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'Stunningly naive'
The Washington Times ^ | August 27, 2006 | Oliver North

Posted on 08/27/2006 6:36:54 AM PDT by John Carey

While changing planes here in this ancient capital, I arranged to meet with an old friend who has long experience in the Middle East. Fluent in many Mediterranean and Persian Gulf languages and intimately familiar with the long, sad history of enmity in the region, he worked quietly with Americans for decades. I first met him in the 1980s during sensitive -- but ultimately fruitless -- efforts to elicit help from Arab governments in obtaining the release of American hostages being held in Lebanon. Throughout his personal triumphs and failures, successes and frustrations, I've always found him optimistic, his affection and admiration for the U.S. undimmed. But not this time. Now he is nearly despondent about the current course of events and prospects for the future. "Does anyone in the United States understand what's happening today?" he asked as we sat down over cups of strong coffee. "Look at this," he said, gesturing to headlines in the stack of newspapers on the table. "The world is at the brink of a cataclysm with radical Islam, and no one in the U.S. government seems to know it. Washington is stunningly naive."

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


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel
KEYWORDS: middleeast; olivernorth; radicalislam; unres1701
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1 posted on 08/27/2006 6:36:54 AM PDT by John Carey
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To: John Carey

Yes, Washington, and much of the West, is stunningly naive regarding radical islam.

They call Jews "apes and pigs", profess their desire to wipe Israel, the United States and Great Britain off the face of the map, and our leaders back off calling terrorists Islamofacists for fear of offending...


2 posted on 08/27/2006 6:40:41 AM PDT by milford421 (U.N. OUT OF U.S.)
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To: jan in Colorado

ping


3 posted on 08/27/2006 6:40:51 AM PDT by Gondring (If "Conservatives" now want to "conserve" our Constitution away, then I must be a Preservative!)
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To: milford421

Cassandra's Curse is Hell.


4 posted on 08/27/2006 6:41:44 AM PDT by Gondring (If "Conservatives" now want to "conserve" our Constitution away, then I must be a Preservative!)
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To: John Carey

It would be very un-PC to call evil by its name.


5 posted on 08/27/2006 6:42:08 AM PDT by Axhandle
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To: John Carey

Aside from writing congressmen, all we can do is pray. Pray that everyones' eyes of the American electorate will be opened, as well as those of our "leaders".

The stakes are very high here. Michael Savage takes it all to heart, looks at the great gathering danger on the horizon and then at the complacent attitudes here at home and gets so upset he can't work. Somebody fills in for him.


6 posted on 08/27/2006 6:42:39 AM PDT by RoadTest (I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.Ps3)
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To: RoadTest

My concern is that they DO see it, but feel there is nothing they can do. My HOPE is they do see it, and are doing things behind the scenes. I am afraid the first scenario is the correct one.
Prayer is the only course I know of at this late date.
susie


7 posted on 08/27/2006 6:45:26 AM PDT by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: John Carey

Unfortunately, Western Civilization won't wake up until a major catastrophe threatens everyone. Then, as when cancer has had a long headstart, the cure will be very painful, difficult, and unassured.


8 posted on 08/27/2006 6:47:25 AM PDT by jigsaw (God Bless Our Wonderful Troops.)
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To: John Carey
islam is a mental disorder whose real suffers are the ones that don't have it. Tolerating islam on this planet is like letting snakes live in your livingroom.

islam, muslims and the cult of mohammad and the moon-god are things we can do without. The solution should begin immediately

9 posted on 08/27/2006 6:50:36 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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To: John Carey

Many here know what's coming... but the MSM/DNC is doing their damnest to keep it from the sheeple.


10 posted on 08/27/2006 6:51:59 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: jigsaw

Exactly right.


11 posted on 08/27/2006 6:56:58 AM PDT by Recon Dad (Marine Spec Ops Dad)
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To: jigsaw

The MSM is already schmoozing with Jihadists/Iran, paving the way for Iran's domination of the Middle East. We can live with that, right? Iran's control of virtually all the oil in the Middle East. Iran's demands about who gets to live in the neighborhood...and Israel had better be worried. Iran's demands on the West. If you want to buy oil, then you do A, B, and C. And if dems control the US, we'll do as we're told and then some.


12 posted on 08/27/2006 6:57:17 AM PDT by hershey
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To: brytlea

I think we are being blackmailed. There is no other explanation as to our inaction and flacid response. We are appeasing because we have been threatened with a retaliation that we cannot stop. Maybe a suitcase nuke(s) in a major city (or several).

Immigration is a national disgrace and a threat to all we stand for. Probably the single greatest threat we encounter and we do nothing?! No, doesn't make sense. Something else is going on. What else could be causing us to make all the same Vietnam mistakes?

Reagrdless of what it is, it is time for the gloves to come off and get this done. Let come what may. We cannot be held hostage by anything or anybody.

I am not a heartless person, but I am tired of careful war. Civilians die...that's what makes war tragic. Unleash the dogs...


13 posted on 08/27/2006 7:40:06 AM PDT by bust (A biased media is the biggest threat to our democracy...)
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To: bust

'blackmailed'.

That's very interesting. It would certainly explain the inexplicable --- the utter insanity of ignoring threats from illegal immigration, etc.

Maybe the entire State Department is being blackmailed.

Who knows?


14 posted on 08/27/2006 8:12:24 AM PDT by squarebarb
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To: John Carey

Five years after 9-11 and here we are. It is soooooo depressing.


15 posted on 08/27/2006 8:17:11 AM PDT by veronica (NEW LITERARY AND ARTS JOURNAL offers free advertising for writers, bloggers, artists. FRmail me...)
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To: John Carey

Bttt.


16 posted on 08/27/2006 8:39:40 AM PDT by Inyo-Mono (If you don't want people to get your goat, don't tell them where it's tied.)
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To: bust
I think we are being blackmailed.

That's just silly,........... stupid actually.

Take a look at the reaction by the RATs to anything we do to advance the War on Terror. They oppose EVERYTHING.

It's political.

It's here at home.

It's from the Liberals.

America will win this war, but it's going to take the American people standing up to the Liberals first, and THAT's going tot take another something big to get their attention, and their energy.

Until we 'kill' the Liberals politically, no one on our side is going to make any progress.

17 posted on 08/27/2006 8:59:56 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (God has blessed Republicans with political enemies who are going senile.)
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To: bust

Hmmmm
That may be it. It's as good an explaination as I've seen.
susie


18 posted on 08/27/2006 9:31:02 AM PDT by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: Balding_Eagle

Not everything one disagrees with is stupid.
susie


19 posted on 08/27/2006 9:31:48 AM PDT by brytlea (amnesty--an act of clemency by an authority by which pardon is granted esp. to a group of individual)
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To: Gondring

Not even talking about prophecy here...just a small bit of historical knowledge would do the trick...


20 posted on 08/27/2006 9:36:15 AM PDT by milford421 (U.N. OUT OF U.S.)
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