DISCRIMINATION! IS IT REALLY BAD?

AVITW

I SEE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE, IN ALL OF THEIR COMMITTEE GENERATED WISDOM, HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED THAT “SHARP OBJECTS”, DEPENDING UPON THEIR SIZE, MAY NOW BE SAFELY ENTRUSTED TO THEIR OWNERS. OTHERS, WHO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO “VOLUNTARY” PRIOR SECURITY SCREENING MAY NOW BYPASS THE ONEROUS INTRUSION INTO THE PRIVACY OF LITTLE CHILDREN, SENIOR CITIZENS, BUSINESS “PERSONS” AND EVERYONE ELSE OF NON-ARAB/MUSLIM BIRTH. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NONE OF THE ABOVE, SAVE ONE DERELICT, HAVE EVER BEEN IMPLICATED IN THE SLIGHTEST WAY WITH PARTICIPATING THE SO-CALLED HOLY JIHAD WHICH IS NOW USED TO JUSTIFY THIS INTRUSION INTO A CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO PRIVACY.

THE CONCEPT OF “PROBABLE CAUSE” ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE ACTIVITIES OF ANYONE THEY CHOOSE, NOT ONLY IN AIR TRAVEL, BUT IN NUMEROUS NEFARIOUS WAYS, (THINK WIRETAPS, CAMERAS, MEMBERSHIP IN DISSENTING GROUPS, COMPUTER USE OR READING MATERIAL) WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD JUST AS SOON THE GENERAL PUBLIC NOT KNOW ABOUT, IS NOW BEING ATTACKED. ONE WONDERS IF THE PARANOIA THAT RATIONALIZES SAVING A VILLAGE EVEN IF IT MUST BE DESTROYED IT IS NOW A NATIONAL POLICY? THAT THIS SHOTGUN APPROACH HAS CREATED A BOTTLENECK (PAIN IN THE NECK?) IN OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, THOUSANDS OF USELESS JOBS AND BILLIONS OF WASTED DOLLARS, IF ONE JUDGES THE FAILURE TO DETECT EVEN ONE ATTEMPT BY THOSE WHO DO NOT FIT THE DEMOGRAPHIC IN QUESTION, CANNOT BE DENIED.

THE AUTHOR REMEMBERS SOME YEARS AGO WHERE A RATHER ASTUTE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, UPON REALIZING THAT A PREPONDERANCE OF DRUG ACTIVITY WAS BEING CARRIED OUT BY A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE POPULATION, DECIDED IT MIGHT BE PROPITIOUS TO EXAMINE MORE CLOSELY THE ACTIVITIES OF THOSE WHO FIT THIS DEMOGRAPHIC. SURE ENOUGH, THE EFFICACY OF DRUG ENFORCEMENT INCREASED. OF COURSE, THOSE UNFORTUNATE INNOCENT FEW, WITHIN THIS DEMOGRAPHIC, CRIED FOUL AND THE EVER PRESENT LEGAL ARM OF THE ACLU AND OTHER ACTIVISTS WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING EXACERBATING THE INEQUITIES OF LIFE RUSHED IN TO CRIPPLE THE ENTERPRISING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BY SHOUTING “DISCRIMINATION”, WHICH, IN THEIR PERVERSE WAY OF LOOKING AT REALITY, THEY PERCEIVE AS PERSECUTION. OBVIOUSLY, THE "NATURAL CONSEQUENCE" WAS TO MAKE THE BUSINESS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING EVEN EASIER THAN BEFORE.

ANY INTELLIGENT CONSIDERATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL “RIGHTS” IS THOUGHT TO BE PROPERLY TEMPERED WITH CONTEMPORARY REALITY, IF NOT COMMON SENSE. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MORE THAN MINIMAL INTELLECTUAL ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE SECURITY OF CITIZENS, IF DEEMED A PROPER RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT, REQUIRES THE FORFEITURE OF A MEASURE OF LIBERTY, WHICH MOST ARE WILLING TO CEDE IN RETURN FOR THE “RIGHT TO LIFE” (NO, NOT THAT TYPE) WHEN THREATENED. THE QUESTION ARISES “HOW MUCH LIBERTY IS TO BE TAKEN AND IN WHAT MANNER? SINCE SURVIVAL WOULD SEEM TO TRUMP "INALIENABLE RIGHTS", PERHAPS THE EXCHANGE OF THE LEAST LOSS OF LIBERTY FOR THE MOST SECURITY COULD BECOME THE NEW GUIDING PRINCIPLE.

ONE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LIFE TENDS TO BE OVERWHELMING TO MOST CITIZENS WHO ARE SO BUSY "PADDLING" IN THEIR OWN LITTLE POND, THAT THEY SELDOM STOP TO DISCERN THE GESTALTS OF LIFE, UNTIL THEY ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE MAELSTROM. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS, NOT BY CHOICE, BUT BY NECESSITY, AS THE OUTSIDE WORLD INTRUDES ON ONES PERSONAL WORLD. WHILE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SOLVE ALL OF THE ISSUES IN ONE SITTING, IT MIGHT BE WELL TO BECOME AWARE OF THE CONUNDRUM THAT LIES AHEAD, IF YOU HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED ONE OR MORE OF THE FACETS ALREADY.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WILLFUL MISINTERPRETATION OF THE VALUE OF RATIONAL DISCRIMINATION, AS OPPOSED TO PREJUDICE WHICH IS IRRATIONAL. OF COURSE, “ERRONEOUS CONCEPTS” (AN EUPHEMISM FOR STUPIDITY?) CAN ALSO BE INTERPRETED AS “OPPORTUNITIES”, OR “BLOGS” WOULD HAVE LITTLE TO JUSTIFY THEIR EXISTENCE. MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT RACIAL AND GENDER (SEX HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT) DISCRIMINATION, TO WHICH MUST NOW BE ADDED RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC AFFILIATION. MOST OF THE SELF-SERVING LITERATURE IS NEGATIVE AND ESPOUSES THE RATHER NAIVE GOAL OF ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION ALTOGETHER. FORTUNATELY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION, AS IT IS A FACT OF LIFE, AND IS NECESSARY FOR OUR VERY SURVIVAL. IT ALSO IMPACTS HEAVILY ON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE SINCE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CHOICES EVERYONE FACES EVERY DAY, IF NOT EVERY HOUR, OF THEIR LIFE.

THE AUTHOR HAS ALWAYS ADMIRED DISCRIMINATING PEOPLE AND WOULD HAVE FARED FAR BETTER IN LIFE HAD HE BEEN MORE ADEPT IN DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THINGS GOOD FOR HIM AND THOSE THAT WERE BAD. THIS ASSUMES, OF COURSE, THAT ONE ACCEPTS THE PREMISE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT, IF NOT THE ABILITY, TO LIVE ONES LIFE GUIDED BY ENLIGHTENED SELF INTEREST, BUT, I DIGRESS.

CHILDREN ENCOUNTER DISCRIMINATION EARLY IN LIFE AS PARENTS SEARCH FOR THE STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES AND DIFFERENCES IN THEIR CHILDREN IN ORDER TO REAR EACH ONE TO ACHIEVE THE MOST THEY ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING. REGARDLESS OF THEIR RELATIVE ABILITY AS PARENTS, I HAVE NEVER MET A PARENT AT ANY SOCIAL OR ECONOMIC LEVEL THAT DID NOT WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILD.

HOWEVER, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME ABNORMAL ADULTS WHO SEE CHILDREN AS A BURDEN IN THEIR LIVES AND THE TRAGEDY THAT COMES FROM THAT. THE “MONSTERS” AND "INDISCRIMINATE" AMONG US LEND MORE SUPPORT TO THE IDEA THAT NOT ALL ADULTS ARE CAPABLE OF CARING FOR THE CHILDREN THEY CONCEIVE. WHY PERSONS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF PROCREATING, AND ESPECIALLY PERSONS OF THIS ILK, ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE SOME INALIENABLE RIGHT TO BEAR, MUCH LESS RETAIN CUSTODY OF, CHILDREN, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. NOTHING GOOD EVER SEEMS TO COME FROM THE RIGHT TO UNLIMITED BREEDING. IT IS BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION WHY, IN ALL OF LIFE'S ENDEAVORS THAT REQUIRE LICENSING, THIS DOES NOT HEAD THE LIST, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.

NOT ONLY DO NORMAL PARENTS SEEK TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR CHILDREN IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF THEIR CHILDREN, THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO TEACH THEM HOW TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN PERSONS, PLACES, THINGS AND BEHAVIOR THAT ARE DESIRABLE AND UNDESIRABLE, E.G. WISE OR UNWISE. THE HIGHER UP THE CULTURAL FOOD CHAIN ONES PARENTS RESIDE, THE MORE DISCRIMINATING THEIR CHILD TENDS TO BECOME. FURTHERMORE, WITH GREATER ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE COMES THE GREATER PROBABILITY OF ULTIMATE SUCCESS WITHIN ANY GIVEN CULTURE AND POSSIBLY IN ANOTHER CULTURE, AS REFLECTED BY DISCRIMINATING IMMIGRANTS' SUCCESS IN OUR OWN SOCIETY. WE ARE A LAND OF IMMIGRANTS, HOWEVER, AT THIS JUNCTURE IN HISTORY, IT MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOME DO NOT COME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE, BUT TO DESTROY THE LIVES WE HAVE BUILT.

ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN OUR SOCIETY EXISTS WHEN MORE CHILDREN ARE BORN INTO THE LOWER ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL LEVELS OF SOCIETY. REGARDLESS OF THEIR RACIAL, ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS PERSUASION, LESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCRIMINATING BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL ARE PRESENTED TO THEM FOR LEARNING. WITH THEIR LIMITED PERCEPTIONS OF REALITY, OUR SOCIETY BECOMES INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO THEIR DECREASED ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE. NOT UNEXPCTEDLY, THOSE WHO SEEK TO DESTROY US DO NOT RECRUIT SUCCESSFULLY AMONG DISCRIMINATING INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REALITY AND BLIND IDEOLOGY.

ONE SUPPOSES THAT ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF RACE, RELIGION, GENDER OR ETHNIC ORIGIN, ARE BORN WITH ABILITIES, RANGING FROM EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH TO MARGINALLY ABLE TO FUNCTION IN THEIR GIVEN SOCIETY. WITH THE ADVENT OF "MODERN MEDICINE", SOME ARE BORN AND SURVIVE EVEN BELOW THIS LEVEL AND ARE DOOMED TO BE DEPENDENT ON OTHERS THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, MOSTLY FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT DOLLARS, I BELIEVE. UNTIL THIS IS DISPROVED, A POSITIVE CORRELATION IS ASSUMED TO EXIST. HOWEVER, THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC ALSO.

AT A VERY EARLY AGE, DISCRIMINATION MOVES FROM THE CONFINES OF THE HOME ENVIRONMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEREAFTER INTO THE EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE CULTURE. IT IS THE RARE INDIVIDUAL INDEED WHO TRANSCENDS THE BOUNDARIES OF HIS BIRTH. "ONE CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF THE COUNTRY, BUT ONE CANNOT TAKE THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE BOY", AS FOLKLORE SO APTLY PUTS IT. THE SIMPLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLASSES IS MOSTLY A MATTER OF DISCRIMINATING WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS NOT. EMPIRICAL DATA SEEM TO SUGGEST, THEREFORE, THAT THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT LARGELY DETERMINES WHAT THE CHILD WILL BECOME.

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AT LEAST IN THE MORE DEVELOPED SOCIETIES, OPT TO MITIGATE THIS TO SOME EXTENT. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE ABYSMAL SUCCESS RATE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS, WHICH IS WELL DOCUMENTED BY ALL SORTS OF SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND INTELLECTUAL RESEARCH, THEY EXERT ONLY MARGINAL INFLUENCE. FORTUNATELY, THE REGRESSION TO THE MEAN TENDS KEEPS THE DISPARITY WITHIN SOME BOUNDS.

THE RESULTS OF DISCRIMINATION ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THE SEPARATION OF THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF AND SERVE AS THE GREAT DIVIDERS OF INDIVIDUALS, ONE FROM THE OTHER. ONE CAN PHILOSOPHICALLY ARGUE THE POINT THAT EQUALITY "SHOULD" BE THE NORM, BUT THE CONCEPT THAT “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL” IS ONE OF THE MOST DUBIOUS ASSUMPTIONS IN EXISTENCE AND EASILY DISPROVED AT EVERY LEVEL. THE MOST PRUDENT POSITION IS TO ASSUME IS THAT DIFFERENCES EXIST BETWEEN EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND THAT DISCRIMINATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF ANY SOCIETY.

PERHAPS, ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT TO BECOME A DISCRIMINATING PERSON, WHICH CANNOT BE ABRIDGED BY THE LAWS AND/OR INSTITUTIONS OF THE SOCIETY, COULD BE “FOUND” IN THE ELASTIC INTERPRETATION OF OUR CONSTITUTION. WHO, AMONG THE DISCRIMINATING POPULATION, WANTS TO ENCOUNTER A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO LOWER THEMSELVES TO THE RANKS OF THE INDISCRIMINATE?

ONE POSTULATES THAT THE SEPARATION OF INDIVIDUALS, BASED ON THEIR ABILITIES, WHICH IN TURN EMANATE FROM THEIR PRIOR DISCRIMINATING CHOICES OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND NOT IMPORTANT, IS NOT ONLY IS JUST, IT IS ESSENTIAL. IF THESE CHOICES DIVIDE ALONG THE LINES OF RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, ETHNIC OR ECONOMIC ORIGINS, SO BE IT. ONE OUGHT NOT TO RECEIVE A FREE PASS OR "BROWNIE POINTS" BECAUSE THEY FALL INTO A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OR GENETIC POOL. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN PRODUCTIVE AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR, EACH OF WHICH CARRIES "NATURAL CONSEQUENCES".

IN A FREE SOCIETY, ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE WRONG IN DEVELOPING THEIR LIVES FOR THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO ESCAPE THE "NATURAL CONSEQUENCES" OF THEIR DECISIONS, AS CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE SEEM TO BELIEVE. THOSE WHO ESPOUSE THAT VIEWPOINT HAVE FAILED TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE REALITY THAT DIFFERENCES EXIST PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS RATHER THAN BECAUSE OF RACE, RELIGION, GENDER OR ETHNIC ORIGIN.

IRRESPECTIVE OF INHERITED CHARACTERISTICS, AN INDIVIDUAL’S CHANGE OF DECISION IN USING ONES ABILITY AND TIME TOWARD STUDYING PHYSICS INSTEAD OF FOOTBALL OR FASHION; TOWARD MATH INSTEAD OF BASKETBALL OR BOYFRIENDS; TOWARD LANGUAGE ARTS INSTEAD OF COMPUTER GAMES OR TELEVISION; OR TOWARD THE STUDY OF HISTORY INSTEAD OF BLIND IDEOLOGY, HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MITIGATE THE LINES OF DIVISION IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES OF THE FUTURE. OF COURSE, THIS CAN ONLY OCCUR, IF THEY (THE DISCRIMINATING INDIVIDUALS) SURVIVE THE IDEOLOGICAL ATTACKS OF THE FANATICS.

THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO CLAIM DISCRIMINATION ALONG THE IRRELEVANT LINES OF RACE, RELIGION, GENDER OR ETHNICITY, INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ERRORS (LACK OF DISCRIMINATING CHOICES), ALONG WITH THE LIBERAL ESTABLISHMENT, WHOSE ECONOMIC SECURITY DEPENDS ON THESE ERRORS IN JUDGMENT, WILL BE UNLIKELY TO FACE UP TO THE TRUE NATURE OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP DIFFERENCES. IT IS NOT DISCRIMINATION THAT IS TO BLAME FOR INEQUITIES BETWEEN RACES, RELIGIONS, GENDERS OR MEMBERS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES, IT IS THE “LACK OF DISCRIMINATION” IN MAKING WISE DECISIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, IT IS EASIER TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM THAN IT IS TO CHANGE IT.

JUST AS ONE PUZZLES OVER THE GOVERNMENT’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF TOBACCO FARMS, PROCREATION AT PUBLIC EXPENSE AND THE ETERNAL (INFERNAL?) EXTENSION OF OUTDATED GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS, ONE MUST QUESTION THE CULTURAL SPONSORSHIP OF ALTERNATIVES TO GOOD DECISIONS. THE VARIOUS EXAMPLES GIVEN ARE NOT MEANT TO DENIGRATE THE VALUES IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE, A PARTICULAR RELIGION, THE VIEWING OF TELEVISION OR MASTERY OF USELESS ELECTRONIC TOYS, HOWEVER, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH TIME IN A CHILD'S LIFE AND IT MUST BE USED WISELY, OR THE CHILD IS BOUND TO CONTINUE THE CYCLE OF HIS OR HER PROGENITORS. THIS, OF COURSE, IS THE GOAL OF EVERY IDEOLOGUE, AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS, AS PURVEYORS OF THEIR PREJUDICIAL PHILOSOPHIES. WITHOUT "INDISCRIMINATE INDIVIDUALS" BLINDLY KOWTOWING TO THEIR SELF-SERVING PROPAGANDA, THEY WOULD QUICKLY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

AS ONE CAN LEGITIMATELY SURMISE, THE AUTHOR BELIEVES A STRONG DEFENSE OF DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL (WISE AND UNWISE) CHOICES SHOULD BE MOUNTED AND THAT IT SHOULD BE BASED ON RELEVANT FACTORS, NOT THE IRRELEVANT DISTRACTERS OF RACE, RELIGION, GENDER OR ETHNIC ORIGIN, WHICH CANNOT BE CHANGED. INSTITUTIONS WHICH FAIL TO PROPOUND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY, JUSTICE AND TOLERANCE, IF NOT RESPECT FOR DISCRIMINATING PEOPLE, SHOULD THEMSELVES BE CONSIDERED SUSPECT IN UNDERMINING THE BASIC TENANTS OF OUR COUNTRY AND SUBJECTED TO RIGOROUS EXAMINATION.

