Swingman wrote:
"Charlie Self" wrote in message

That's a good question. Unfortunately, no one I know has an answer. The
problem seemingly was smaller and less vicious before we invaded Iraq
2-1/2 years ago.

With all due respect, and from one old soldier to another, were not the
first Trade Center bombing, the Cole, and 911, just to name a few, all _pre_
Iraq?

Swing, not ignoring answering, but so busy I haven't had time. Yeah,
all that as pre-Iraq, but, so far, I've seen no proof that any of it
involved Iraq any more than it did, say, Saudi Arabia and Iran.


Oddly enough, Iraq seems to be in far worse shape now than it was under
Saddam, and there is no indication of permanent improvement that I'm
able to see.

A good case can be made that that depends upon how you much you choose to
believe what you read and hear from a media whose survival is predicated
upon hyperbole, sensationalism, and tragedy.

Or form an Administration that has consistently proven it is unable, or
unwilling, to tell the truth.

Another good case can be made that suicide/homicide bombings are acts of
desperation, and desperation fairly indicates a cause on the losing end.

From your point of view, and mine, sure. I am not at all sure anything
we consider a rational POV from radical Islamists is likely to ever
crop up. The Japanese used these tactics, to a degree and without
generally involving civilians, during WWII, but I don't immediately
recall if anyone else ever has (of course, in the good old days,
pre-gunpowder, such tactics didn't exist, but since then...and, as I
recall, the Hashasheens [sp?] is an Arabic invention that also uses the
promise of whatever number of houris in Paradise for those willing to
die for, according to the person sending them out, Allah, so suicide
attacks did exist pre-gunpowder but were far less effective, if that's
the word).


From my POV, the International picture has never been all that rosy since
Genghis Kahn, but perhaps it is not as bad as some would want you to
believe?

Always in a turmoil. Yeah, the old, supposedly Chinese curse, "May you
live in interesting times" seems to apply to just about any time in
history, except for a fortunate few people at any one time who are just
uninvolved.

Not picking an argument .... just some coffee fume thoughts at the beginning
of what promises to be a beautiful day down here in Texas ...

Hope yours is a good one also.

Gorgeous day yesterday. I spent much of it shooting a 1934 SS1, the
Swallow Standard precursor to the Jaguar...this was the first one with
Jaguar actually on the nameplate under the hood, if not on the
exterior. Incredible car and I am delighted with the photos, but am so
sore this morning I can hardly move (a lot of kneeling, lying down,
climbing ladders to get the shots).