking demeanor accompanying the calculated baiting of the West that Psychopath-in-chief Ahmadinejad has been doing in the last weeks, as his holocaust denial conference sets the secular stage for removing Israel and the Jews.
Is there anyone naive enough to think that these homicidal fanatics would hesitate for one second to use a nuclear weapon against Israel--even if it meant millions Iranians would be also destroyed in a counterattack? From their warped perspective, the involuntary martyrdom of a few million muslims in Iran is a small price to pay to "wipe Israel off the map" and finish the job that Hitler started.
What a grand gesture for the muslims of the world to witness and emulate! Iran strapping on the suicide bomb around its entire population to gloriously rid Islam of the Jewish menace.
It is important to notice that the rhetoric and the defiance; the threats and the danger have only escalated , as the clueless leaders in the West repeatedly bend over backwards to appease and mollify the sociopathic bullies of Islam.
From a psychological perspective, the increasingly amused and smug Iranian response to efforts of appeasement and negotiation has always been completely predictable. Bullies will always push the envelope of bad behavior when they think they can get away with it; and if they think that you are weak.
And they are getting away with it, aren't they?
Why shouldn't Iran's mullahs and their puppet Ahmadinejad think that, when we have supposedly senior statesmen like Baker and Carter, as well as the current crop of idiots in Congress behaving like a bunch of scared schoolchildren who are perfectly willing to give up their lunch money and abandon the entire school playground rather than stand up agains the scary bully?
With every grandiose statement issuing forth from every nickle-and-dime political hack; with every self-serving moronic proclamation by some Hollywood star who thinks he is a foreign policy wonk, I can imagine Ahmadinejad rubbing his hands together like Mr. Burns in The Simpsons, cackling, "Exxxxcellent!" as he watches the West implode from its unresolved intellectual and moral contradictions.
It is easy to understand Ahmadinejad's increasingly arrogant attitude; as well as his supreme confidence in Islamic superiority. He is convinced that he is the instrument of Allah's will, and this is only reinforced when he witnesses the pathetic appeasement and fear emanating from the infidels he means to destroy.
It's no use saying that such behavior on his part doesn't make sense and is irrational and suicidal. Just think of Ahmadinejad as the ultimate, high-tech suicide bomber who has wrapped that nuclear bomb belt securely around his entire country.
Rosenbaum bleakly concludes that: There is no deterrent to suicidal martyrdom, involuntary mass martrydom. No deterrent that depends on belief in the value of life by genocidal murderers on a “martyrdom mission”. Then asks, Is there a solution to this problem aside from pre-emptive strikes which will likely be catastrophic for both sides and probably only postpone a second Holocaust? Are there any deterrrents that will stop Ahmadinejad and his ilk from carrying out their genocidal designs?
I have a modest suggestion. The only way to deal with bullies is by overwhelming force and unyielding moral will--directed specifically at the bully himself. It is not necessary to wipe all of Iran--or Syria, or Lebanon for that matter-- off the map. Narrowly targeting the bully and his immediate gang for complete destruction would be a good first step. Then, repeat as often as necessary for the next group of bullies who take their place; until you finally get someone in control who is capable of reason, and who values his own life and the lives of others sufficiently to be able to work with toward peace.
In each area of conflict--Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan), Syria, Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza--there are key individuals (Sadr, Bin Laden & Zawahiri, Assad, the mullahs & Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah; and all the lesser potentates) who need to be "deterred" with extreme prejudice and sent to their promised reward with Allah. It is either target them as individuals; or, as Rosenbaum concludes, we must be prepared for the catastrophic deaths they will inflict both on us and their own people.
We are talking of preventing the death of millions of innocent lives that would be forfeit if these fanatical madmen are allowed to continue leading their followers on holy genocidal missions. Chances are that the egotistical maniacs of Islam have not truly considered their own mortality, or that they, themselves might die--as they regularly importune their mindless minions out to do that dirty jihadi work on their--and Allah's-- behalf.
What narcissist (particularly the malignant variety) truly believes in his own mortality? They see themselves as gods; special and protected. That they are mortal does not occur very often to them.
Let us remind them.
Let their targeted deaths; their glorious martyrdom, be an artistic memento mori that reminds all those who preach and practice religious genocide and believe only in death, that we in the West sympathize with their desire for martydom and will gladly assist them in reuniting with the god they profess to serve.