IN THE SEARCH FOR POTENTIAL DESTROYERS OF OUR SOCIETY, IT IS POSTULATED THAT GIVEN DEMOGRAPHICS MAY THEREFORE, REASONABLY BE SUBJECTED TO ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY IN THE PROVISION OF SECURITY FOR ALL. THIS IS NOT PERSECUTION UNDER THE CODE WORD DISCRIMINATION. IT IS THE LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE REASONING OF THE INFAMOUS ROBBER OF BANKS. WHEN ASKED WHY HE ROBBED BANKS, HE REPLIED, “BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY IS”!

WHY DISCRIMINATION HAS BECOME A UNIVERSAL NEGATIVE, I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND. WHEN ONE LOOKS FOR A BENEFACTOR, BE IT DOCTOR OR MECHANIC, ONE DOES NOT LOOK FOR THE MEDIOCRE PERSON WHO WAS SOCIALLY PROMOTED OR HIRED BECAUSE OF A CERTAIN GENETIC PROFILE. WHEN ONE LOOKS FOR A PARTNER, ONE DOES NOT LOOK FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS FAILED TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND UNIMPORTANT, BE IT IN APPEARANCE, ABILITIES OR ASPIRATIONS. WHEN ONE WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH OTHERS OF SIMILAR DISCRIMINATING ABILITIES RATHER THAN BEING SUBJECTED TO THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO LIVE INDISCRIMINATE LIVES, ONE IS ACCUSED OF BEING BIGOTED OR PREJUDICED. OF COURSE, THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE, BUT IT IS IRRELEVANT.

WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP FAILS TO SEPARATE THE “WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF” WITHIN THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE, THEY OUGHT NOT TO BE SURPRISED THAT EXTERNAL FORCES WILL BE CONSTRAINED TO ASSUME THAT ONEROUS TASK. THE RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE IS INHERENT IN SUCCESSFUL LIVING AND WHERE RATIONAL DISCRIMINATION IS DISCOURAGED, OR PUNISHED, ONLY CHAOS AND DISCORD REMAIN. WITHIN THIS CONCEPT LIES A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE "DECLINE AND FALL" OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

FOR SOME REASON, IT HAS BECOME FASHIONABLE (AND PROFITABLE) IN OUR CONTEMPORARY CULTURE, TO ASSUME THAT WHEN ONE FAILS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A GIVEN SITUATION, E.G. FAILED TO EXERCISE RATIONAL DISCRIMINATION IN MAKING WISE DECISIONS, THEY ARE NOT ASSUMED TO HAVE FAILED ON LACK OF MERIT, BUT RATHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN “DISCRIMINATED AGAINST” IN SOME VAST CONSPIRACY DESIGNED TO SINGLE THEM OUT FOR SPECIAL CASTIGATION. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO ADMIT, OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE PATENTLY UNQUALIFIED TO BE SELECTED FOR THIS OR THAT OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE. IT IS MUCH EASIER TO RELY ON CLAIMS OF BEING "DISADVANTAGED" DUE TO THEIR GENETIC PROFILE. THE TRUMPETING OF "VICTIMIZATION" HAS BEEN ELEVATED TO "CULT STATUS" BY THOSE SEEKING TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES FROM THE "NATURAL CONSEQUENCES" OF THEIR DECISIONS.

IT IS ALSO POSTULATED THAT THOSE WHO DEFEND “INDISCRIMINATE INDIVIDUALS” FROM THE "NATURAL CONSEQUENCES" OF THEIR FAILURE TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN WISE AND UNWISE COURSES OF ACTION BY CLAIMING “PREJUDICE”, ARE, AT LEAST, PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENABLING A MINORITY OF MISFITS TO WREAK HAVOC AMONG THE REMAINING POPULATION. IN THE ABUSE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES , THIS IS CALLED CO-DEPENDENCE. IT THE SOCIAL MILIEU, PERHAPS THE RELATIONSHIP IS MORE SYMBIOTIC IN NATURE.

ON SUCH MISGUIDED PERCEPTIONS ARE THE LAWS OF THE LAND PRESENTLY SKEWED, THUS PROVIDING JOB SECURITY FOR THE PRACTITIONERS OF LAW WHO ARE ONE OF THE MOST DISCRIMINATING GROUPS IN THE LAND. SHOULD ONE DOUBT THIS, TRY DOING ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE WITHOUT VIOLATING THE PERCEIVED VENUE OF THOSE ADMITTED TO THE BAR, (NO, NOT THAT KIND) OR, TRY HIRING A LAWYER TO REPRESENT YOU AGAINST AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY WITHOUT ASSETS/INSURANCE, CAPABLE OF BEING "SHAKEN DOWN" (EXTORTED?) UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU ARE WILLING (AND ABLE) TO PAY THEM A HUGE AMOUNT UP FRONT, REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME. LAWYERS ARE VERY DISCRIMINATING IN WHOM THEY REPRESENT, WHEREAS, DOCTORS IN HOSPITALS ARE “REQUIRED” TO TREAT ANYONE WHO APPEARS ON THEIR DOORSTEP. APPARENTLY, ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION IS STILL LEGAL, EXCEPT AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, DOOR, BUT, THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.

LEAVING INDIVIDUALS FREE TO BECOME DISCRIMINATING PERSONS, OR TO BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY OTHERS IF THEY FAIL TO MAKE AND/OR ACT ON WISE DECISIONS, IS ACTUALLY THE ROAD TO SURVIVAL. ADDITIONALLY, IT MAY FINALLY ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN VARIOUS DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS TO EXAMINE WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND WHAT THEIR LEADERS ARE SAYING IN ORDER TO SEEK IMPROVEMENTS THAT MIGHT BE INSTITUTED INTERNALLY AND WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE BRAVE FEW WHO SUGGEST THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO ACCEPT PERSONAL OR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS, RATHER THAT CLAIMING "VICTIMIZATION", ARE SUMMARILY LABELED AS SUBVERSIVE OR TRAITORS TO THE PARTICULAR RACE, RELIGION, GENDER OR ETHNICITY INVOLVED.

HOW MUCH LIBERTY MUST BE CEDED IN EXCHANGE FOR SECURITY REMAINS TO BE ELUCIDATED, BUT THE FALLACIOUS CONCEPT THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED “EQUALLY SUSPECT” OR THAT SOME ARE ENTITLED TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BECAUSE OF THEIR GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS IS ABSURD. EQUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN THE GOAL OF THOSE WHO EXPOUND THE CULTURE OF "VICTIMIZATION". THEY WANT NOTHING LESS THAN SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR THEIR ILK. INCREDIBLY, THEY HAVE SUCCEEDED TO A GREAT DEGREE. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE? VAMOS A VER.

PERHAPS THIS LOCAL NOTION IS INAPPROPRIATE IN THE “POLITICALLY CORRECT” WORLD, BUT, UNTIL THE "POLITICALLY CORRECT" REALIZE THE FALLACIOUS ASSUMPTIONS AND DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR CRUSADE, AND EMBRACE THE VALIDITY AND VALUE OF RATIONAL DISCRIMINATION, OUR FUTURE WILL REMAIN TIED TO THE VAGARIES OF A MINORITY WHO CREATE CHAOS AND WANT ONLY TO DESTROY THOSE WHO DIFFER FROM THEIR BELIEFS AND PRESCRIBED CONDUCT, E.G. DISCRIMINATING INDIVIDUALS.

LET US HOPE IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO STOP FOCUSING ON WHAT WE CANNOT CHANGE, E.G. RACE, GENDER, ETHNIC ORIGIN AND BLIND IDEOLOGY AND TAKE STEPS TO PROVIDE GREATER SECURITY AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, IF NOT PROSPERITY, FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS BY FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN BEING DISTRACTED BY THE INEQUITIES.

REMEMBER, THERE IS A PRICE FOR SECURITY WHICH MUST BE ACCEPTED. THE EFFICACY AND COST/BENEFIT RATIO WILL PROBABLY DETERMINE WHAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE "GREATER GOOD" AND WHAT PRICE IS TO BE PAID AND BY WHOM. FOR NOW, PROFILING AND A SYSTEM OF NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION, SEEM TO OFFER THE MINIMUM OF SACRIFICE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT.

IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPHERE, DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE MADE GOOD DECISIONS AND THOSE WHO HAVE MADE BAD DECISIONS OUGHT TO BE MANDATED, NOT PROHIBITED. IF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY HAVE ANY MEANING AT ALL, THEY WILL FLOURISH OR FAIL, BASED ON INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (MERITOCRACY?) AND ONES ABILITY TO "DISCRIMINATE".

ENJOY!

