RE: this applies to Iran and Iraq as well!

[TEX <tex@kuoi.asui.uidaho.edu>]

I have to agree with Shahab here.  I think it was a fairly sophmoric move
on Mr. Walter Steed's part to put words in someones mouth and basically
accuse them of being unpatriotic.  If that is really what you got out of
this thread Walter (if I may), then I suggest you read it again.  The U.S.
is far from innocent when it comes to the reasons many middle-eastern
countries loathe us.  The mass media, as usual, is doing a grandiose job
of avoiding all the logical reasons anyone would have for wanting to
attack us.  I was really disappointed that all Dan Rather could come up
with on the Letterman interview was to categorically call all of the
perpetrators of this act "madmen, and who can explain evil?"  There is so
much more to it, and he well knows it.  The US practically made famous the
idea of jihad when it propped up the very person we are now equating with
the devil (Bin Laden vs Russia).  Now the govt and the media will attempt
to redefine the term jihad into something evil in order to rally support
against it.

  Alas, we are now already set upon a path, whatever it may be, that the
government has laid out.  I doubt any voices of dissension will be heard
amongst the gunfire and bombings... and I'm sure the "radical muslim
fringe" could use another martyr anyway.

           Clint "Tex" Payton
       email: tex@kuoi.asui.uidaho.edu

On Thu, 20 Sep 2001, Shahab Mesbah wrote:

> No my friend... I am the one concerned with terrorism here. We can
> rationalize our acts just like the fanatics who attacked us last week. The
> fact remains that we are not without blame ourselves. As for the presidents
> statement... I agree that if you are not against terrorism then you are not
> one of us. I just wonder if he realizes that he is becoming a terrorist.
>
> Last week I did not sleep for three days. I cried for days and was virtually
> dysfunctional all week. I lost family members last week. This attack was
> very personal. Yet I will not jeopardize the well being of this nation
> because of it. In fact I am the patriotic one here. I place myself in harms
> way and speak against many threats so I can help this nation... I resent my
> patriotism questioned. I have sacrifices much for this country. And I will
> defend the free speech and human rights to death. I will not follow a
> president blindly; I will not follow anyone blindly. The difference between
> me and those idiots who are brainwashed by their leader to fly an airplane
> into buildings and kill thousands is precisely that. Fanaticism is evil...
> it can wrapped in a religious facade... it can me nationalistic in nature...
> either way it is evil and thus will cause nothing but pain and anguish.
>
> And I am as always "Your brother in arms"
>
> Shahab...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WMSteed@aol.com [mailto:WMSteed@aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 8:27 PM
> To: meteor2@moscow.com; thansen@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com;
> goodallj@earthlink.net
> Subject: Re: this applies to Iran and Iraq as well!
>
> In a message dated 9/20/01 7:04:29 PM, meteor2@moscow.com writes:
>
> << there is only one way to eliminate terrorism. Once
> you eliminate the cause... you will eliminate the symptoms. >>
>
> The following was filed by Reuters today re former Israel Prime Minister
> Netanyahu's remarks before a congressional committee.
>
> "He said the ultimate goal of Islamic militants, emboldened by their victory
> in Afghanistan over the former Soviet Union, was the destruction of the
> United States. Any signs of weakness in retaliating for the hijack attacks
> that left more than 6,500 people dead or missing will be seen as
> encouragement for more strikes, he said.
>
> "Unless they are stopped now, their attacks will continue, and become even
> more lethal in the future," Netanyahu said.
>
> Some states that support such groups already have access to biological and
> chemical weapon capabilities, he said, and could one day soon gain access to
> rudimentary nuclear bombs.
>
> But once such groups learn that the United States will not withdraw in fear
> but instead will strike back hard, he said, "then you will see this danger
> recede.""
>
> He also said something to the effect that people who try to analyze these
> people and their motives just don't understand the gravity of their acts.
>
> If they are upset that we went into Saudi Arabia to free one of our partner
> countries from Iraq occupation, that cannot be reversed; it happened.  If
> they are upset that we live in houses and not caves and despise our
> prosperity, then I know of no American who would give up his standard of
> living expecting them to stop their barbaric attacks and adopt us as their
> friends. Personally, I have no interest in winning the friendship of people
> who have done what they have done.
>
> <<If you think that we can make a
> bubble of security around us and ignore everyone else you are sadly
> mistaken. What happens on the other side of the world will affect you
> here.>>
>
> We do not attempt to ignore every one else.  These terrorists are against
> everyone who is not like themselves and anything we can do to stop them
> before they nuke or attack with chemical or biological weapons Paris, Rome,
> Sidney, Moscow, London, etc., will be to the benefit of civilization.
>
> I'm not sure what "Your brother in arms" is intended to convey, but the
> President reiterated tonight before Congress, "If you are not with us
> against
> terrorism, you are against us."  To not support the U.S. and its chosen
> course of action in this fight is to turn a blind eye to the potential of
> even greater devastation in the future.
>
> Walter Steed
>