What could be more compassionate and understanding than that?
Thursday, December 21, 2006
EARTH TO TODAY'S FEMINISTS: WE WILL SURVIVE (Without You)
According to the experts at Pajamas Media, "Feminism will survive."
Not, I fervently hope, in its current iteration; which encourages both the "backstreet floozie" mentality as well as the "I am woman watch me constantly complain about being victimized" whining (see previous posts here and here)
To that end, let me dedicate this next song parody; shamelessly stolen from Gloria Gaynor:
EARTH TO TODAY'S FEMINISTS: WE WILL SURVIVE (Without You)
We were oppressed,
Our souls were so distressed
We kept hearing we must always
Let our lives be male-possessed...
But then we thought about that meme
and understood that it was wrong,
So we grew strong
We were women and we roared!
But now-a-days
It's pretty weird
Cause our movement's gone round the bend,
becoming itself what we once feared.
We should have never burned our bras;
We should have kicked Marx out the door--
If we had known that feminism
Symbolized the victim-whore.
We've got Camille and Brittany
And swooning gently
Is Harvard's female faculty
who are now the ones who cannot bear to hear the truth
So they just crumble
And react hysterically;
But we are women--
And we'll survive
as long as we keep growing
We know we'll stay alive
We've got real lives to live
We've moved on and that they can't forgive
But we'll survive...
We will survive
It took all the strength we had
To break glass ceilings;
We just showed them all our stuff
And used our brains and not our feelings.
Once we spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for ourselves;
We used to cry,
Now we can hold our heads up high.
And we grew up
empowered and quite strong
Not the foolish little women
who thought NOW could do no wrong.
Today you play the victim card
and can't stand we're truly free:
We left you many years ago
To be all that we could be.
We will survive.
Not, I fervently hope, in its current iteration; which encourages both the "backstreet floozie" mentality as well as the "I am woman watch me constantly complain about being victimized" whining (see previous posts here and here)
To that end, let me dedicate this next song parody; shamelessly stolen from Gloria Gaynor:
EARTH TO TODAY'S FEMINISTS: WE WILL SURVIVE (Without You)
We were oppressed,
Our souls were so distressed
We kept hearing we must always
Let our lives be male-possessed...
But then we thought about that meme
and understood that it was wrong,
So we grew strong
We were women and we roared!
But now-a-days
It's pretty weird
Cause our movement's gone round the bend,
becoming itself what we once feared.
We should have never burned our bras;
We should have kicked Marx out the door--
If we had known that feminism
Symbolized the victim-whore.
We've got Camille and Brittany
And swooning gently
Is Harvard's female faculty
who are now the ones who cannot bear to hear the truth
So they just crumble
And react hysterically;
But we are women--
And we'll survive
as long as we keep growing
We know we'll stay alive
We've got real lives to live
We've moved on and that they can't forgive
But we'll survive...
We will survive
It took all the strength we had
To break glass ceilings;
We just showed them all our stuff
And used our brains and not our feelings.
Once we spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for ourselves;
We used to cry,
Now we can hold our heads up high.
And we grew up
empowered and quite strong
Not the foolish little women
who thought NOW could do no wrong.
Today you play the victim card
and can't stand we're truly free:
We left you many years ago
To be all that we could be.
We will survive.
POSTMODERNISM'S CARTE BLANCHE: Don't Do Jihad Without It
Victor Davis Hanson ponders the question: Why radical Islam, and why now?
Hanson goes on to propose several ways the West can defend itself against the threat, but he does not directly address the one reason why I think radical Islam has taken hold in the world today. If I may offer a medical analogy, there are many diseases that do not manifest themselves unless one or more prerequisite conditions are also present in the individual. For example, Karposi's sarcoma is a deadly malignancy that is extremely rare, but which occurs much more frequently and spreads more rapidly in those individuals who are taking certain drugs to treat AIDS. The drugs suppress the immune system, thus giving a biological carte blanche to the development of the sarcoma.
Radical Islam, like Karposi's sarcoma, has manifested itself today and is spreading rapidly for pretty much the same reason; only in its case, it has been given an ideological carte blanche by the international political left--who represent the remnants of the failed ideologies of the 20th century--communism and socialism.