TOM

CENTURY 21 WEAPONS OF WAR

AVITW

I SEE WHERE ANOTHER “CONSTITUTIONALLY ELECTED LEADER” (CEL?) WOULD LIKE FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES “NOT” TO INTERFERE WITH HIS COUNTRY’S “INTERNAL AFFAIRS”, SUCH AS THE MAKING, OR ACQUIRING, OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ALONG WITH THE MEANS TO DELIVER THEM. HOWEVER, SINCE SUCH DELIVERY IS NOT THOUGHT TO BE IN DIRECT COMPLETION WITH EXISTING CARRIERS OF “NON” ABC INTERNATIONAL PACKAGES, IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT OTHER “CELS” MIGHT HAVE MORE THAN A PASSING INTEREST IN SUCH ACTIVITIES.

THE “CELS” OF COUNTRIES WHO ARE POTENTIAL RECIPIENTS OF SUCH LARGESS, EVEN THOUGHT THEY ALREADY POSSESS SUCH CAPABILITIES AND WISH TO DENY THIS “SOVEREIGN RIGHT” TO OTHERS, ARE DIVIDED AS TO WHETHER THE AFOREMENTIONED NATION HAS THE “RIGHT” TO JOIN THEIR EXCLUSIVE CLUB OR WHETHER IT, AND OTHER POTENTIAL MEMBERS, SHOULD BE PREVENTED FROM DOING SO, BY FAIR MEANS, OR FOUL, DEPENDING ON WHO IS JUDGING THE MEANS.

ALTHOUGH THE AUTHOR SEES MUCH TO BE GAINED FROM REDUCING THE EARTH’S POPULATION, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY THAN DESTROYING THE CIVILIZED WORLD TO REACH THAT GOAL. (PLEASE REFER TO ARTICLES ON POPULATION.) IN A WORLD POPULATED WITH “PSEUDO” NATIONS, IF A NATION MAY BE DEFINED AS A UNIFIED AND DEFINED TERRITORY THAT IS SELF GOVERNING AND SELF SUPPORTING, WHERE THE CITIZENS ARE RELATIVELY FREE TO EXIST, IF NOT PROSPER, THE CONCERNED NATIONS WOULD SEEM TO HAVE GOOD REASON TO WORRY.

STILL, ONE MUST ALSO ASK WHETHER PREOCCUPATION WITH SURVIVAL GRANTS UNLIMITED RIGHTS TO UNILATERAL ACTION IN ORDER TO DENY OTHER SOVEREIGN NATIONS THE SAME ENTITLEMENTS WHICH THE “CONCERNED” NATIONS NOW HOLD. DURING THE PAST CENTURY, AS WARFARE ESCALATED IN SCOPE, INTENSITY AND SHEER DESTRUCTIVE POWER, NATIONS AND PSEUDO-NATIONS ACQUIRED THE ABILITY TO ANNIHILATE OTHERS. ONE CANNOT DENY THAT SOME NATIONS, OR CERTAIN FACTIONS WHO FOUND SAFE HAVEN WITHIN THESE NATIONS, HAVE ALSO BECOME LESS TOLERANT OF EACH OTHERS’ WAYS. THEY DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CONCEPT OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND THE PROSPECT OF MUTUAL DESTRUCTION IS NO LONGER A DETERRENT TO AGGRESSION FOR THE FANATICS WHO MINDLESSLY FOLLOW OTHER FANATICS.

AS FORTUNES AND LEADERS CHANGE, ONES ALLIES BECOME ONES ADVERSARIES AND IT IS HARD TO ARBITRATE AND/OR ORGANIZE THE WORLD WHEN NO ONE IS IN CHARGE. SADLY, THE “NOMINAL” ARBITRATING BODY IS OVERRUN WITH ROGUE NATIONS AND THE AFOREMENTIONED “PSEUDO” NATIONS, EACH HAVING ONE VOTE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR SIZE, POPULATION, RELATIVE INFLUENCE OR FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL ACUMEN. THE IMPOTENCY OF THIS ORGANIZATION CAN HARDLY BE OVERESTIMATED.

WHEN A CONTINENT, OF ABOUT A DOZEN EUROPEAN ADMINISTERED AREAS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE LAST CENTURY, HARDLY NATIONS IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD, SUDDENLY FINDS ITSELF THE PROUD POSSESSOR OF DOZENS OF MORE OR LESS NON-VIABLE DIVISIONS, EACH CLAIMING TO BE A NATION, AND, WHEN THEY ARE SUMMARILY GRANTED MEMBERSHIP, WITH FULL PRIVILEGES (AND SUBSIDIES), IT IS NOT HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE ENSUING CHAOS AND THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL BODY, BUT I DIGRESS.

SINCE MEANS FOR INTERNATIONAL RESOLUTION OF THE SITUATION ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE, ONE MIGHT DISCERN THE NEED TO EXAMINE OTHER ALTERNATIVES, ESPECIALLY IF ONE WOULD LIKE TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM PAST ERRORS IN JUDGMENT. THE DILEMMA ESCALATES, WHEN THE VERACITY OF THE LEADERS, ON ALL SIDES INVOLVED, IS OPEN TO SERIOUS QUESTION. DURING THE PAST 100 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN UNWITTINGLY, IF NOT UNWILLINGLY, DRAWN INTO THE CONFLICTS OF OTHERS BY VARIOUS NEFARIOUS SCHEMES, ABETTED BY THE SELF SERVING LEADERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT, SEEKING TO JUSTIFY SUCH ACTION.

BEFORE TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION, IT MIGHT BE WELL TO ASCERTAIN THE FACTS CONCERNING THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THOSE COUNTRIES THAT WANT OUR SACRIFICES TO SAVE THEMSELVES FROM SITUATIONS THEY ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO CONFRONT. OBVIOUSLY, SUCH “TRUTH” IS ELUSIVE AND EASILY MANIPULATED BY THOSE IN POWER. SADLY, THE PRICE FOR SUCH DECEPTION IS HIGH AND THE “EMPERORS” ARE THEN FORCED TO SEEK WHATEVER “COVER” IS AVAILABLE TO HIDE THEIR PERFIDY. HISTORICALLY, ESCALATION, THE LIFE OR DEATH EQUIVALENT OF THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD, IS THE PREFERRED BAND AID, WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE LOSSES OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.

IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE LAST CENTURY, IT WAS FASHIONABLE TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER COUNTRY ATTACKED BEFORE DECIDING THAT THE ATTACKER WAS, IN FACT, A THREAT TO THE VICTIM NATION’S SURVIVAL. THE IDEA THAT A LITTLE FORETHOUGHT, SUCH AS A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE, IF NOT THE SIMPLE ELIMINATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS FOMENTING SUCH PLANS, WAS NOT COUNTENANCED UNDER THE “MARQUIS OF QUEENSBURY” SCHOOL OF WARFARE. THE FOLLY OF THAT SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND WAS PAID FOR WITH COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT LIVES AMID THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20^TH CENTURY, THE RULES CHANGED LITTLE, BUT THE “PLAYING FIELDS” DID BECOME SMALLER. BY A NARROW MARGIN, THE LARGER ADVERSARIES RESTRAINED THEMSELVES FROM OPENLY CONFRONTING ONE ANOTHER, KNOWING THAT SUCH ACTION WOULD ASSURE THEIR MUTUAL DESTRUCTION. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT SEEM TO INHIBIT THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS FROM ENGAGING IN WHAT WERE EUPHEMISTICALLY LABELED “POLICE ACTIONS” (OR CLAIMING THAT THE UPRISINGS OF FORMERLY CONQUERED INDEPENDENT NATIONS ARE NOW “INTERNAL AFFAIRS”) UNDER THE PROVERBIAL “PETTICOATS” OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE KEEPING. NEVER WAS THE “EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHING” MORE APPARENT.

THE RALLYING CRY (EXCUSE?) WAS ALWAYS THAT SUCH ACTION WAS FOR THE “GOOD” OF THE BESIEGED NATION AND “FREEDOM” FOR THE OPPRESSED CITIZENS. THE FACT THAT BOTH SIDES USED THE SAME PRETEXTS SEEMS IRONIC. PRESENTLY, THE “WESTERN/CHRISTIAN” NATIONS PURPORTEDLY WANT TO LIBERATE THOSE IN THE EASTERN/NON-CRISTIAN NATIONS, SO THEY WOULD BE FREE TO FOLLOW THE WESTERN CULTURE’S DICTATES. OF COURSE, THE LATTER WISH TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT FROM THE “OPPRESSION”, IF NOT THE PERCEIVED DEGRADATION WITHIN THE WESTERN CULTURE, SO THEY CAN IMPOSE THEIR OWN BRAND OF “FREEDOM” ON THE HAPLESS INDIVIDUALS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. THAT “PEACE KEEPING” KILLS INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS AND DESTROYS PROPERTY AS READILY AS WAR, SEEMS NOT TO MATTER.

THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL BENEFITS OF THESE ACTIVITIES TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER ARE SELDOM ACKNOWLEDGED. JUST AS THE FLIGHT TO THE NEW WORLD IN PAST CENTURIES WAS COUCHED IN TERMS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, E.G. FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENTAL IMPOSITION OF VARIOUS MORAL PROHIBITIONS DERIVED FROM THE ORTHODOXY OF STATE ACCEPTED RELIGIONS, TODAY'S “GAMES” ARE COUCHED IN LOFTY IDEALS, RATHER THAN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH ACTIONS.

ALIEN CULTURES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF ASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE CARIBBEAN SUDDENLY BECAME “IMPORTANT” TO THE DEFENSE OF THE AMERICAN BORDERS AND WAY OF LIFE, IF NOT TO THE EGOS, ELECTABILITY AND HISTORICAL SEQUENCING OF THE LEADERS WHO GAVE THE MARCHING ORDERS. PERSONS WHO DISSENTED FROM THESE “PEACE KEEPING” ACTIVITIES, WERE/ARE DEEMED UNFIT CITIZENS BY THOSE IN POWER, ALTHOUGH THE LATTER HAD/HAVE NO INTENTION OF PERSONALLY FIGHTING OR SENDING MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES TO DIE FOR “THE CAUSE”.

THIS IS NOT TO SANCTION THE ACTIONS OF NATIONS WHO SEEK TO EXPAND THEIR POWER, IF NOT THEIR TERRITORY, BY “LIBERATING” WEAKER NATIONS. HOWEVER, IF ONE MAY JUDGE FROM KOREA, HUNGARY, CUBA, VIETNAM, AFGHANISTAN, KUWAIT, OR IRAQ, ET.AL, (SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ADVENTURES IN GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY BY THIS AND OTHER NATIONS) IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO QUESTION THE IDEA THAT OTHER NATIONS WOULD WELCOME “LIBERATION” WITH OPEN ARMS AND JOYFULLY ADOPT THE NEW CULTURE AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT WITH VICTORY PARADES AND UNQUESTIONED LOYALTY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LIMITS ON THE RIGHTS OF SOVEREIGN NATIONS TO INTERFERE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF OTHER NATIONS SHOULD BE LOGICALLY DEBATED “BEFORE” ENGAGING IN SUCH ACTIONS.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW A KOREA, UNIFIED IN MISERY, COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A THREAT TO U.S. SECURITY AND HOW TROOPS FIGHTING (KILLING AND DYING) THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM ANY NATIONAL BORDER ARE REQUIRED FOR “SECURITY”. STILL, THE EFFETE INTELLECTUALS OF YORE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PLACE THAT MISNOMER ON THE SITUATION. PRESENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN DONE AGAIN, BUT, WITH THE “ROGUE NATION” NOW APPARENTLY MORE THAN CAPABLE OF INFLICTING SERIOUS DAMAGE, NO SIMILAR ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN.

IT IS EQUALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW VIETNAM, ANOTHER TRAGEDY, AND ITS ASSORTED THIRD WORLD NEIGHBORS COULD POSE ANY SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO EUROPE AND/OR NORTH AMERICA. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THEY COULD NOT INFLICT EXTENSIVE MISERY UPON THEIR CITIZENRY BEFORE THEIR SYSTEM COLLAPSED. HISTORY, INCLUDING THE U.S.A. VARIETY, IS RIFE WITH ACCOUNTS OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO “THROW THE BUMS OUT”, RATHER THAN ADAPT TO THE “CULTURE” OF PRIVILEGES FOR THE FEW AND NOT MUCH FOR THE REST, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC.

AS IS WONT TO HAPPEN, THERE ARE LIMITS TO BIGGER, FASTER AND MORE POWERFUL WEAPONS, WHICH SEEM TO HAVE BEEN REACHED WITH LONG RANGE “EVERYTHING” INCLUDING ATOMIC WARHEADS CAPABLE OF DESTROYING, IN A FEW DAYS, ALL THAT CIVILIZED PEOPLE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE CENTURIES. IT IS HIGHLY DOUBTFUL THAT ANY COUNTRY COULD ESCAPE SERIOUS DESTRUCTION FROM SUCH POWER, BUT, AS NOTED BEFORE, THE PERPETRATORS WOULD SURELY PERISH IN A COUNTER ATTACK AND THOSE THAT SURVIVED MIGHT NOT BE CONSIDERED THE LUCKY ONES.

THERE IS NO DOUBT IN THE MIND OF THE AUTHOR THAT MORE THAN ONE EXISTING NATION STANDS READY TO ENGAGE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF ANOTHER, WITH WHATEVER MEANS THEY HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF “SAFE HAVENS” TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL EXTREMISTS. HISTORY SHOULD, AT LEAST, TEACH US THAT. STILL, IT IS PREPOSTEROUS TO THINK THAT EVEN THE MOST RADICAL, OR DUMBEST, AGGRESSOR WOULD MOUNT A FRONTAL ASSAULT THEY ARE SURE TO LOSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT INFLICT GREAT HARM. STILL, THE GREATEST WEAPON AGAINST SUCH ACTION IS THE CREDIBLE ASSURANCE THAT WHATEVER NATION INITIATES, OR PERMITS, SUCH ACTION WILL BE LEFT IN RUINS AND THOSE FORMERLY IN POWER WILL “NOT” HAVE TO ENDURE THE CHARADE OF A TRIAL, WHERE THEY MAY COMFORTABLY EXPOUND THEIR BIASED VIEWPOINTS AND GARNER THE WORLD ATTENTION AND PLACE IN HISTORY THAT THEY CRAVE, EVEN UNTO A NATURAL DEATH.

IF THE LEADERSHIP AND THEIR COUNTRY ARE NOT COLLECTIVELY DESTROYED IN THE COUNTER ATTACK, THE “CELS” SHOULD, AT LEAST, BE CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BE HUNTED DOWN AND SUMMARILY EXECUTED LIKE RABID DOGS AND THAT THEIR COUNTRY WILL NOT BE GRANTED “HUMANITARIAN AID” FOR THE REBUILDING EFFORT. ONE HOPES THAT THE “NOTION” THAT THEY (THE LEADERS) HAVE MORE TO GAIN FROM THEIR EXULTED POSITION IN A LIMITED REALM, RATHER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE, IS MADE QUITE CLEAR TO THEM. HAD THE RECENTLY DEPARTED LEADER OF IRAQ, WHO, I UNDERSTAND, OFFERED TO “NEGOTIATE” WITH HIS CAPTORS, BEEN SHOWN TO THE NEAREST TREE, OR WALL, AND SUMMARILY EXECUTED, THE MESSAGE MIGHT CARRY MORE WEIGHT.

FOR SOME REASON, THE IDEA THAT WAR IS CONTROLLED BY A SET OF ABSTRACT RULES, UPON WHICH ALL AGREE AND PLEDGE TO ABIDE, IS LUDICROUS. THE AUTHOR CANNOT REMEMBER ANY ENEMY OF OUR GOVERNMENT ABIDING BY THE CONVENTIONS OF GENEVA, MUCH LESS ANY RELIGIOUS PRECEPTS OR ABSTRACT MORALITY ENSURING THE WELFARE OF COMBATANTS. SADLY, IT IS A GIVEN THAT “INNOCENT CIVILIANS” ARE LEFT TOTALLY UNPROTECTED AND ON THEIR OWN IN DEALING WITH THE VAGARIES OF WAR.

IF “WAR” UNDER ANY EUPHEMISM IS TO BE PURSUED, IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS THAT THE AGGRESSORS (TERRORISTS?) AMONG US, ARE NOT “PLAYING” BY THE RULES. PERHAPS, ONE SHOULD SEEK, AS THE ONLY RATIONAL DEFINITION OF WAR, TO UNDERSTAND THAT “JUST SOCIETIES” SHOULD ONLY ENGAGE IN WAR AS A LAST RESORT FOR SURVIVAL. THE IDEA OF MILITARY ACTION, REGARDLESS OF THE EUPHEMISM INVOLVED, FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE SEEMS COUNTER PRODUCTIVE. ENEMIES OF “CIVILIZED” SOCIETIES, ARE NOT SO STUPID AS TO FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE “RULES OF ENGAGEMENT” ARE “RIGGED” TO FAVOR THE RULING CLASS. THEREFORE, THE PROPER REGARD FOR THESE RULES IS TO CONSIDER THEM AS CONSTRAINTS (WEAKNESSES?) UPON THAT SOCIETY, NOT SOMETHING BY WHICH THEY MUST ABIDE. THEREFORE,

A SIGNIFICANT MODERN WEAPON OF WAR INCLUDES USING THESE “CONSTRAINTS” AGAINST THE SOCIETY THEY WISH TO OVERTHROW.

