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I regard a lot of this Guardian opnion piece as a crock of left wing manure. For one big thing, it strikes me that Islamic whackos are a product of the Islamic system pure and simple and did not spring to existence in reaction to any US behavior. In fact if one must seek an external cause for the whackos' existence and behavior, I'd say the US is less culpable than is Europe's stirring of the Islamic pot with the "crusades" many centuries ago.

I want retribution for this horrific attack, and I want ongoing suppression of attempts to commit future acts of terrorism against the US, by essentially any means necessary and effective to accomplish it.

That said:

(a) I don't perceive that getoffmylawn gave his post a straight up endorsement either by posting it or by his remark following the post, and
(b) The article is not completely fallacious. Some implementations of US foreign policy have been both arrogant and frivolous. Particularly during the Clintoon years our behavior was almost always unreasoned and sometimes bordered on insanity (our behavior was in fact Clintoonian). Arrogant, unreasoned, vicious behavior undoubtedly has created enemies, some of whom are arrogant, unreasoned, vicious people.

I really do not like to perceive of the US as contributing to a vicious circle of unreasoning viciousness. For that reason I hope to see US foreign policy strictly guided by two principles: (a) the golden rule and (b) speak softly and carry a big stick. In other words, let us not be arrogant, unreasoned, and/or vicious. Let us treat others fairly and consistently and let us stay out of their affairs which do not concern us. But when the chips are down, when others even think about not treating us as respectfully as we have treated them, then the whole world needs to know that we have both the means and the will to let nothing stop us from having our way.

For that reason I hope to see US foreign policy strictly guided by two principles: (a) the golden rule and (b) speak softly and carry a big stick.

Doublethink.

Damn it. Somehow I missed your post earlier. Good stuff. I don't see anything I disagree with.