In the decades since those ideologies have been exposed for the deadly, anti-human pathologies they are, both communism and socialism have recruited a potent newdrug dogma that has become an ally in their attempts to control the minds of men.
To steal a phrase from Marx, this new dogma has become every despot's "opium of the people".
No cult of tyranny--including radical Islam-- can hope to remain viable in a world where human thought is free; therefore, the goal of the left's new dogma is nothing less than to undermine mankind's perception of reality itself.
If you can convince people that objective reality is an illusion; that A does not equal A; that black is white; and that good is bad; if you can make them accept that everything is subjective and relative; then you can breath new life into doctrines that by all objective measures and standards have led to the death and misery of millions of people. Through the manipulation of language, everything can be distorted, without the messy need to resort to facts, logic, or reason.
We see the results of this new alliance in postmodern philosophical rhetoric and behavior which assaults the Western world on a daily basis from their media and intellectual elites.
What matters most in this new dogma is not truth or falsity--only the effectiveness of the language used. Lies, distortions, ad hominem attacks; attempts to silence opposing views--all are strategies that are perfectly satisfactory if they achieve the desired effect. Ideas and reason must make way for reification of feelings; and freedom is replaced by thought control.
The postmodern assault as it is used by the new totalitarians of the 21st century is a four-pronged attack to undermine
- Objective reality
- Reason and the rational debate of ideas
- Individual freedom and freedom of thought and speech
- Progress and capitalism
The strategies used are:
- The distortion of language and meaning to undermine the individual's perception of reality;
- The use of direct or threatened physical violence to suppress speech and individual freedom;
- Politically "correct" thought control and cultural relativism to undermine reason and rational debate;
- The promotion of environmental hysteria to undermine progress, industrialization and capitalism
These activities represent the most serious assault on reality, reason, and individual freedom since the twin beasts of communism and socialism rose up early in the 20th century. And, though seriously wounded, they are rising again in a new and more virulent form.
The natural heirs of Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot -- all the 20th century totalitarians-- have found a new home in the rigid and oppressive medieval religion that is today's Islam.
Radical Islamic ideology is itself an unexpected combination of several toxic memes that have merged in the last 50 years. One thread of this meme is Islam itself--a purportedly "peaceful" religion that is actually historically based on military conquest and coercion of belief through jihad-- entwined with the remnants of the totalitarian ideologies of the last century.
This is why there is an alliance between the totalitarians of the left-- who are the remaining outposts of communism and socialism that thrive in academic and "intellectual" circles in the West; and the Islamic fanatics of the world. Whether this alliance is a conscious or unconscious one (i.e., whether the specific component of the left actively and deliberately supports Islamic terrorism versus enabling and appeasing it) depends on the level of insight and personal depravity achieved by the true believer of today's political left.
There are far too many women who see nothing wrong with Islam's suppression and infantilization of women and life under the burqa; but who scream in outrage if a scientific study suggests that there are real physiological differences between men and women. There are far too many Jews who overlook the pervasive anti-semitism of the groups they march in solidarity with. Much of this is a self-hatred that manifests itself in the suicidal and homicidal impulses that logically flow from the perverted postmodern view of the world; and part of it is the descent into emotionalism and hysteria that is encouraged by the rhetoric.
On that fateful day 50 years ago when Khrushchev actually admitted that the communist revolution was a lie, the goal of eliminating tyranny from the world became a real possibility. Francis Fukayama even transiently believed that the "end of history" had been reached, but almost immediately, he was shown by world events to be rather too optimistic. But his euphoria was picked up by the people of Western Civilizaiton--the keepers of reality; reason and freedom--and they too tended to see the fall of the monolithic Soviet Union and the collapse of communism as some sort of final victory of freedom over tyranny.
By this first decade of the 21st century, we know for certain that tyranny was not vanquished. Indeed, it has seen a revival despite its ongoing economic failures and despite its legacy of blood, misery and oppression that led to the death of millions in the last century.
Though severely wounded, the beast survived and its offspring have now matured sufficiently to threaten us again. Fukayama and the West had been celebrating prematurely. Jews around the world, Ilan Halimi, Theo van Gogh and all the other canaries in the coal mine lie murdered all around us. Human life and liberty are once again gravely threatened.
Those who refuse to close their eyes to the threat; who refuse to shut up about it; who refuse to be intimidated or to appease it; who, in short, refuse to abandon reality, reason or freedom-- must once again call up the courage and will to defend the values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and stand against the forces of tyranny.