TERRORISTS CRY “FREEDOM” AND DEMAND “RIGHTS OF PRIVACY” FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE SO THAT THEY MAY BE “FREER” TO GO ABOUT THEIR NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES TO DESTROY THAT SOCIETY.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

DESPITE THE SALIVATION THOSE WHO EARN THEIR LIVING BASED ON THESE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS, IF A THREAT TO THE SURVIVAL OF A SOCIETY ACTUALLY EXISTS, THEN THE WISDOM OF JESSE JAMES WOULD SEEM TO PREVAIL. AS SOME MIGHT REMEMBER, HE EXPLAINED HIS PENCHANT FOR ROBBING BANKS BY POINTING OUT THE OBVIOUS E.G.THAT WAS WHERE THE MONEY IS. UNTIL SOME “INTELLIGENCE” INDICATES THAT SENIOR CITIZENS, FAMILIES ON VACATION, BUSINESS PERSONS OF EITHER GENDER, AND/OR LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN RECRUITED, TRAINED AND BRAINWASHED TO THINK THAT VOLUNTARY DEATH SURPASSES THE BENEFITS OF LIVING, THUS JUSTIFYING THE EXPENDITURE OF A CONSIDERABLE PORTION OF OUR NATIONAL RESOURCES (TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY) IN UNPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES, PERHAPS THE BESIEGED NATION WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO SEARCH FOR, AND DESTROY, ENEMIES WHERE THEY MAY BE FOUND. “PROFILING” SEEMS EMINENTLY REASONABLE AND A SMALL PRICE TO PAY UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IF NOT WITH OTHER "ATTACKERS" SUCH AS DRUG DEALERS (AND USERS) AND GANGS.

NOTE: AN EXPLANATION OF POSSIBILITIES AND CONSEQUENCES IS OMITTED FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY. AS IF!

SINCE THIS IMPLICITLY INVOLVES RESTRICTIONS ON THE “CIVIL RIGHTS” OF THE POPULATION, PERHAPS, THERE FIRST NEEDS TO BE A GOVERNMENTAL SUSPENSION OF THOSE RIGHTS (A TEMPORARY STATE OF EMERGENCY?) THAT MIGHT OFFER AID AND COMFORT TO THE DESIGNATED ENEMIES OF THE BELEAGUERED SOCIETY, MUCH THE SAME AS RIGHTS MAY BE SUSPENDED IN THE CASE OF NATURAL DISASTERS. THE FOLLY OF ARGUING OVER THE LIMITATIONS OF GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT THE POPULATION, IF IN FACT, THE STABILITY OF THE NATION IS IN DANGER, REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE, IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION. (FOR SOME REASON, THE ROMAN MUSICIAN COMES TO MIND.)

A GOVERNMENT THAT OPTS TO “PROTECT” WITHOUT INSTITUTING “STATE OF EMERGENCY POWERS” LEADS ONLY TO THE PRESENT UNPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES (AND THEIR ASSOCIATED EXPENSES) WITH LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN ACTUAL SECURITY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT, WHEN CITIZENS ARE “DIRECTLY” IMPACTED, ADMINISTRATIONS INCLINED TO FLEX THEIR MILITARY MUSCLE WOULD BE MUCH MORE RELUCTANT TO INSTITUTE “FRIVOLOUS” MILITARY ACTIVITIES UNLESS SUPPORTED BY THE DULY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT SUBJECT TO THE VOTERS JUDGMENT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE TEMPTATION TO SUGGEST RESTRICTIONS, WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO CONSENSUS ON A PROPOSED COURSE OF ACTION LEADING TO MILITARY CONFLICT, IS IRRESISTIBLE. FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE THE REPUTED ABILITY OF OUR STANDING MILITARY IS SAID TO BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED, EVEN WITH THE CONSCRIPTION OF CITIZEN SOLDIERS NEVER INTENDED FOR THE PURPOSE, THE ONLY WAY TO COUNTER AN “ANTICIPATED OR REAL THREAT TO THE COUNTRY’S
SECURITY" WOULD BE A RANDOM, BUT MANDATORY, “CALL TO ARMS” OF “ALL” ABLE BODIED CITIZENS BETWEEN 18 AND 30 YEARS OF AGE, THIS WOULD PROVIDE THE “PERSON POWER” NECESSARY FOR DEFENSE. TO BE FAIR, THE “DRAFT” SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL OR SOCIAL STATUS, SEXUAL PREFERENCE, MARITAL OR PARENTAL STATUS (OBVIOUSLY, CHILDREN NEED ONLY ONE PARENT, ACCORDING TO "MODERN" THINKING) , STUDENT OR EMPLOYMENT STATUS, ET. AL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS ALONE WOULD SEPARATE THE “REAL” THREATS FROM “DESIGNER” CONFLICTS..

FOLLOWING THE WISDOM OF JESSE JAMES WOULD ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO “FOCUS” THEIR EFFORTS AND RESOURCES ON AREAS, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT MEASURABLY INCREASE REAL SECURITY, WITHOUT IMPOSING UNDUE HARDSHIP ON THE ENTIRE POPULATION (IN DEFERENCE TO THE LEGAL VULTURES,) AND INCURRING THE EXPENSE IN TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY NOW BEING WASTED. OF COURSE, THIS “WISDOM” WOULD ALSO ENABLE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT CIVILIAN SECURITY MORE EFFICIENTLY, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER TOPIC. ADVANTAGE “GOOD GUYS”!

LESS INTRUSIVE, BUT POSSIBLY MORE, HELPFUL, WOULD BE A SYSTEM OF NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION OF LEGAL RESIDENTS AND THEIR LOCATION, SINCE, EVEN LEGAL RESIDENTS MAY BE POTENTIAL “TERRORISTS”, AS EUROPE IS NOW DISCOVERING. OBVIOUSLY, PERSONS IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY WOULD BE ROUNDED UP AND DISPENSED WITH (SUMMARILY DEPORTED?) WITHOUT THE YEARS OF LITIGATION DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO FILL THE POCKETS OF “LITIGATORS”, SINCE PERSONS OF THIS STATUS ARE IN FACT, “INVADERS” AND HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHTS, DESPITE THE PRESENT CHARADE TO THE CONTRARY.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR DOES NOT SUPPORT FACILITATING THE IMMIGRATION OF QUALIFIED LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, BASED ON THEIR ABILITY TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, AS OPPOSED TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF HARASSMENT OF THOSE WHO TRY THE LEGAL ROUTE. THAT OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS “BROKEN” IS A GIVEN, BUT THAT IN ANOTHER TOPIC.

THE CRIPPLING, IF NOT DESTRUCTION, OF THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM IS ANOTHER WEAPON OF MODERN WARFARE.

A NATION MAY BE DESTROYED BY SLOWLY DRAINING ITS ECONOMIC LIFE BLOOD JUST AS SURELY AS BY OVERWHELMING FORCE. THE CONCEPT IN JUJUTSU OF USING THE OPPONENT’S STRENGTH AGAINST THEM IS QUITE VALID.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

WESTERN NATIONS ARE NOW PERCEIVED TO BE ENGAGED IN “ECONOMIC SUICIDE” IN RESPONSE TO A FEW ESSENTIALLY SUPERFICIAL ATTACKS, WHICH HAD LESS REAL IMPACT ON THE WELFARE AND SECURITY OF THE NATION THAN A SINGLE HURRICANE. THIS IS NOT TO DEMEAN, IN ANY WAY, THE TRAGEDY THAT BEFELL THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. HOWEVER, THE IMPOSITION OF SEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE OF ORDINARY CITIZENS IS NOTHING SHORT OF THE EQUIVALENT OF PREPARING TO INVESTIGATE EVERY THUNDERSTORM AS IF IT WERE A MAJOR HURRICANE. THAT IS NOT TO MINIMIZE THE REALITY OF THE DANGER, BUT, WHEN THE RESPONSE IS DISPROPORTIONATE, THE EFFICACY OF THE ATTACK IS MAGNIFIED TO THE LEVEL OF A MAJOR FRONTAL ASSAULT.

SO LONG AS THIS CONTINUES, THE TERRORISTS ARE WINNING.

FORTUNATELY, SITTING IN VERY ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS ARE THE ASSETS OF MANY OF THESE HOSTILE COUNTRIES JUST WAITING TO BE CONFISCATED. HOW IRONIC MIGHT THAT BE E.G. TO USE THEIR MONEY TO FINANCE THE WAR AGAINST THEM AND REDUCE THE NATIONAL DEBT AT THE SAME TIME?
ADVANTAGE, GOOD GUYS!

CONTROLLING, OR AT LEAST DISRUPTING, THE MINDS OF THE POPULATION IS YET ANOTHER MODERN WEAPON OF WAR.

TERRORISTS SEEM VASTLY SUPERIOR IN USING “PROPAGANDA” TO JUSTIFY THEIR “RIGHT” TO DESTROY A SOCIETY WHILE THE “SOCIETY” DEEMS USING SUCH BEHAVIOR BENEATH THEIR DIGNITY.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

SINCE NO SOCIETY IS TOTALLY “JUST” AND “MISTAKES” (UNINTENTIONAL CONSEQUENCES, POLITELY REFERRED TO AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE OR VIOLATION OF “RIGHTS”, I BELIEVE) CAN AND DO HAPPEN IN THE DEFENSE OF ONES SECURITY, EVERY LAPSE IS A GRAND AND GLORIOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TERRORISTS TO EXPLOIT THE MISFORTUNE OF INNOCENT VICTIMS; THEIR AGGRIEVED FAMILIES; THEIR DESTROYED HOMES; THE PERCEIVED AND/OR REAL, UNJUST TREATMENT OF MINORITIES; THE INCIPIENT CORRUPTION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO SAY NOTHING OF THE VARIOUS DEGRADATIONS WITHIN WHATEVER SOCIETY DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE AGGRESSOR’S RIGOROUS REQUIREMENTS OF CONDUCT.

