On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:43:31 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:40:08 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:24:05 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"jps" wrote in message
om...


I love how you use Obama's offer of diplomacy to belittle him. You'd
obviously prefer Bush's "dead or alive" approach.


Well, at least Bush offered an option. The Islamic fundamentalists
simply
want you dead.

Eisboch

You give them little credit and I think that's short sighted. If you
lived in their part of the world, you'd undoubtedly have a different
perspective.

There are folks over there as moderate in their thinking as you are in
yours. You should try and lean into a little more and perhaps you'd
understand why they posture the way they do.

It's complicated, don't think you can get away with simplifying it to
a bumper sticker.

Bush's swashbuckling was a ruse. Time proved it.

Where's bin Laden now? "I don't know, I don't pay much attention to
him anymore." paraphrase of GW two years after he announced "dead or
alive."

He's as credible in their eyes as Ahmadinegad is in ours.


When I refer to Islamic fundamentalists, I am speaking of those who use
religion to teach kids from the time they can walk that it is their duty
to
kill westerners, especially Israelis and Americans. Talking, teaching,
begging isn't going to change that for a very long time, if ever.

Hard, cruel lesson Number 1.

Eisboch

They got that way from our disengagement. If we put money into
schools like bin Laden does, we'd be in a better position to influence
the situation.

We project our power through force instead of enlightenment.

Sound like a good policy for changing "the enemies" mind?


I am afraid you are an idealistic, but unrealistic dreamer. Every country
on the face of this earth is out for themselves first, including us. It
would be nice to think otherwise and that handshakes, financial aid or
smiley faces can change that, but it won't happen.

Even some of the countries that we have supported for years will turn on us
in a moment if we back off on aid or other assistance programs.

Eisboch

Not so sure about that Eisboch. Africa loves GW Bush for his courage
in helping address the aids epidemic. It took Bono and a number of
others but GW stepped up.

The rest of the world can't stand Bush, Africa loves him.

Is that instructive in any way?