Because, even as freedom began to light up areas of the world that had laid in the dark for generations, a new evil was coalescing that combined the virulence of communism and socialism with the toxicity of a medieval, inflexible, intolerant, and oppressive religion.
This union of totalitarian thought from both left and right was itself an unexpected combination of memes; but when you add to that lethal mix the rhetorical and political strategies of postmodernism, the result was a rare malignancy that threatens to destroy all human values; all human decency and all human civilization.
Postmodern philosophy and rhetoric that embraces "political correctness" and all the multicultural bull that flows from it, was the "prerequisite condition" that facilitated the rise of the Karposi-like malignancy of radical Islam, and gave it carte blanche to spread and kill.
Appreciating the intellectual and moral rot of the postmodern political left is key to understanding why radical Islam has managed to garner a completely unexpected amount of traction in today's world.
UPDATE: Gagdad Bob has a truly marvelous post that proposes a 12-Step Program for the dsyfunctional left. But first, he has this to say:
Go and read it all. Then read this post at American Thinker, and my post on Neoconservativism, "What the World Needs Now". The insanity of today's world will begin to make much more sense, I guarantee it.
The ascent of radical Islam is, perhaps, the natural culmination of a century's worth of failed political systems in Muslim countries that were driven by morally bankrupt ideologies, led by cruel dictators, or both.
In the 1930s, German-style fascism appealed to Arabs in Palestine and Egypt. Soviet-style communism had sympathetic governments in Afghanistan, Algeria and Yemen. Baathism took hold in Syria and Iraq. The secular Egyptian dictator Gamal Abdel Nasser promised a new pan-Arabism that would do away with colonial borders that divided the "the Arab nation." Then there is the more pragmatic authoritarianism that survives in Muammar el-Qaddafi's Libya or in the petrol-monarchies in the Gulf.
Radical Islam may be as totalitarian and as morally bankrupt as any of these past or mostly defunct "isms," but its current appeal isn't hard to figure out. Unlike fascism or communism, radical Islam is locally grown, and not plagued by charges of foreign contamination. Indeed, Islamists claim to wage jihad against the modernism and globlization of the outside, mostly Westernized world. Such a message resonates in stagnant, impoverished Muslim countries.
Of course, while the people of the region may be poor, the Islamist movement isn't. Huge oil profits filter throughout the Muslim world, allowing Islamists to act on their rhetoric. In today's world, militias can easily acquire everything from shoulder-held anti-aircraft missiles to rocket-propelled grenades. With such weapons, and on their own turf, Islamists can nullify billion-dollar Western jets and tanks.
There is still another reason for the rise of Islamists: They sense a new hesitation in the West. We appear to them paralyzed over oil prices and supplies and fears of terrorism. And so they have also waged a brilliant propaganda war, adopting the role of victims of Western colonialism, imperialism and racism. In turn, much of the world seems to tolerate their ruthlessness in stifling freedom, oppressing women and killing nonbelievers.
Hanson goes on to propose several ways the West can defend itself against the threat, but he does not directly address the one reason why I think radical Islam has taken hold in the world today. If I may offer a medical analogy, there are many diseases that do not manifest themselves unless one or more prerequisite conditions are also present in the individual. For example, Karposi's sarcoma is a deadly malignancy that is extremely rare, but which occurs much more frequently and spreads more rapidly in those individuals who are taking certain drugs to treat AIDS. The drugs suppress the immune system, thus giving a biological carte blanche to the development of the sarcoma.
Radical Islam, like Karposi's sarcoma, has manifested itself today and is spreading rapidly for pretty much the same reason; only in its case, it has been given an ideological carte blanche by the international political left--who represent the remnants of the failed ideologies of the 20th century--communism and socialism.
In the decades since those ideologies have been exposed for the deadly, anti-human pathologies they are, both communism and socialism have recruited a potent new
To steal a phrase from Marx, this new dogma has become every despot's "opium of the people".
No cult of tyranny--including radical Islam-- can hope to remain viable in a world where human thought is free; therefore, the goal of the left's new dogma is nothing less than to undermine mankind's perception of reality itself.
