Because we really have a war against an ideology that produces the ‘1984′ scenario mentioned below; Islamic extremism, primarily Wahhabism. And, unless you’re a fan of arrests for flirting, beheadings for adultery, hangings for being gay, honor killings of women for nearly anything, knifings for a cartoon, it’s a war that needs to be fought. But what do we care what they do in the Middle East?… and Southwest Asia…. and North Africa…. and Indonesia…. and Sub-Sahara Africa…. and Amsterdam…. and Paris…. and London…. and Dearborn, MI…. and Irving, TX.
Sadly, like the ideological fight that preceded this one, it will be a long-term one and will go through phases of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ before it’s done. We all pray that this one will get a lot ‘cooler’ than it currently is. But one of our best long-term weapons against this will be the same thing we used in the last ‘long war’: democracy. And I am not necessarily talking about our idea of democracy. Democracy evolves and mutates as needed to fit the time and culture; it can also go through some really ugly phases and- in the hands of an extremely sick culture- it is no improvement (the Palestinians areas come to mind). But, long-term, it is an eventual solution.
It has to be desired to work; but in healthy cultures, that’s rarely a problem. Extremists hate it and will do their worst against it, as is so clear in Iraq. But, once people are willing to stand up for it, it normally wins out. Iraq has seen the face of extremism and- over the last year- the majority of the population have begun to act against it. It has become a case of a healthy culture finally making the decision (though a few, very unhealthy pockets remain).
Some might want to wall off the problem from the U.S., shut down immigration and let everyone else wage this one on their own, as the people in Darfur are doing. Myself, I happen to like the rest of the world more than that. If nothing else, my ‘niece’ lives in a country with a significant peaceful Muslim population; And I’ll be darned if she becomes too terrified of being charged with ‘flirting’ for giving her Uncle a big hug when she feels like it. (Fortunately, my wife knows no woman on earth has as bad of taste in men as she does, so she doesn’t get jealous. ;) )
Even if we did wall it off; does anyone really think we wouldn’t have to deal with it? Would you like a restriction list of over half the world where American women face the restrictions they currently face in Saudi Arabia? That alcohol would not be available? That normal public relations between male and female are stunted ala 1984 as we travel?
I definitely think the tactics of this war need major improvement, but I do not doubt that this ‘long war’ will be fought, one way or another.
Filed under: Politics
[...] how does one- realistically- stop this horror from occurring and really heating up the 100 year war? Remember, ‘Gray Zone’ scenarios are not a place to point fingers or relive the past, [...]
Fighting this war is also giving us a nice dose of 1984. Soon basically every city will be camera’d to the teeth, your DNA will be part of a national registry, regardless of if you are a criminal, torture, domestic spying, the government in bed with corporations.
The cameras are more local interest than national. The cities certainly see them as income-producers at traffic lights.
Not to mention catching credit card thieves in the store. They nailed the idiots who took one out of my mailbox; it helped when they ordered a pizza and had it delivered. The video from the store will put them away, now that they’re address is known.
The cameras are here to stay and not due to Washington mandate; that’s reality.
Want something more to worry about? I helped develop the tollway tracking system in Texas; the way that system can track your movements by time and speed is downright spooky. And now, you don’t even need the tag anymore. Add this to GPS in phones and you can pretty much be physically located by somebody most of the time. The wonders of modern technology.
Where do you think the local places are getting the money for them Mike? Homeland Security grants, etc.