EACH MISSTEP OR WEAKNESS IS CAREFULLY UTILIZED TO INFLAME OTHERS OF THEIR ILK AND TO GAIN SYMPATHY, IF NOT OUTRIGHT SUPPORT, FROM THE GULLIBLE OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING THOSE WITHIN THE SOCIETY OF INTENDED VICTIMS. IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT OTHER NATIONS, HAVING A VESTED INTEREST IN SEEING A PARTICULAR SOCIETY OVERTHROWN, ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEIZE ON THIS PROPAGANDA AS WELL, AS EVIDENCE THAT WESTERN SOCIETY INDEED MERITS ATTACK IN WHATEVER MANNER POSSIBLE.

IT IS DIFFICULT FOR A CITIZEN OF THIS NATION AND CULTURE TO UNDERSTAND THE ENMITY THAT OTHERS HAVE FOR OUR WAY OF LIFE AND WHY THEY WOULD GO TO SUCH GREAT LENGTHS TO DESTROY IT, BUT, IT CANNOT BE DENIED. ONE CAN CITE NO OTHER NATION IN HISTORY THAT HAS DONE MORE TO HELP OTHERS, WITHOUT ASSUMING THE ROLE OF CONQUEROR AND REAPING THE SPOILS OF THE VICTORY. EVEN IN TIMES OF RELATIVE PEACE, WE HAVE PROVIDED CONSIDERABLE ASSISTANCE TO EVERY COUNTRY THAT HAS A NAME AND BEYOND THAT, TO MANY GROUPS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING WITHIN THE PSEUDO-COUNTRIES. WHY THEN, DO OTHERS TAKE SUCH PLEASURE IN OUR MISFORTUNE AND WISH TO DESTROY US? THAT IS BEYOND PRESENT UNDERSTANDING, BUT IS, I SUSPECT, THE GREATEST EVIDENCE OF THE POWER OF PROPAGANDA IN THE BATTLE FOR MINDS.

THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS FLAWS IN OUR COUNTRY, THE NATION HAS MUCH THAT IS WORTH PROTECTING. HE IS NOT EQUALLY COMMITTED TO THE IDEA THAT EVERY OTHER NATION IN THE WORLD IS ENTITLED TO THE SAME PRIVILEGES WE HAVE ATTAINED, UNTIL THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THE SACRIFICES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE AND STABILITY FROM WITHIN. THE CONCEPT OF DRAWING ARBITRARY GEOGRAPHIC LINES AND PROPPING UP ONE FACTION OR ANOTHER, WHILE DUBBING IT A “FRIENDLY NATION”, SEEMS DUBIOUS AT BEST. SOMEONE ONCE NOTED THAT “FRIENDS COME AND GO, BUT ENEMIES ACCUMULATE”. HOW TRUE.

PERHAPS A PART OF THE ENMITY TOWARD OUR COUNTRY IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS, EITHER WITHIN OUR SOCIETY OR IN OTHER PLACES, TO LIVE AS THEY CHOOSE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE DECISIONS OF CONSENTING ADULTS MIGHT BE CONTRARY TO THE GOVERNMENT’S PERCEPTION AS TO HOW THEY "SHOULD" LIVE, IN TERMS OF “POLITICALLY CORRECT” BEHAVIOR, BUT, THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF FREEDOM. IF OTHER NATIONS WISH TO DEVELOP THEIR COUNTRY ALONG THE LINES OF OUR REPUBLIC (NOT DEMOCRACY), SO FAR AS I KNOW, ALTHOUGH OUR GOVERNMENT IS PRONE TO CLASSIFY AS SECRET ANYTHING FOR WHICH THEY COULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE LAND ARE STILL IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND ARE AVAILABLE, GRATIS, FOR ALL WHO MIGHT WISH TO EMULATE OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT.

IT HAS CERTAINLY NOT ENDEARED US TO OTHERS TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF AN ALIEN NATION, CULTURALLY AND ETHNICALLY, IN THE HEART OF A CIVILIZATION MADE UP OF MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF A DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS PERSUASION, REGARDLESS OF THE MORAL IMPERATIVES INVOLVED. BY WAY OF EXPLANATION ONLY, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT SETTING UP THIS COUNTRY IN THE HEART OF EUROPE OR THE HEART OF TEXAS WOULD LIKELY BRING A SIMILAR RESPONSE, BUT FROM A DIFFERENT GROUP. THE UNDYING TRUTH (AND CONTRADICTION) IS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF OUR SYSTEM, IMPERFECT THOUGH IT BE, BUT ARE NOT YET READY OR WILLING TO IMPLEMENT SUCH AN UNDERTAKING. WHILE THERE MAY BE ADEQUATE RATIONAL FOR MISSIONARY WORK WITHIN RELIGION, IT IS ILL SUITED AS PUBLIC POLICY TO BE ENFORCED WITH WEAPONS OF WAR.

ANOTHER WEAPON OF THE WEAK AGAINST THE STRONG IS DISPROPORTIONATE OUTCOMES, BOTH INTENTIONAL (CONTROLLED) AND UNINTENTIONAL, AS IN THE IRRATIONAL RESPONSES OF THE TARGET NATION (UNCONTROLLED).

AS SHAKESPEARE ONCE NOTED, A POUND OF FLESH IS NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL TO ANOTHER. NEITHER IS A SINGLE ACT OF VIOLENCE EQUAL TO ANOTHER.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

THE POSSIBILITY OF A RANDOM UNPROVOKED ATTACK UPON ANY CITIZEN, AT ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN CAUSING WIDESPREAD ANXIETY AND DISPROPORTIONATE RESPONSE TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE SOCIETY MAKING THAT RESPONSE. THE MORE GHASTLY THE ACT, THE GREATER THE EFFECT; HENCE, PUBLIC BEHEADING IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAT A BENIGN, BUT EQUALLY LETHAL, INJECTION IN SECRET. THAT 19 FANATICS, ON A BUDGET REPORTEDLY LESS THAN THE COST OF ONE PLANE, COULD ALTER THE THINKING OF AN ENTIRE NATION IS ASTOUNDING.

THE TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY PALES WHEN COMPARED TO THE LOSS OF RATIONAL THINKING AND BEHAVIOR THAT FOLLOWED AND CONTINUES UNABATED. THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SPENT; THE LOST PRODUCTIVITY AND ESPECIALLY, THE LOSS OF LIFE AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ON BOTH SIDES, WHICH WILL NEVER RETURN ONE LOST SOUL, ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE LACK OF WISDOM INVOLVED. AS A “RETURN ON INVESTMENT” BY ANY TERRORIST ATTACK IN HISTORY, NOTHING GREATER COMES TO MIND.

A NATIONAL PARANOIA DEVELOPED, AIDED AND ABETTED BY THE OPPORTUNISTS IN THE UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN BIG GOVERNMENT AND BIG BUSINESS WHO SAW GREAT PROMISE OF WEALTH AND POWER IN FOSTERING A CULTURE OF FEAR WITHIN THE POPULATION. THE AUTHOR IS NOT AGAINST PRUDENT BEHAVIOR IN EXCHANGE FOR SURVIVAL, BUT IS STILL CONSTRAINED TO DRIVE HIS CAR, DESPITE THE KNOWN RISKS, WHICH ARE FAR GREATER THAN THE RISK INVOLVED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED RANDOM ATTACKS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT LIVING WILL ALWAYS INVOLVE CALCULATED RISK, WHICH MAY BE MITIGATED, BUT NOT ELIMINATED, AND STILL TAKES SECOND PLACE TO THE COST/BENEFIT RATIO IN THE LIVES OF THE COGENT INDIVIDUALS REQUIRED TO MAKE (AND PAY FOR) SUCH DECISIONS. INDIVIDUALS WHO BUY CARS, USING THEIR OWN RESOURCES, BASED UPON THEIR ABILITY TO WITHSTAND WEAPON FIRE AND EXPLOSIVES ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE WHO PAY FOR GREATER SAFETY IN CRASHES. THE COST/BENEFIT RATIO AND ABILITY TO PAY ARE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN CALCULATING RISK AND BEHAVIOR.

