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Let Me Count the Ways by Professor Norman Geras

The enemies of humanity struck in London today. The enemies of democracy. (Incidentally, on BBC news reports I've heard, those responsible for today's bombings are being referred to as 'terrorists' - not 'militants' or anything else more dignifying, but 'terrorists'. Why the change of policy?) Before I heard the awful news this morning I had a couple of items from the newspaper (and which I'll get to) marked down for comment. Then the news broke.

Across the globe, the enemies of democracy have shown themselves ready to commit any crime, to use any means, violating every human norm, every civilized code of warfare, one way and another killing people at random: the innocent, the old, the young, people of any class, any faith, any colour, with only the common feature of being in the wrong place when the appointed time comes, and of being human beings - with their lives, with their hopes, with the people they love and who will grieve for them. The murderers strike regardless. Count the ways...

1. They attack Red Cross personnel.

2. They murder people working for the UN.

3. They kidnap and kill care workers.

4. They bomb holiday-makers, in nightclubs.

5. They blow up people travelling on trains - civilians.

6. They target people on buses - civilians.

7. They take civilian hostages.

8. They decapitate them.

9. They murder trade unionists.

10. They kidnap diplomats.

11. They kill people for being... barbers.

12. They fly aircraft full of civilians into skyscrapers where people are at work.

13. They take schoolchildren hostage and murder them.

14. They bomb synagogues.

15. They kill people shopping in a market.

16. They kill people queuing at a medical clinic.

17. They murder children in Baghdad.

18. They murder people on their way to work in London.

(And what have I forgotten?)

They are the enemies of democracy and the enemies of all humankind. They must be fought till they have been defeated.

http://normblog.typepad.com/normblog/2005/07/let_me_count_th.html

1 posted on 07/11/2005 4:59:14 AM PDT by ToveL
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To: ToveL

With regard to the above Norman Geras post, it is well worth going to his website and checking out the stories he links to in this excellent piece.


2 posted on 07/11/2005 5:01:26 AM PDT by ToveL
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To: ToveL
"Those arguing that the Iraq war has put the coalition countries in danger are therefore doing the bombers’ dirty propaganda work for them. The Spanish fell for it. But even though they withdrew their troops, this did not stop al Qaeda from subsequently trying twice more to bomb the Spanish people — thus proving that for al Qaeda, the Iraq war is merely a side issue."

Worth repeating.
4 posted on 07/11/2005 5:14:25 AM PDT by IAMNO1
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To: ToveL

"We now face an enemy which has no country..."

Sure they do. It's Britain.


5 posted on 07/11/2005 5:16:51 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: ToveL

Sounds like equal opportunity evil.


6 posted on 07/11/2005 5:17:08 AM PDT by satchmodog9 (Murder and weather are our only news)
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To: ToveL

If Prince Harry goes to a party dressed as Osama, it will be a bad sign.


7 posted on 07/11/2005 5:22:03 AM PDT by Sabramerican (Sarcasm/Some here don't get it unless you spell it out)
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To: ToveL

this column was so good it deserves a PING for GWOT common sense.


9 posted on 07/11/2005 5:34:33 AM PDT by WOSG (Liberating Iraq - http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com)
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To: ToveL
I think it is beginning to sink in around some quarters that the real problem is Islam, not intolerance to Islam.

One would think after 14 centuries of mayhem and murder the world would have a clear view of what this ghastly religion advocates and does.

But the fantasies of the Left seem to be simply too overwhelming for those who cling to them to recognize this cult of oppression, murder and death for what it really is. Muslims are trapped in a system of the Devil's own making and few Muslims seem capable of either protesting about it or getting out of it. It is an immensely powerful system of delusion and bondage.

11 posted on 07/11/2005 5:41:23 AM PDT by Gritty ("It is jihadists, not moderates, presenting detailed Islamic theological arguments" - Robert Spencer)
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To: ToveL
Now as then, appeasing aggression means cultural suicide.

But it's so much easier in the short-run, don't you know. Give in to sharia now, then just do the 3-monkeys thing so you can feign ignorance and indignation when the inevitable happens.

13 posted on 07/11/2005 7:30:37 AM PDT by shezza (God Bless Our Troops)
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To: ToveL

It's ALL Bush's fault


17 posted on 07/11/2005 8:49:38 AM PDT by Surtur (Wal-mart...walnuts, Oprah...Uma, coincidence, I think not.)
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To: ToveL
Article:
The problem is that, unlike sixty years ago, our leaders shy away from giving this menace its proper name.

      Actually, today's Brittish leaders remind me of another PM orf the past, Neville Chamberlain.  What the world needs is another Winston Churchill.
18 posted on 07/11/2005 10:02:00 AM PDT by Celtman (It's never right to do wrong to do right.)
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To: ToveL
Given such a choice, the only morally viable position is to fight terror with all the means at our disposal.

I wish he would have provided some suggestions on the "means."
19 posted on 07/11/2005 10:07:15 AM PDT by BikerNYC
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To: ToveL
"...But at same time they and others — from the Prime Minister downwards — are in denial when they say that because Islam is a religion of peace, by implication those who commit such acts are not true Muslims. On the contrary, this war against the west is not only being fought in the name of Islam but its aims, if not all its tactics, have been condoned by countless Islamic states and religious authorities and supported by millions of Muslims across the world. Our leaders are too frightened to say this for fear of upsetting the Muslim community..."

Ain't that the truth!

20 posted on 07/11/2005 10:09:34 AM PDT by NoClones
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To: ToveL

It didn't take the Left long to blame Blair for the London bombings, then GW and America. Nowhere do they blame Islamofascist monsters who set those bombs off and killed innocents. Talk about stupid.


31 posted on 07/11/2005 4:40:05 PM PDT by hershey
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To: ToveL

"5. They blow up people travelling on trains - civilians.

6. They target people on buses - civilians.

7. They take civilian hostages. "

Their are no "civilians."


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1441015/posts



33 posted on 07/12/2005 1:57:27 PM PDT by dervish (freedom is a long distance race)
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