You expect the A-rabs to lay down their arms after Israel so flagrantly atacked them with the horrible symmetrical smoke patterns?!?!?!!

You dastardly neocon!

Posted by QuickRob at August 7, 2006 01:23 PM

The problem with 'weapons systems' is that you have to be willing to use them. And you have to use them against whatever targets are required in order to prevail.

The current paradigm just isn't going to get the job done against these creatures.

Sorry GM, these 'assets' might as well be cardboard cutouts at this moment in time. They are merely for show. The 'enemy' is none too impressed as history is demonstrating each and every day. They intend to cut us to ribbons slowly over time. Nothing quite big enough to warrant a no-holds-barred response, but eventually a death of 1000 cuts. Before you know it almost they will have won for all intents and purposes. What else do they have upon which to fixate. It's not as if their lives are on the upswing or ever likely to be. Hatred and delusions of grandeur are just about the whole bag of tricks. But it's a really BIG bag.

Now it is quite possible that they will get 'stupid' and over-reach thus setting up a situation where the 'assets' can really be used. But counting on your 'enemy' to be 'stupid' is not really a recommended strategy.

We are an 'unserious' and 'decaying' culture facing a more 'vibrant' dynamic. Not a 'better' dynamic, but a more 'enthusiastic' one.

Unless 'we' turn ourselves around, all the pretty weapons won't be enough. They don't employ themselves.

Posted by dougf at August 7, 2006 08:31 PM

Honestly, GM, we need to put our great forces like this into action now! Pummel the living daylights out of them while no one's expecting it, present everyone with a done deal, and maybe then be able to bring everyone home. As an Arabic studies student for more than fourteen years now, the more I study, the more firmly I believe that the Middle East needs a SERIOUS overhauling and soon. I know this makes me sound like an UberEvil-Sabre-Rattling-Kill-Everyone-Death Monger, but they are bringing the fight to us, and that fight is an "us or them" fight. Personally? I'm for the "Us" (or make that the US), and frankly, I'm tired of our nancying around with all this "world-opinion" this and "sensitivity" that. We're doing more harm than good (to everyone) by letting things go on as long as we have; it's time to wrap things up and tell everyone else to take care of their own problems and stop bugging us about ours.

Posted by Katje at August 7, 2006 08:40 PM

You forgot this one.

HAHAHA!!! Made you look! :)

Posted by e. nonee moose at August 8, 2006 10:43 AM

Yeah Moose, it is a scary name isn't it... by the way, as a true cognitive restructuring therapist I would have to say that I chose to look. ;-)

Posted by GM at August 8, 2006 11:21 AM

LOL, Moose. And, whose side is that vessel on?

Posted by Woody at August 8, 2006 11:46 AM

Afraid I have to agree with dougf -- it looks like it's going to take another 9/11 or two before the military option is taken really seriously.

That sounds a little funny with so many of our guys in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we will NEVER win against the Islamofascists with the current strategy and tactics.

Sadly, a lot of "innocents" will die when the real fit hits the shan....but in a war to the death between us and them, I'm for doing what it takes to see that "us" wins.

Posted by Earl at August 8, 2006 08:34 PM

Holy crap. I've never seen three carriers at sea at the same time.

Posted by Ogre at August 10, 2006 06:42 PM