[mdlug] First impressions of Vista

[Aaron Kulkis]

Wolfger wrote:
> On 3/14/07, Aaron Kulkis <akulkis3 at hotpop.com> wrote:
> 
>> People don't seem to understand how the mere appearance of
>> indecision or lack of will to win by the politicians emboldens
>> the enemy and costs lives...and how, conversely, not wavering
>> encourages many of the enemy to call it quits and go back to
>> living a normal, peaceful lifestyle.
> 
> You've seem them quitting, then? Talked to them? I'm betting this is
> conjecture based on circumstantial evidence accompanied by a political
> predisposition on the part of the conjecturer. I've certainly seen no
> cessation of death tolls on cnn.com.
> 

Attacks on the streets of Baghdad have fallen off significantly.

A lot of them have run to Iran.


> My personal conjecture is that the enemy is smart enough to know when
> to lay low, and when to press the attack, and they are not quitting at
> all.  So unless we keep you and your comrades over there in
> perpetuity, which is not realistic, they will eventually un-quit. The
> sooner we bring you home the better, in my opinion, but this is a
> decision being made by politicians who are much more concerned about
> elections than saving American lives, so... Take care.

You're right in that respect... but, if we get them  to "lay low"
long enough...which is to say, live a normal life free of violent
acts against other neighborhoods in town... they'll eventually get
settled into their ways...

or as P.J. O'Rourke explains the end of the hostilities in N. Ireland...

"Uh, yeah, Paddy, I'd like to help ya with your bombing next
Thursday night, but I gotta go to my daughter's school recital..."

Resuming a peaceful, civilian lifestyle is the first step to
getting out of the terrorism business all together.

In any event, at present the threat to our nation is grave ...
A withdrawal that demonstrates a lack of resolve will put truth
to bin Laden's claim that all that's needed to defeat us is
casualties on TV plus time.  Everything perceived as defeat, or
wavering in the face of aggression, encourages more recruits to
some or many of the various radical factions -- both the Sunnis
and Shias see the U.S. as the main obstacle to worldwide imposition
of Sharia law (and no, it's not only women who suffer under it...)