Zarqawi is dead...

[j2k4]

lucky so and so, all those (7!) beautiful virgins, waiting for him..heh

I heard all the virgins are actually males.

This is not publicized, apparently.

[j2k4]

However, it seems innocents are a trivial concern when considered against the desire to service fundamentalist republicanism...

Yes, I suppose it would be better to leave Iraq to the like of Zarqawi and his ilk, who like to intimidate the hoi polloi and hide amongst them whilst conducting their "insurgency", fomenting civil war and sectarian violence.

I suppose we could have pushed for a U.N. resolution, if we'd desired genuine impact, huh?

[cpt_azad]

lucky so and so, all those (7!) beautiful virgins, waiting for him..heh

I heard all the virgins are actually males.

This is not publicized, apparently.

Maybe we should start handing out leaflets of this information to the "insurgents". I think terrorism would stop over night.

[j2k4]

I heard all the virgins are actually males.

This is not publicized, apparently.

Maybe we should start handing out leaflets of this information to the "insurgents". I think terrorism would stop over night.

I propose that, if we snag UBL, we turn him (with skullduggery and non-U.N. approved drugs) into an anti-Islamist puppet.

Then we can preach religious tolerance and look like the good guys so as to rehabilitate our international reputation on the cheap.

[lynx]

I don't think the current US or the UK governments have an international reputation worth rehabilitating.

The problem is that both governments claim that everything they do is good, and nothing they do ever has a negative impact. And they expect intelligent people to believe this crap. Unfortunately some are too blinkered to even consider questioning what their governments tell them.

As soon as our governments start to use spin and propaganda to convince us that what should be self evident is true I'm immediately suspicious that they are doing it to hide something, otherwise what would be the point.

I'm not arguing that getting rid of al-Zarqawi is a bad thing. However, in virtually consecutive statements Tony Blair has condemned international attacks, then congratulated the US Air Force on their successful mission.

Until we get rid of governments with this sort of mindset there's little hope for peace anywhere.

[j2k4]

I don't think the current US or the UK governments have an international reputation worth rehabilitating.

The problem is that both governments claim that everything they do is good, and nothing they do ever has a negative impact. And they expect intelligent people to believe this crap. Unfortunately some are too blinkered to even consider questioning what their governments tell them.

As soon as our governments start to use spin and propaganda to convince us that what should be self evident is true I'm immediately suspicious that they are doing it to hide something, otherwise what would be the point.

I'm not arguing that getting rid of al-Zarqawi is a bad thing. However, in virtually consecutive statements Tony Blair has condemned international attacks, then congratulated the US Air Force on their successful mission.

Until we get rid of governments with this sort of mindset there's little hope for peace anywhere.

Tell me, then:

When has it ever been otherwise?

I was wondering the other day, even in light of Gitmo, Abu Ghraib, the alleged incident in Haditha, and all the other "atrocities" committed by American troops, when has a nation at war conducted itself any more integrity?

I don't mean to be facetious here, but I don't recall any historical examples of wars conducted with such honor and dignity the participants were recognized for it...

On that same tack, the U.S. has been chastised for perceived dereliction of a proper observance of the Geneva Convention, and generally scurrilous behavior in the field.

International "opinion" dictates the U.S. hew to the highest standard, yet the only institution on earth whose standard of conduct ought to be higher (as judged by it's charter and reputation) is the United Nations, which suffers no such expectation nor the slings and arrows of denunciation.

Curious, that...

[lynx]

When has it ever been otherwise?

Ah, the old "it's happened before so it's ok to continue" excuse.

Do you have any information on when the next holocaust is planned?

[Mr JP Fugley]

When has it ever been otherwise?

Ah, the old "it's happened before so it's ok to continue" excuse.

Pretty much what I was thinking.

[Biggles]

He was hit by two 500lb bombs which totally flattened the small house he was in. They removed his body, which was remarkably intact, and he tried to crawl off the stretcher. It is the stuff of horror movies! One suspects that whatever was inside him transferred to the poor sod that put him back on the stretcher

Zarqawi 2 showing soon

More seriously, it will be interesting to see what the implications of this will be. It is said that Bin Laden was a tad unhappy with the randomness of his killing spree. Will Zarqawi prove a better AQ propaganda tool dead than he was alive?

At least the Shias can breathe easier. His attacks seemed to be directed at them more than anything else. It will have little impact on the Shia attacks on British forces in the South or Ba'athist attacks on US forces in the North. However, I am sure this is already well understood in coalition circles. As J2 said, a small victory and really rather a long time in coming.

[j2k4]

When has it ever been otherwise?

Ah, the old "it's happened before so it's ok to continue" excuse.

It has happened before, but I haven't hinted that it is OK.

While noting that there is nothing inherently more transparent or honest about a Socialist than a Capitalist system, I will admit that the deck is stacked against any ready change in all cases.

Are we to be precluded then from discussing such things?

Although your inability to countenance my views extends far beyond mere ideology, perhaps you'd tender some of your valuable time and focus your laser-like intellect to addressing that particular problem?

I await the imminent posting of your visionary solution.

Of course, if you're just inclined to nit-pick...