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Originally Posted by Thomas Paine
AKV is right that we aren't Nazis. But it seems he's happy to accept the "good" Nazis.How did we fix Nazism? We destroyed the ideology through military might. This was has been going on for 1,400 years. The success of Israel in the 6 day war caused a long period of self-doubt in the Muslim world...as they believe "Allah controls all" So why did he allow them to get their ass kicked? Because they weren't on the "right path." What will it take to stop this islamist, totalitarian, supremacist ideology?I don't know. But giving them a big fat hug and making them feel good about themselves isn't the answer.
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Mr. Paine,
"Good Nazis" would seem to be an oxymoron for anyone with common sense. People in Italy joke that at least Mussolini made the trains run on time, but other than providing comical villains for Mel Brooks movies, there is little silver lining to the Fascist cloud. A day spent at Auschwitz weeping over the ceiling high pile of baby shoes would cure any delusions of an absence of evil in this world. Interestingly given the massive crowds cheering Hitler's speeches in the old black and white newsreels of 1939, astonishingly there apparently wasn't a single Nazi in Germany the day after Berlin fell. Religious folks might see this as a miracle, akin to turning water to wine, agnostics might also see it as a miracle, though one of TAC AIR and boots on the ground, finally pragmatists may explain away this transformation as simple fear among the German people. Ironically it was this same fear that Hiltler took advantage of in 1932, and IMHO remains our greatest challenge. If there is a lesson to be learned from the Nazis, it is we should never forget how they came to power, how they suspended civil rights bit by bit, how they turned on subsections of their own citizenry, the evils they perpetuated by manipulating fear, and most importantly how it ended for them.
I agree with your signature, John Adams has a beautiful quote about enduring hardships so our grandkids have a better life. We must win this war on terror, it would be convenient if AQ or similar thugs would line up and face us in conventional battle as the Nazis did, but they wouldn't last a week and they aren't stupid. Given their guerilla tactics, we have to kill them, and only them, the way white blood cells attack an infection without destroying the surrounding healthy tissue. A .45 with Le Mas ammo isn't the best remedy for a staph infection.
IMHO the difference in our beliefs, is you think of Islam as a disease, that once exposed turns you into a mindless zombie, which supercedes everything else in life, character, family, tribe, ethnicity, nationality etc. it doesn't matter if you are a man, woman, or child, once exposed you are fockered forever, period.
I see it as just another operating system. I'm amazed at folks who believe they are privy to the true thoughts and intentions of men, woman, and children they don't know or of a particular faith they don't share. I don't think I can selectively interpret the true meaning of their scripture, or give them lectures on the evils of their faith, nor am I omnipotent enough to identify crocodile tears from condemnation of violent acts perpetuated in the name of their faith. You can argue talk is cheap, yes but that is a double edged sword. I don't imagine most Muslims like being told they are all terrorists anymore than Christians would appreciate being reminded men of your faith started WW2 and perpetuated the Holocaust.
Our constitution is something to believe in, and sets us apart, we can't bend it in instances when we find it's freedoms and protections distasteful, history has shown us where that can lead. We have good fair laws for the most part, if a citizen breaks them then bust him.
I don't believe in hugging America's enemies I believe in killing them, and only them. The fact "this is hard" is no excuse, if we truly are the good guys, there is no other course. I would extend the you are responsible for every round fired from your gun rule Mr. Howe teaches as an analogy to this issue. I suppose I wouldn't make a very good Christian since I don't believe in redemption for violent criminals or pedophiles either, IMHO this is their true incorrigible nature, however I don't extend such absolute beliefs across the board to Islam or whatever the faith is of the group we have to fight next. If every Muslim converted to Christianity tomorrow could we all put away our guns and work on our golf game? Or would there still be war and competition for resources as part of human nature? Maybe the Russians will get their malevolent act together again and we can go back to them being the obsessive great threat, they aren't Muslims, Eastern Orthodox Christians I believe and they have nukes and quite a track record.
Mr. Paine as I express my opinions I remind myself I have not walked in your shoes as a military officer, however Major Gant has, he has lived among Muslims, eaten their salt, played with their kids and fought their insurgent enemies. Sir, what are your views on his experiences, beliefs, and suggestions? I believe he is brave, and insightful, am I wrong?