Re: Underlying issues



On Sat, 28 Jul 2007, phil scott wrote:

fwd

On Jul 28, 5:23 am, PJ O'Donovan <Xent...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Keeping my fingers crossed. Support our troops in Iraq,

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-07-27-troops-deaths_N.ht...

Excerpt:

BAGHDAD - "The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq has dropped
sharply so far in July after reaching record levels in recent months,
a possible sign that militants are weakening, the No. 2 U.S. commander
in Iraq said Thursday. "This is what we thought would happen once we
took control of the safe havens" used by insurgents and militias, Lt.
Gen. Ray Odierno said Thursday......"


Its best to look beyond the immediate instant.... towards the longer
trend and its acceleration or deceleration.... and most importantly
to the underlying factors.



Here is an extreme example to illustrate the point:

A train is traveling though a canyon and hits a big rock... that jolt
is reported as a 'nasty jolt'...and a derailment. with considerable
chaos.

then as the train is in free fall through thin air, headed to the
bottom of a mile deep canyon, some idiot reports 'smooth sailing'...
while ignoring the underlying issue...

the underlying issue is that gravity has taken over and there is no
support structure, rails or a damn thing under the train.... 2
seconds later he reports, 'all is well, everything has smoothed
out'.... just for some normal wind turbulance.


thats not good reporting. its either lack of understanding the core
issues, or deliberate spin, trying to impress the boss prior to the
fatal ending.


*******

In Iraq the issue is that the enemy is NOT targetable...these are not
identifiable by and large except on sporatic occasion, and they have
millions of sympathizers living in the USA, many as citizens...and 10%
of them or whatever actively support the Jihad... and maybe 2% would
be willing to blow themselves up in that cause (recent survey
indicates 25% 'for the right cause')


The USA on the other hand could not possibly be more targetable,
including its militiary, and is limitlessly vulnerable to a vast range
of terrorist attack including easily instigated pandemic. (search
World Health Organization, pandemic)


Does that mean we should give up? Of course not. Does that mean
that provoking a group of billions, known for ruthlessly insane
behavior is not smart? Oh yes.

Its not smart, macho or viable to engage others in a way that provokes
undefendable counter attacks. what you do is learn to work things
out to mutual benefit... and yes, sometimes thats not possible..

in the USA (as well as in other nations) there are massive special
interest and corruption issues screwing things up.



The situation holds with all living organisms, from plants to humans
and nations...these self corrupt, then self destruct.

over time mother nature reboots them.... from the ruins left by the
previous idiots.


Phil Scott


If the Shia, the Sunnis, and the Kurds, and the Iranians, and the Jews, and the Palestinians, and *** Cheney, all came together and had a big love fest, hugged and kissed each other, smiled at each other, etc., etc, ...then I'd say something fundamental has changed.
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