re: "Bin there, Killed That..... "

Thanks to No Double Standards at Muttering Behind the Hardline ("Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit") for the mention.

Money quote(s):

"Consul Leslie Slote over at Consul at Arms II followed up with a "money quote" (as he calls them) that I'm pissed I never thought of myself:

Violence never settles anything except for those things that only violence will settle.

How hard does that line rock?" (Emphasis in original text. - CAA.)

"Let's get to it: let's not kid ourselves; the Mutterer is a man of principle. I've argued as loudly as anyone that we should not reciprocate the bad behavior of our enemies by compromising our core principles. But I was pretty steamed at the self-flagellating response of the Left to the glee average Americans expressed at Bin Laden's killing."

Thusly does NDS neatly encapsulate civilized modern man's dilemma: how to respond to and deter violence and aggression from barbarians without becoming one. It's a topic worthy of discussion and one, I should note, that serves as something of a self-diagnostic: if you're still asking the question, than you're not a barbarian yet.

"You have got to be kidding me. Mike Hayes over at "Googling God" actually believes that there's some sort of moral equivalency between Afghans dancing on the streets at the news of 9/11 and Americans' rejoicing at the death of Bin Laden.

Let's get something straight: there hasn't been a single misfortune that has befallen the United States that Bin Laden and his ilk didn't celebrate. Why it is I am supposed to show him some sort of deference simply by virtue of having died is beyond me."

Too right. Either UBL was an anomoly, someone who had so twisted the peaceful teachings of Mohammed that he was no longer truly Islamic, or he was a martyr to the cause, a holy man worthy of memorials and emulation. Answers to this question should be chosen carefully.

"Bin Laden and his ilk hate us for who we are, regardless of what we do. And they'll always concoct some conspiracy to explain it all away.

The mistake that the Bushies made was concluding that all Arabs view us this way.

And that is decidely not true, as the absence of a significant Islamic influence in the ongoing "Arab Spring" attests.

Good riddance, Osama Bin Laden. It may very well be that you were unarmed, that you begged for mercy, and that my countryman put a bullet in your eye, anyway.

Tough shit.

You had it coming."

I rather thought Bush (and his ilk, the "Bushies") went to considerable trouble to make it clear that they were not acting as if all Arabs viewed us with hate, that this was not a Clash of Civilizations, and that if we'd responded as if it was that would have given UBL exactly what he wanted.

But yes: UBL had it coming.

re: "Finally."

Digger at Life After Jerusalem ("The musings of a Two-Spirit American Indian, Public Diplomacy-coned Foreign Service Officer") and I don't agree about everything. In fact, we differ profoundly (if respectfully) on some social issues.

But she nails this.

Money quote(s):

"As with most decisions I make, the reasons behind my decision to join the Foreign Service were complicated. Among them of course was that my wife was in the Service. But bin Laden was a deciding factor too...after 9/11, I wanted to serve my country. And as an out lesbian, military service was not an option.

So I am glad he is dead...I know that while this has cut the head off the snake, the danger continues. I pray for the safety of all those serving our country now."

Western Civilization, including our little corner of it here in Los Estados Unidos, is a fairly big tent. And I welcome those willing to serve to keep the tent poles upright, the lines untangled, and pegs firmly in the ground.

That applies as much to our colleagues in uniform, to those serving around the world in our Intelligence Community, as well as to those of us willing to serve as roustabouts in our Foreign Circus, er, Service.

"He is (was) a spoiled rich kid. He sent poor muslims off to die in the service of a jihad that most muslim leaders reject. He never took a risk to his own life to carry out his murderous plans.

And so all this time, while we had an image of him living in caves, an image that no doubt served him well among his followers, many of whom actually are living in caves and other lives of desparate poverty, he was actually living in a million dollar mansion.

He had excellent security and was in town and a mere 60 miles from Islamabad. He was not living a life of hardship, but he used the lives of hardship of his followers to carry out his plans with no personal risk to himself."

