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Whose and What Hearts and Minds?
davidlimbaugh.com ^ | 05/10/07 | david limbaugh

Posted on 05/11/2007 2:52:08 AM PDT by lancer256

The capture of the "Fort Dix Six" has inspired liberals to dust off and republish their "hearts and minds" mantra, which might sound wonderful to some, but bears more sober consideration. Before we can even consider whether winning hearts and minds is a remotely realistic goal, we need to determine whose hearts and minds we're talking about and what "winning hearts and minds" actually means.

Do liberals mean we should convince existing terrorists that diplomacy is a superior path to achieving their goals? That tolerance of other religions is the morally superior position? That women are entitled to dignity and equal rights? That the United Sates and Israel really aren't that evil? That their extreme brand of Islam is misguided?

Surely we can all agree that if we're talking about existing jihadists, these goals are quixotic. You are never going to tame a large percentage of "holy warriors" -- and there are more of them worldwide than we would like to think. It's not like they haven't thought about it and considered the options. It's not like these types haven't been around for more than a thousand years.

(Excerpt) Read more at davidlimbaugh.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: jihad; liberals; limbaugh; terror

1 posted on 05/11/2007 2:52:09 AM PDT by lancer256
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To: lancer256

bttt


2 posted on 05/11/2007 2:54:37 AM PDT by mathluv (Never Forget!)
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To: mathluv

The best way to change the jihadi culture is to first change the status of women...which is probably impossible..
Men would be less likely to be martyrs if they have the civilizing influence of women and hope for the future.
What a mess..


3 posted on 05/11/2007 3:38:56 AM PDT by nancyvideo (nancyvideo)
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To: nancyvideo

“Men would be less likely to be martyrs if they have the civilizing influence of women and hope for the future.”

You have nailed it! This is the problem with polygymy. It leaves not enough women to go around. Those without develop the classical demeanor problem.

The more they don’t get, de meaner day git!

Jihad is not going away until Islam changes its culture in regards to women.


4 posted on 05/11/2007 5:04:24 AM PDT by rgboomers (This space purposely left blank)
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To: lancer256

The ‘hearts and minds’ policy as used very successfully by the British in post-WW2 operations in Borneo and Malaya are not about winning over the terrorists, they are about winning over the civillians upon whom the terrorists rely.

You fight the terrorists and kiil them, but instead of leaving and waiting for them to return, you get the local civillian populace on side so that when the terrorists return, they are unwelcome and are not helped.

We cannot win in Iraq or Afghanistan without the support of the civvies.


5 posted on 05/11/2007 6:55:11 AM PDT by britemp
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