Posted on 04/11/2009 5:56:12 AM PDT by kellynla
FYI, genius, I walked point for the 5th Marines in 1969 & 1970.
I guess I am just going to have to defer to your superior experience then. Being unarmed in hostile territory is clearly the best way to protect yourself, because Mr. "I killed a man" says so.
Do you really think so? That’s be a kick in the pants if that were the case...esp. considering his attitude towards those folks in w/ ice storms in KY and flooding in ND.
The Bush-held-his-hand defense is really getting a little worn. Holding hands, kissing, hugging aren’t BOWING. If anything, they’re paternalistic, they’re kind, and yes, they’re respectful in a way that could never be construed as demeaning to the actor. Age, not position, is what Bush “deferred” to.
Hear, hear!
> Who made those rules, the pirates?
Close! As I understand it, it was their cousins in the UN.
that's right, genius...the first half-ass intelligent thing you've posted on this thread...now run along and quit bothering me with your blather!
So are you going to turn in your own weapons since you have clearly and irrefutably proven that not being armed is the best way to go?
When the terror boats approach, open fire.
shezzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
You’re losing the conversation with the other poster.
It’s one thing to talk tough, it another to be in lethal situations. Go watch your favorite Rambo movie.
We need to go back to this.
Our forefathers understood well.
True, true. I have no problem accepting the other poster's premise that being unarmed is the best way to protect oneself, because he clearly has the experience thing worked out and I do not.
Maybe I’m missing it, but what exactly is the solution? If we don’t use military force to take out these pirates once and for all, this will just keep happening over and over. So what is the solution for these ships? Understand that these are merchant sailors who signed up to sail, not shoot. But it seems sensible that they have arms on board and people who know how to use ‘em when they go through these pirate-infested areas.
And, BTW, I appreciate your service, but lets face it: being in combat doesn’t make you an expert on how to handle every military situation—not all privates get promoted to 4-star general. Next time, show some intellectual chops before trotting out your service record as a means of shouting someone down.
......but what exactly is the solution? If we don’t use military force to take out these pirates once and for all, this will just keep happening over and over......
There are two aspects to the pirate problem. There is the immediate crisis and the long term festering sore.
There have been reports of elders sent in to effect the release of the hostage. The elders have obviously been put on notice to get the man released or face destruction. This destruction will also take place if the piracy doesn’t end.
Time is against the pirates. They are surrounded and have no way out other than release the hostage. They don’t realize that yet because they are still on an adrenaline high. When it wears off fear will set in and with fear, doubts and then a different perspective on reality.
For the long term problem, if the elders can’t handle their people, the course becomes different. Then there can be embargo or other military action against their port.
kellynla makes a valid point. How many times have we read about a robbery where the gun owner fires several times and does not hit anything? With a weapon you need practice and drills. It is the training that takes over when you are in a fire fight. No, never killed anyone but was a D.I.
One of the best paragraphs ever appearing in any column.
So...concealed carry is wrong unless you’ve killed a man before? And you cannot have a political opinion on guns, the military or use of force without having first killed a man?
I gather us men can’t discussion abortion, either.
I spent 25 years in the military. I’m sure I’ve taken part in actions which killed people, although I personally was flying EW support at the time. I’ve never looked in a man’s eyes while shooting him - but I think ships ought to carry big enough weapons to make big holes in the little boats that pirates use.
You don’t have to like my opinion, but it sure isn’t superseded by yours based on your experience in Vietnam.
The other poster said that even training could be useless. But the problem with your scenario is the times in which weapons did not help resolve a problem doesn't validate the notion that weapons would solve a lot of these problems.
I use historical facts as the basis for my argument that weapons are the answer. Armed people worked quite well against the Barbary pirates back in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
But as the other poster pointed out, I am clearly wrong about weapons. He whipped out his experience to prove it. Heck, he even killed a man. I clearly cannot win an argument against with someone who killed a man about how wrong weapons are when it comes to defending property.
You missed the analogy completely.
No, it isn't. How many times have we read about a store owner (or cop!) who missed everybody...and still foils the robbery? How many times have we read about someone shooting and hitting a robber/whatever, in spite of never having shot a gun before?
30 years ago, some guys wanted to rob me (based on their actions). I had a 6 shot S&W .22 with me. There were 8 of them. None of the 8 had any desire to see if I really could shoot them in the head or not. They didn't complain that my gun wasn't large enough, or point out that I had fewer bullets than they had people. They just backed away and I left the area. I was carrying illegally and didn't file a report of any kind.
These 'pirates' don't strike me as any braver than the folks who wanted to rob me. The ships don't need to be able to repel the Vietnamese Navy...
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