> ...If > something really, really bad happens, we will respond in kind with a > stupid response.
Of course it doesn't make sense, but essentially the quote is referencing MAD (mutually assured destruction) rhetoric. It worked during the Cold War, or at least, didn't _not_ work, So why not try it here? The mistake made does not lie in the statement itself (though even MAD was fundamentally flawed), the mistake lies in assuming that the enemy, though listening, gives a rat's ass about the threat. The jihadist contemplating popping a nuke on a civilian target isn't going to care about retaliation, since the mere threat of retaliation justifies the original act. vicious circlar logic... -- will "If my life weren't funny, it would just be true; and that would just be unacceptable." - Carrie Fisher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:165131 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
