----- Original Message ----- From: "Gautam Mukunda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 11:45 AM Subject: Re: Beheading Avenges Prison Abuse
> Isn't it obvious? The same reason that they butchered > Daniel Pearl. They think that doing something like > that is going to scare us - shake our resolve and > convince us to surrender. I really don't see it that way. I think that they are a lot brighter and a lot more subtle than this. I agree that showing the footage will not weaken the US's resolve. But, I don't think we are the primary audience for this. I think the rest of the world is. I'd argue that much of the basis for this is in blood feuds. Going back to the bible, "an eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life" was a call for moderation in a time of blood feud. It would make sense for them to promote the idea of a blood feud between a US controlled by the Zionist conspiricy and all the Mosilums. The rest of the West would be advised to move away from the US so as not to get caught up in this. Any country that followed Spains "wonderful" example would be downgraded on the "who to hit list." Any country that denounced the US would be eliminated. Further, they would wish to promote themselves as defenders of the honor the the people of Iraq. Only they have the power and the will to attack those who shame the people of Iraq. Only by supporting this cause can the people of Iraq regain their honor. Since about half of the people of Iraq supported at least some attacks against coalition troops before things started heating up in the 2nd week of April, I'd argue that a majority does now. We are at a point where we need to see progress or risk losing the majority of the Iraqi people. I'd argue that this beheading needs to be seen in the context of how it affects that. As an aside, I'm sure you know that I'm making no excuses for what happened. It goes without saying that it is evil and revolting. However, the very last thing I want is for the killers to accomplish their goals. >Or, even more (as we've > seen) convince us that this is somehow _our fault_, The only responsibility we had was to open the door to this type of revolting action having the potential for a positive effect for the murderers. Now, the fact that the two victims were Jewish may very well have been the overwhelming factor. But, since a number of hostages had been released before, and its been two years since Daniel Pearle, its also possible that AQ determined that the climate was not right for this particular type of killing advancing their cause. But, after the abuse scandle, they thought that the plusses now outweighed the minuses. The war with AQ et. al., is being fought on a number of different levels. I don't think it is irresponsible to say that a mistake on our part has afforded the enemy a particular advantage. That certainly doesn't justify the murder in any way at all. A linkage is not necessarily a justification. > and that we are to blame because our enemies act like > this. I think that they are mistaken in this and that > it will not, in fact, erode American resolve, instead > strengthening it (if the media does its job and shows > the images), but hey, I could be wrong. The image is available on their website for anyone who wants to see it. I think that the media isn't showing the murder out of respect for the families...just like it stopped showing people jumping from the WTC. Further, when it showed the abuse, it blurred things out to show the idea, not the actual picture of a man being forced to masturbate in front of a woman....etc. The pictures shown with the dogs in the New Yorker, for example, didn't show the bite wound...even though it was available. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
