Comments on: Using Terrorism http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=using-terrorism n. the principle of good order<br /><br /> "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:25:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: libarbarian http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-15417 libarbarian Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:04:24 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/#comment-15417 <i>Palin has misrepresented Obama’s views about tactics in the Afghan war in an effort to portray Obama as reflexively anti-military and, by extension, more sympathetic to the enemy than to our own soldiers. </i> Sometimes I wonder how much of this is due to the fact that so many people do not serve, and therefore have an idealized notion of war that doesn't account for the "friction" that is endemic to real war. How much of this is based on an exaggerated notion of our technical ability to avoid civilian casualties and an equally under-appreciation of the human element and "fog of war" in general? I remember one guy who confidently said that we could completely monitor the US-Mexico border with a few dozen predators and would not be talked out of this opinion. Palin has misrepresented Obama’s views about tactics in the Afghan war in an effort to portray Obama as reflexively anti-military and, by extension, more sympathetic to the enemy than to our own soldiers.

Sometimes I wonder how much of this is due to the fact that so many people do not serve, and therefore have an idealized notion of war that doesn’t account for the “friction” that is endemic to real war. How much of this is based on an exaggerated notion of our technical ability to avoid civilian casualties and an equally under-appreciation of the human element and “fog of war” in general?

I remember one guy who confidently said that we could completely monitor the US-Mexico border with a few dozen predators and would not be talked out of this opinion.

]]> By: An Unpatriotic Republican « Upturned Earth || John Schwenkler http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-15320 An Unpatriotic Republican « Upturned Earth || John Schwenkler Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:36:50 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/#comment-15320 [...] An Unpatriotic Republican October 13, 2008, 4:40 pm Filed under: conservatism, media/culture, politics, war Following up on the post below, and as David Frum gets slammed at The Corner for daring to criticize Sarah Palin on CBS, it’s worth remembering - as Daniel Larison does - that it was Frum who (in)famously accused conservative critics of the Iraq war of being “unpatriotic” (and very often anti-Semitic) for what he called their “fearful policy of ignoring threats and appeasing enemies”: They have made common cause with the left-wing and Islamist antiwar movements in this country and in Europe. They deny and excuse terror. They espouse a potentially self-fulfilling defeatism. They publicize wild conspiracy theories. And some of them explicitly yearn for the victory of their nation’s enemies. [...] [...] An Unpatriotic Republican October 13, 2008, 4:40 pm Filed under: conservatism, media/culture, politics, war Following up on the post below, and as David Frum gets slammed at The Corner for daring to criticize Sarah Palin on CBS, it’s worth remembering – as Daniel Larison does – that it was Frum who (in)famously accused conservative critics of the Iraq war of being “unpatriotic” (and very often anti-Semitic) for what he called their “fearful policy of ignoring threats and appeasing enemies”: They have made common cause with the left-wing and Islamist antiwar movements in this country and in Europe. They deny and excuse terror. They espouse a potentially self-fulfilling defeatism. They publicize wild conspiracy theories. And some of them explicitly yearn for the victory of their nation’s enemies. [...]

]]> By: DrShrink http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-15293 DrShrink Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:06:32 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/10/12/using-terrorism/#comment-15293 In line with your earlier post on education background I think we have to say its not just that their charges are exaggerated, but as much that they are simply ignorant of the issues. Terrorism therefore is as much or as little a threat as they say it is. No one seriously think Palin, Romney etc are spending their nights reading briefing book and backgrounders on the issue (Even McCain seems to show significant confusions). A party which denies the importance of education and staying informed, is also one which will rarely wonder if their claims are factual or not, they don't know and don't care. In line with your earlier post on education background I think we have to say its not just that their charges are exaggerated, but as much that they are simply ignorant of the issues. Terrorism therefore is as much or as little a threat as they say it is. No one seriously think Palin, Romney etc are spending their nights reading briefing book and backgrounders on the issue (Even McCain seems to show significant confusions).

A party which denies the importance of education and staying informed, is also one which will rarely wonder if their claims are factual or not, they don’t know and don’t care.

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