If you can convince people that objective reality is an illusion; that A does not equal A; that black is white; and that good is bad; if you can make them accept that everything is subjective and relative; then you can breath new life into doctrines that by all objective measures and standards have led to the death and misery of millions of people. Through the manipulation of language, everything can be distorted, without the messy need to resort to facts, logic, or reason.
We see the results of this new alliance in postmodern philosophical rhetoric and behavior which assaults the Western world on a daily basis from their media and intellectual elites.
What matters most in this new dogma is not truth or falsity--only the effectiveness of the language used. Lies, distortions, ad hominem attacks; attempts to silence opposing views--all are strategies that are perfectly satisfactory if they achieve the desired effect. Ideas and reason must make way for reification of feelings; and freedom is replaced by thought control.
The postmodern assault as it is used by the new totalitarians of the 21st century is a four-pronged attack to undermine
- Objective reality
- Reason and the rational debate of ideas
- Individual freedom and freedom of thought and speech
- Progress and capitalism
The strategies used are:
- The distortion of language and meaning to undermine the individual's perception of reality;
- The use of direct or threatened physical violence to suppress speech and individual freedom;
- Politically "correct" thought control and cultural relativism to undermine reason and rational debate;
- The promotion of environmental hysteria to undermine progress, industrialization and capitalism
These activities represent the most serious assault on reality, reason, and individual freedom since the twin beasts of communism and socialism rose up early in the 20th century. And, though seriously wounded, they are rising again in a new and more virulent form.
The natural heirs of Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot -- all the 20th century totalitarians-- have found a new home in the rigid and oppressive medieval religion that is today's Islam.
Radical Islamic ideology is itself an unexpected combination of several toxic memes that have merged in the last 50 years. One thread of this meme is Islam itself--a purportedly "peaceful" religion that is actually historically based on military conquest and coercion of belief through jihad-- entwined with the remnants of the totalitarian ideologies of the last century.
This is why there is an alliance between the totalitarians of the left-- who are the remaining outposts of communism and socialism that thrive in academic and "intellectual" circles in the West; and the Islamic fanatics of the world. Whether this alliance is a conscious or unconscious one (i.e., whether the specific component of the left actively and deliberately supports Islamic terrorism versus enabling and appeasing it) depends on the level of insight and personal depravity achieved by the true believer of today's political left.
There are far too many women who see nothing wrong with Islam's suppression and infantilization of women and life under the burqa; but who scream in outrage if a scientific study suggests that there are real physiological differences between men and women. There are far too many Jews who overlook the pervasive anti-semitism of the groups they march in solidarity with. Much of this is a self-hatred that manifests itself in the suicidal and homicidal impulses that logically flow from the perverted postmodern view of the world; and part of it is the descent into emotionalism and hysteria that is encouraged by the rhetoric.
On that fateful day 50 years ago when Khrushchev actually admitted that the communist revolution was a lie, the goal of eliminating tyranny from the world became a real possibility. Francis Fukayama even transiently believed that the "end of history" had been reached, but almost immediately, he was shown by world events to be rather too optimistic. But his euphoria was picked up by the people of Western Civilizaiton--the keepers of reality; reason and freedom--and they too tended to see the fall of the monolithic Soviet Union and the collapse of communism as some sort of final victory of freedom over tyranny.
By this first decade of the 21st century, we know for certain that tyranny was not vanquished. Indeed, it has seen a revival despite its ongoing economic failures and despite its legacy of blood, misery and oppression that led to the death of millions in the last century.
Though severely wounded, the beast survived and its offspring have now matured sufficiently to threaten us again. Fukayama and the West had been celebrating prematurely. Jews around the world, Ilan Halimi, Theo van Gogh and all the other canaries in the coal mine lie murdered all around us. Human life and liberty are once again gravely threatened.
Those who refuse to close their eyes to the threat; who refuse to shut up about it; who refuse to be intimidated or to appease it; who, in short, refuse to abandon reality, reason or freedom-- must once again call up the courage and will to defend the values of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and stand against the forces of tyranny.
Because, even as freedom began to light up areas of the world that had laid in the dark for generations, a new evil was coalescing that combined the virulence of communism and socialism with the toxicity of a medieval, inflexible, intolerant, and oppressive religion.
This union of totalitarian thought from both left and right was itself an unexpected combination of memes; but when you add to that lethal mix the rhetorical and political strategies of postmodernism, the result was a rare malignancy that threatens to destroy all human values; all human decency and all human civilization.
