Rumsfeld fears U.S. losing long-term fight against terror

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | ROBERT BURNS

[tkathy]

Instead of calling them 'zealots and despots' it would be more marginalizing to call them 'drugged out psychopaths and sociopaths'. Too much respect will just attract more idiots.

[guitfiddlist]

The troubling unknown, he said, is whether the extremists -- whom he termed ''zealots and despots'' bent on destroying the global system of nation-states -- are turning out newly trained terrorists faster than the United States can capture or kill them.

The brutal truth is, if and when we are hit with a massive attack, the veil of sentimental stupidity might drop from the hippy-dippy mentality that dominates the baby boomers currently in generational power. For hell hath no selfishness and vindictiveness like an ex-hippy who had HIS bong water spilled, or his SUV dented. Just look at the Clintons and JF'nK for proof of that.

In that case, we might fight like wars have been fought for thousands of years, before "like a new more progressive mentality was developed about war 'nd sh@t, maaaaaan". Which means destroying what the enemy that is trying to destroy you values, i.e. - THEIR soft spots. We've done it in every significant war we ever successfully fought. And lost Vietnam when we didn't.

[valkyrieanne]

Yes, it's "the myth of hijacked Islam." The only majority-Muslim country that's succeeded in Western terms is Turkey - why? Because Islamic fanatic expressions (including head gear for both men & women) were diligently *suppressed.* The state appoints religious leaders to the mosques, and monitors them carefully. Even the current Turkish PM was in prison for awhile because of his Islamist leanings.

Fundamentalist Islam as it literally interprets the Koran *is* terorrism. It sounds like Defense Sec'y Rumsfeld is waking up to smell the hummus. It *is* a "war on Islam;" it *is* "a crusade," and the sooner we "get it" the better.

[valkyrieanne]

I believe he realizes that if they can strike once and inflict this level of casualties, we must accept that they will be able to strike multiple times until the appeasers sell out our democracy.

Good point. If you want something to fear, fear that if the wahhabis *did* suitcase-nuke an American city, that we would be too wussified to actually do anything about it. After all, the EU and UN might complain. It might be "hateful."