(no subject)
Yesterday, a US drone killed the #2 leader of the Taliban in Northern Pakistan. It was a stones throw away from the Afghan border, which is just a teensy bit south of RC-East (which is where I am). I like to think that I had even a teensy bit of an effect in that, albiet indirectly.
I am neither a war monger or peace monger. I'm not a pacifist and I'm not an advocate of violence. I'm a pragmatist, through and through. I do dream of a future where mankind doesn't need to resolve differences with war, but that requires a bit more intellectual maturity than what most people are capable of, on both sides.
The problem with war and humanity is that we're brought down to our lowest common denominator. If you have 99 pacifists and one war monger, then nobody can afford to be a pacifist. Why don't the 99 pacifists rise up to kill the war monger? Now you have 99 war mongers. So, in an uncertain world, peace comes through strength and the occassional flexing of muscle.
Anyways, the Taliban have vowed retribution for the death of their leader. That's completely understandable and predictable. Pragmatically, it probably pushes back any chances at peace by at least a few months. But, I'm of the mind that nobody should really be at peace with the Taleban. They're monsterous fanatics who seek to oppress the dignity of people. The best way to have peace with the Taleban is to kill every one of them, wherever they may hide.
The war in Afghanistan is just a manifestation of the greater war against fanaticism and extremism. It's not a war of cultures clashing. It's a war against those incapable of reason and rational thought who become victims of their own stupidity. The first line of defense is a fantastic education system which teaches people the principles of critical thinking and how to use them. The second line of defense requires all of us to challenge extremist arguments & thinking. The third line of defense is a solid security defense plan. The final line of defense is to detain or shoot and kill those who manage to slip through the cracks.
The boston bombings, 9/11, oklahoma city bombings, unabomber, etc. are all the same: unchecked extremism.
I am neither a war monger or peace monger. I'm not a pacifist and I'm not an advocate of violence. I'm a pragmatist, through and through. I do dream of a future where mankind doesn't need to resolve differences with war, but that requires a bit more intellectual maturity than what most people are capable of, on both sides.
The problem with war and humanity is that we're brought down to our lowest common denominator. If you have 99 pacifists and one war monger, then nobody can afford to be a pacifist. Why don't the 99 pacifists rise up to kill the war monger? Now you have 99 war mongers. So, in an uncertain world, peace comes through strength and the occassional flexing of muscle.
Anyways, the Taliban have vowed retribution for the death of their leader. That's completely understandable and predictable. Pragmatically, it probably pushes back any chances at peace by at least a few months. But, I'm of the mind that nobody should really be at peace with the Taleban. They're monsterous fanatics who seek to oppress the dignity of people. The best way to have peace with the Taleban is to kill every one of them, wherever they may hide.
The war in Afghanistan is just a manifestation of the greater war against fanaticism and extremism. It's not a war of cultures clashing. It's a war against those incapable of reason and rational thought who become victims of their own stupidity. The first line of defense is a fantastic education system which teaches people the principles of critical thinking and how to use them. The second line of defense requires all of us to challenge extremist arguments & thinking. The third line of defense is a solid security defense plan. The final line of defense is to detain or shoot and kill those who manage to slip through the cracks.
The boston bombings, 9/11, oklahoma city bombings, unabomber, etc. are all the same: unchecked extremism.