Postmodern philosophy and rhetoric that embraces "political correctness" and all the multicultural bull that flows from it, was the "prerequisite condition" that facilitated the rise of the Karposi-like malignancy of radical Islam, and gave it carte blanche to spread and kill.
Appreciating the intellectual and moral rot of the postmodern political left is key to understanding why radical Islam has managed to garner a completely unexpected amount of traction in today's world.
UPDATE: Gagdad Bob has a truly marvelous post that proposes a 12-Step Program for the dsyfunctional left. But first, he has this to say:
Some day Leftsim will be rejoined with its twin ideology, fascism, which no one takes seriously anymore. Why is that? With the exception of nazi Germany, one could probably argue that fascism in practice was less harmful and more workable than Leftism. In fact, fascism is not a “right wing,” much less “conservative” ideology, but a competing from of socialism. It was the communists who tried to discredit “national socialism” by labeling it “right wing” merely because it wasn’t what they wanted, which was international socialism.
Go and read it all. Then read this post at American Thinker, and my post on Neoconservativism, "What the World Needs Now". The insanity of today's world will begin to make much more sense, I guarantee it.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
THE SANITY SQUAD- Ready or Not, Here We Come !
This week The Sanity Squad does not hold back (does it ever?) as it analyzes the phenomenon that is Barack Obama-- who looks good way down at the end of the bar, compared to the rest of the faded whores (Gores?) in the Democratic presidential lineup.... And if that topic isn't enough, then stay tuned for a no-holds-barred discussion of Iran's recent "democratic" elections and the Palestinian civil war.
Ready or not, here comes The Sanity Squad!
Join Siggy , Neo-neocon , Shrinkwrapped and myself as we manage to offend everyone with our trademark gentle, caring, and compassionate bedside manner (one listener compared us to House, M.D., but House is a softie compared to our Siggy!)Previous podcasts of The Sanity Squad can be found here; and you can also download them from iTunes --if you dare!.
(The Sanity Squad cartoon is drawn by Eric Allie, whose collection of political cartoons can be found here and here)
HOLIDAY FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Since Christmas is fast approaching, I thought I would reprint some of my favorite recipes of the season! Consider them food for thought, as well as sustenance for the soul and body!
DEATH-BY-CHOCOLATE CAKE
(Surprise! A real WMD )
It's very simple to make and my family really likes it. I've been making it for several years now and probably originally got the recipe from some magazine, which one I've long forgotten (otherwise, I'd mention it). I prefer to eat it either unadorned, or with a high quality vanilla ice cream, but if you are a purist, you are free to use chocolate ice cream instead.
1/4 c. oil
2 eggs
1 1/3 c. water
1 chocolate cake mix (get your favorite--I like devil's food chocolate cake)
Mix the above ingredients by hand (do not use electric mixer). Pour into greased 9x11 inch pan. Sprinkle 12 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips on top (I like Hershey's). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
Cool about 5 minutes. Poke holes in cake (it should still be warm) and spread with 1 large jar of Smuckers Hot Fudge Topping. ENJOY
AXIS OF EVIL FRUITCAKE
(In honor of all the ding-dongs and nutjobs out there)
1 C sugar
1/2 C butter, melted
1 egg
pinch of salt
1 1/2 C applesauce
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
2 t baking soda
2 C flour
1 1/2 C golden raisins
1 C currants
1 C candied fruit mix for fruitcake
1 C pecans
1 C red candied cherries for fruitcake (one small container)
1 C candied pineapple chunks for fruitcake (1 small container)
Blend ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into 2 or 3 loaf pans (depending on the size of the pan) lined with wax paper. Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour, or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Let cool completely. Refrigerate for a day or two before serving. Can be frozen, too. Wrap well in foil and ziploc bags and store in the refrigerator or freezer. You can spike it with brandy, but the applesauce base keeps it moist. Enjoy.
Moral: Handled properly, a variety of candied fruits and nuts can be extremely delicious after they are all democratically mixed together and baked in an oven possessing a steady temperature.