This is not a leadership model I would recommend.

"(T)here are those who will decry this action, who will say all war is wrong.

I am a believer in diplomacy, in negotiation. I believe soft power must go hand in hand with hard power, that we can save lives by better funding the diplomatic corps so we can fight fewer wars. But I don't think we can ever hope to stay out of all wars.

Because I believe Hitler would have continued his evil plans to wipe all Jews from the face of the earth had it not been for war. I am not convinced that slavery would have ended without war."

Violence never settles anything except for those things that only violence will settle.

JG - Peace treaties, detention and human rights

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Peace treaties, detention and human rights

published: Sunday June 29, 2008

Martin Henry, Contributor

Since the police cannot find the men on its most wanted list or among the leaders of the 150 gangs, which Kingfish ACP Glenmore Hinds estimates operate in the country, perhaps they should begin by detaining the organisers and participants in peace treaties.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Peace treaties are wrong and dangerous - and they have never worked.

The pattern is clear: A pretence at peace until there is a reason for the war to resume.

The warriors of August Town, who signed last week, have insisted that they continue to bear arms as long as the weapons are not 'brandished'."

"The shameful failure of the Jamaican state to enforce law and order and to protect citizens from each other is lending legitimacy to militias and their peace treaties.

Dissing someone at a 'peace' dance, or chatting up the wrong girl, disagreement over spoils captured by the combined forces from the rest of society, or just sheer lust for blood influenced by drugs and jobless boredom will, in due course, terminate the peace."

&

"Peace treaties legitimate the state within the state.

They convert criminals into soldiers and gang leaders into statesmen.

But even more perniciously, peace treaties leave communities captive to criminal forces and deny justice.

Perhaps, the most important reason why peace treaties do not hold - and cannot hold - is the fact that unless justice is provided to the victims of crime and their families and friends, mere boys with guns at their disposal will continue to carry out reprisal killings, a leading motive for murder in Jamaica.

Violence is inter-generational and inter-tribal, and peace treaties haven't broken that cycle."

_____
Martin Henry is a communication consultant. Please send feedback to medhen@gmail.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.

LAT - Advice for Mexico-bound spring breakers, from U.S. State Department

From my archive of press clippings:

Los Angeles Times


Advice for Mexico-bound spring breakers, from U.S. State Department

Monday, February 23, 2009

Students all over the U.S. are in the midst of dreaming up spring break plans, and if past years are any indication, many thousands will be hitting beaches in Mexico for relaxation and, of course, plenty of recreation.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"On Feb. 20, 2009, the U.S. State Department renewed its travel alert for Mexico, which includes advice that tourists visit “only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours” and avoid “areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur.”

The advisory mentions “the greatest increase in violence” having been near the U.S.-Mexico border. But it does not pinpoint other specific geographic parts to be wary of, nor does it suggest that U.S. travelers avoid Mexico altogether."

TCDS - U.S. State Department Issues Travel Alert, Warns Against Drug Violence in Mexico

The Cornell Daily Sun



U.S. State Department Issues Travel Alert, Warns Against Drug Violence in Mexico

March 10, 2009 - 12:00am

By Sandie Cheng

Despite warnings issued throughout the nation about the increased bloodshed and chaos in Mexico, students who plan to travel there over spring break are confident that the use of common sense will keep them safe.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"On Feb. 20, the U.S. State Department released a warning to American travelers concerning the recent increase in drug-related violence in Mexico and its surrounding U.S. borders. Universities across the nation, including Cornell, have also released warnings to their students about the potential dangers of this popular spring break destination and urged students to exercise extreme caution."

"Despite warnings, students are not dissuaded from going south to the warmth of Mexico."

&

"In the travel alert issued by the U.S. State Department, travelers are advised against displaying a large amount of money or valuables, traveling to locations where prostitution and drug-dealing are prevalent, traveling at night, or traveling alone."