They just got a different tool to use than we do: They kill innocent lives to achieve objectives. That's what they do. And they're good. They get on the TV screens and they get people to ask questions about, well, you know, this, that or the other. I mean, they're able to kind of say to people: Don't come and bother us, because we will kill you. Bush - Joint News Conference with Blair - 28 July '06

Sunday, November 21, 2004

CIA , the nutters, and the strong-minded

Interestingly the CIA factbook tells us that in Iraq there are 7,280,167 male Iraqis aged 15-65 out of a population of 25,374,691. The CIA points out that though the figures were updated in July 2004, they are only an estimate. That is understandable given that paperwork regarding dead Iraqis is too much trouble for the military.

It's pretty much well known that the Iraqi's are fighting with "spirit" (no offence intended to fanatical Christians here). It's also a truism to repeat that Iraqis are proud. I could also regurgitate that Iraqi's are by nature fighters. So why does anyone think that killing ( some say criminally) 1200+/- fighters in Fallujah, is going to do anything other than drive more young Iraqi men to violently resist the occupation?

We started out fighting the 'nutters' (if you like). Then we messed up and the 'hot-heads' joined the 'nutters' and we were suddenly fighting both. Well, we messed up again after that and this time the 'unyielding' got behind the 'nutters' and the 'hot-heads', and we're in trouble. Time goes on but not for long and we mess up again, guess what? Now the 'strong-minded' have turned their backs on.

If we continue with this brutality, we may be overwhelmed by the even-handed, dispassionate, impartial, and objective.