MOONBAT MOCHA MOUSSE MIRAGE CAKE
(Particularly good for caloric supplementation of fasting antiwar protestors who don't want to actually, you know... fast)
CAKE
2 ozs. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 ozs. unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 stick (4 ozs.) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 to 2 Tablespoons cocoa
2 Tablespoons flavoring of your choice (I like Chambord, pure vanilla extract, or dark rum)
1 1/2 cups (6 ozs.) coarsely chopped pecan pieces
1 1/4 cups (10 1/4 ozs.) sugar, divided
3/4 cup (3 ozs.) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup egg whites (7 or 8 large egg whites)
MOCHA MOUSSE
3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 cup coffee liqueur or prepared coffee
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
2 teaspoons vanilla
Chocolate Whipped Cream Topping
1 cup whipping (heavy) cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch process baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1. Place an oven rack at the upper middle position and preheat the oven to 350°. Generously grease and lightly spread the cocoa around the bottom and sides of three 8- or 9-inch round pans with shortening (do not use cooking spray); lightly flour.
-- Over very low heat, melt together both chocolates and the butter, stirring occasionally.Remove chocolate mixture from heat and whisk in flavoring. Set aside to cool.
-- In a food processor, pulse together the pecans and approximately half the sugar until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add flour and salt and pulse again. Set aside.
-- In a large, grease-free metal bowl, beat the egg whites on highest speed until they are roughly tripled in volume -- 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, beating at highest speed until whites hold soft peaks and are slightly glossy.
-- Fold into the whites the pecan flour mixture until well-blended, and then fold in the chocolate mixture until no streaks remain. The batter will be very thick and will deflate somewhat; that's OK.
-- Pour about 1 3/4 cups batter into each pan. (If baking only 2 pans at one time, refrigerate remaining batter until ready to use.) and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake on the upper middle oven rack at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tested inserted in the cake's center comes out clean.
-- Remove cake from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around the inside edge of the pan and invert the cake onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely (cake will sink somewhat as it cools).
2. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix 1/4 cup of the whipping cream, the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup liqueur. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture simmers; remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips with wire whisk until chips are melted. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Pour into large bowl; cool about 10 minutes or until room temperature. In chilled medium bowl, beat remaining 1/2 cup whipping cream on high speed just until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. In another chilled medium bowl, beat all topping ingredients on high speed until soft peaks form.
4. Fill cake layers with mousse. Spread topping over side and top of cake. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.
**NOTE: One cake should meet the nutritional needs of a 1-2 fasting moonbats daily. It will also serve 8 normal people. Calories - too numerous to mention.
THE BOO'S BREAD PUDDING
(For all the Angels out there!)
5-6 C day old Challah bread cubes
4 C scalded milk
1/2 C butter, melted and cooled
1 C sugar
1/2 t salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1 C raisins
LEMON SAUCE
1/2 C white sugar
1/2 T cornstarch
1 C hot water
3 T lemon juice
1 T lemon zest
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x11 inch casserole with nonstick spray. In a large bowl combine bread cubes, 1 C sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in raisins. In another bowl, blend milk, melted butter, and eggs. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix together without turning bread mixture into mush. Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish. Place casserole dish into a larger baking pan. Pour hot water into baking pan about 1/2 up the side of the casserole dish, creating a water bath. Bake for 45- 50 minutes. Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 C sugar, cornstarch, hot water, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook on medium heat until bubbling and thickened. Stir constantly to avoid scorching. Serve with bread pudding.
*************HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL !*************
DEATH-BY-CHOCOLATE CAKE
(Surprise! A real WMD )
It's very simple to make and my family really likes it. I've been making it for several years now and probably originally got the recipe from some magazine, which one I've long forgotten (otherwise, I'd mention it). I prefer to eat it either unadorned, or with a high quality vanilla ice cream, but if you are a purist, you are free to use chocolate ice cream instead.
1/4 c. oil
2 eggs
1 1/3 c. water
1 chocolate cake mix (get your favorite--I like devil's food chocolate cake)
Mix the above ingredients by hand (do not use electric mixer). Pour into greased 9x11 inch pan. Sprinkle 12 ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips on top (I like Hershey's). Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
Cool about 5 minutes. Poke holes in cake (it should still be warm) and spread with 1 large jar of Smuckers Hot Fudge Topping. ENJOY
AXIS OF EVIL FRUITCAKE(In honor of all the ding-dongs and nutjobs out there)
1 C sugar
1/2 C butter, melted
1 egg
pinch of salt
1 1/2 C applesauce
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
2 t baking soda
2 C flour
1 1/2 C golden raisins
1 C currants
1 C candied fruit mix for fruitcake
1 C pecans
1 C red candied cherries for fruitcake (one small container)
1 C candied pineapple chunks for fruitcake (1 small container)
Blend ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into 2 or 3 loaf pans (depending on the size of the pan) lined with wax paper. Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour, or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Let cool completely. Refrigerate for a day or two before serving. Can be frozen, too. Wrap well in foil and ziploc bags and store in the refrigerator or freezer. You can spike it with brandy, but the applesauce base keeps it moist. Enjoy.
Moral: Handled properly, a variety of candied fruits and nuts can be extremely delicious after they are all democratically mixed together and baked in an oven possessing a steady temperature.
MOONBAT MOCHA MOUSSE MIRAGE CAKE (Particularly good for caloric supplementation of fasting antiwar protestors who don't want to actually, you know... fast)
CAKE
2 ozs. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 ozs. unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 stick (4 ozs.) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 to 2 Tablespoons cocoa
2 Tablespoons flavoring of your choice (I like Chambord, pure vanilla extract, or dark rum)
1 1/2 cups (6 ozs.) coarsely chopped pecan pieces
1 1/4 cups (10 1/4 ozs.) sugar, divided
3/4 cup (3 ozs.) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup egg whites (7 or 8 large egg whites)
MOCHA MOUSSE
3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/3 cup coffee liqueur or prepared coffee
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
2 teaspoons vanilla
Chocolate Whipped Cream Topping
1 cup whipping (heavy) cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch process baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1. Place an oven rack at the upper middle position and preheat the oven to 350°. Generously grease and lightly spread the cocoa around the bottom and sides of three 8- or 9-inch round pans with shortening (do not use cooking spray); lightly flour.
-- Over very low heat, melt together both chocolates and the butter, stirring occasionally.Remove chocolate mixture from heat and whisk in flavoring. Set aside to cool.
-- In a food processor, pulse together the pecans and approximately half the sugar until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add flour and salt and pulse again. Set aside.
-- In a large, grease-free metal bowl, beat the egg whites on highest speed until they are roughly tripled in volume -- 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, beating at highest speed until whites hold soft peaks and are slightly glossy.
-- Fold into the whites the pecan flour mixture until well-blended, and then fold in the chocolate mixture until no streaks remain. The batter will be very thick and will deflate somewhat; that's OK.
-- Pour about 1 3/4 cups batter into each pan. (If baking only 2 pans at one time, refrigerate remaining batter until ready to use.) and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake on the upper middle oven rack at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tested inserted in the cake's center comes out clean.
-- Remove cake from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around the inside edge of the pan and invert the cake onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely (cake will sink somewhat as it cools).
2. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix 1/4 cup of the whipping cream, the granulated sugar and 1/3 cup liqueur. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and mixture simmers; remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips with wire whisk until chips are melted. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Pour into large bowl; cool about 10 minutes or until room temperature. In chilled medium bowl, beat remaining 1/2 cup whipping cream on high speed just until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
3. In another chilled medium bowl, beat all topping ingredients on high speed until soft peaks form.
4. Fill cake layers with mousse. Spread topping over side and top of cake. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.
**NOTE: One cake should meet the nutritional needs of a 1-2 fasting moonbats daily. It will also serve 8 normal people. Calories - too numerous to mention.
THE BOO'S BREAD PUDDING(For all the Angels out there!)
5-6 C day old Challah bread cubes
4 C scalded milk
1/2 C butter, melted and cooled
1 C sugar
1/2 t salt
4 eggs, beaten
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1 C raisins
LEMON SAUCE
1/2 C white sugar
1/2 T cornstarch
1 C hot water
3 T lemon juice
1 T lemon zest
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x11 inch casserole with nonstick spray. In a large bowl combine bread cubes, 1 C sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in raisins. In another bowl, blend milk, melted butter, and eggs. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix together without turning bread mixture into mush. Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish. Place casserole dish into a larger baking pan. Pour hot water into baking pan about 1/2 up the side of the casserole dish, creating a water bath. Bake for 45- 50 minutes. Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 C sugar, cornstarch, hot water, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook on medium heat until bubbling and thickened. Stir constantly to avoid scorching. Serve with bread pudding.
*************HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL !*************
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