UNFORTUNATELY, GOVERNMENTS DO NOT HAVE SUCH CONSTRAINTS ON THEIR ACTIONS AND, IN THE NAME OF “PROTECTION”, THEY EXTRACT GREAT SACRIFICES FROM FUTURE GENERATIONS (KNOWN AS TAXES), KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE "PROTECTED" WOULD NEVER STAND FOR SUCH EXTORTION. OF COURSE, THEIR “FRIENDS” (CO-CONSPIRATORS?) IN BUSINESS PERSONALLY AND CORPORATELY BENEFIT FROM SUCH ENDEAVORS THROUGH PRICE INCREASES AND LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS. SADLY, SUCH BEHAVIOR IS NOT LIMITED TO THE ABOVE ENTITIES, BUT INCLUDES ALL INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHO, INSTEAD OF EARNING AN HONORABLE LIVING BY HARD WORK, IMPROVE THEIR OWN LOT IN LIFE BY PROFITING FROM THE CONCERNS OF NAÏVE GROUPS AND THE INJUSTICES BEFALLING DOWNTRODDEN INDIVIDUALS.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

JUST AS THE OLD FASHIONED TEACHER PUNISHED THE CLASS FOR THE MISBEHAVIOR OF A ONE OR TWO UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS, GOVERNMENTS, TO THE GLEE OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY SUPPING AT THE TROUGH, GO TO GREAT LENGTHS “REGARDLESS OF THE INNOCENTS PUNISHED” TO IDENTIFY THE MISCREANTS IN THE WORLD, EITHER WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES OR THOSE OUTSIDE, WHO MIGHT POSSIBLY DISRUPT THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE. WITH AN EYE TOWARD DISCOURAGING SUCH ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE, IT I SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH ACTIVITY RESULT IN THE “PUNISHMENT” (NOT “JUSTICE”) FOR THE ACTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS INVOLVED WITH THE SAME DISREGARD THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN FOR THEIR VICTIMS. OF COURSE, SUCH DIRECTNESS IS OUT OF THE QUESTION IN THE WORLDS OF POLITICS AND GREED.

CONTEMPORARY WISDOM GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE “GENERALS” ARE USUALLY WELL PREPARED TO FIGHT THE PREVIOUS WAR. TO FIGHT THE CURRENT THREAT TO OUR SOCIETY WITH WEAPONS OF SCIENTIFIC GENIUS, BETTER SUITED TO ANOTHER ERA, IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER AND USUALLY UNPRODUCTIVE, UNLESS ONE COUNTS THE POLITICAL CAREERS AND CORPORATE PROFITS DEPENDENT ON SUCH CONDUCT AS PRODUCTIVE. FROM THE LEGIONS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS MARCHING IN RANKS TO THEIR DEMISE AT THE HANDS OF BACKWOODSMEN HIDING BEHIND TREES AND INFLICTING THEIR DAMAGE ON FOREIGN TROOPS IN A FOREIGN LAND BEFORE MELTING AWAY, (WHY DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?) TO THE SUPPOSEDLY “COWARDLY” BEHAVIOR OF LOYALISTS DOFFING THEIR UNIFORMS AND DONNING THEIR ROBES, THE OBVIOUS LIMITS OF A “MILITARY SOLUTION” TO THIS SECURITY PROBLEM ARE SELF EVIDENT.

AS SHYLOCK, OF JEWISH DESCENT I BELIEVE, RECOGNIZED IN THE COLLECTION OF A “JUST DEBT”, THE STRATEGIC LOCATION OF A DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITY CAN WREAK HAVOC FAR BEYOND THE SAME ACTIVITY IN A NON-STRATEGIC LOCATION. THEREFORE, TARGETED DESTRUCTION (OR RETRIBUTION) IS FAR SUPERIOR IN MANY WAYS TO THE “OVERWHELMING BLUNT FORCE” CONCEPT, E.G. DESTRUCTION OF EVERYTHING DESTRUCTIBLE, AS PRACTICED IN GERMANY AND JAPAN DURING WW II AND FAVORED BY MILITARY “GENIUSES” FROM SHERMAN TO THE ICONS OF MODERN WARFARE.

LIKEWISE, SELF IMPOSED LIMITATIONS, SUCH AS GRANTING OF SAFE HAVENS FOR ENEMIES OF THE BESIEGED NATION, FOR EXAMPLE, PUTTING “OFF LIMITS” SUCH “STRATEGIC TARGETS” AS THE MAINLAND BASES OF COMMUNIST CHINESE TROOPS DURING THE KOREAN "PEACE " ENCOUNTER AND FAILURE TO RUN THEIR TROOPS INTO THE SEA, LED TO THE PRESENT 50 YEAR, AND COUNTING, STALEMATE AND POTENTIAL W.M.D. FUELED CONFLICT WITH WHICH WE ARE NOW FACED.

CONSIDER ALSO THE FAILURE TO DESTROY THE SUPPLY DEPOTS AND PORTS OF NORTH VIETNAM, OR THE HIDING PLACES IN THE JUNGLES OF LAOS, THUS ALLOWING THE SLAUGHTER OF 50,000 PLUS AMERICANS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS, ON BOTH SIDES, WHILE A PUNY THIRD WORLD NATION HELD THE “GREATEST NATION” ON EARTH TO A DRAW, OR WORSE. THE ALLEGATION OF BEING A “PAPER TIGER” IS NOT WITHOUT MERIT.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

CURRENTLY, WE NOW MUST DEAL WITH THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF PRESENT DAY TERRORISTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ARBITRARILY DRAWN LINES OF NATIONALITY, WHICH TERRORISTS SKILLFULLY USE. AFTER INFLICTING THEIR DAMAGE, THEY SKIP GLEEFULLY AWAY TO A SAFE HAVEN PROVIDED BY A "FRIENDLY" COUNTRY (TO WHOM IS NOT CLEAR TO THE AUTHOR) ADJACENT TO THE ACTIVITIES OF SAID TERRORISTS (OR REVOLUTIONARY HEROES DEPENDING UPON YOUR VIEWPOINT). OBVIOUSLY, THEY COULD NEVER SUCCEED WITHOUT THESE SAFE LOCATIONS FROM WHICH TO STAGE THEIR ATTACKS AND THEN RETURN FOR REFUGE.
ADVANTAGE TERRORISTS!

A “FAIR FIGHT” IS AN OXYMORON, WHEN IT COMES TO MORTAL COMBAT AND IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DEVIOUS METHODS NOTED ABOVE CAN GO A LONG WAY TOWARD ACHIEVING THEIR GOAL OF DESTABILIZING A SOVEREIGN NATION, ESPECIALLY IF THE LEADERS OF THE ATTACKED NATION IMPRUDENTLY CHOOSE TO AID IN THE DESTRUCTION BY THEIR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE TRULY “MODERN WEAPONS OF WAR” IN THEIR PROCESS OF SELF DESTRUCTION.

REMEMBER, A MAGNIFICENT ELK IS NO MATCH FOR A PACK OF WOLVES SINCE THE METHODS OF DEFENSE ARE NOT APPROPRIATE (SUFFICIENT) FOR THE TYPE OF “WAR” BEING WAGED. ALL OF THE SUCCESSFUL THRUSTS (SURGES?) OF SUPERIOR FORCE SERVE ONLY TO DEPLETE THE RESOURCES AND WEAKEN THE WILL OF THE INTENDED VICTIM. TIME IS NOT THE ALLY OF EXISTING SOCIETIES. THE HUNS OF THE WORLD OUTNUMBER AND WILL SURELY OVERCOME CIVILIZED SOCIETIES UNLESS THE THREATS ARE RECOGNIZED; PUT INTO A REALISTIC PERSPECTIVE AND SUMMARILY DISPATCHED.

IT IS REPORTED THAT AN INFLUENTIAL VOICE SUGGESTED THAT THE ANSWER TO A SUBVERSIVE INVASION WAS BOMBING THE OFFENDING ATTACKERS (OR COUNTRY HARBORING THEM) BACK INTO THE DARK AGES. APPARENTLY, THIS WAS QUICKLY GREETED WITH DERISION AND STIFLED AS AN “UNTHINKABLE”. WHILE THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE, EVEN THE AUTHOR UNDERSTANDS THAT A POPULATION, WITHOUT ENERGY AND MONEY, STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AT THE SUBSISTENCE LEVEL OF FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER (HIGH TAXES, INSURANCE AND GASOLINE PRICES?, JUST KIDDING) WOULD HAVE LITTLE TIME, ABILITY OR INCLINATION TO SUPPORT RADICAL LEADERS CALLING FOR ATTACKS ON OTHERS WHO ARE PRESENTLY ENJOYING SUCH “LUXURIES”. IN ALL PROBABILITY, THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN A LITTLE UPSET AT SAID LEADERS WHOSE CONDUCT BROUGHT ABOUT THESE CONDITIONS WHILE THEY (THE LEADERS) LIVED A CLOISTERED LIFE INSULATED FROM SUCH REALITIES. ONE RECALLS THE ARROGANCE OF THE FRENCH ARISTOCRACY, LEADING TO THEIR DEMISE, AS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS THINKING.

THEREFORE, THE AFOREMENTIONED “BOMBING” WOULD SEEM TO BE EXCESSIVE, FUTILE AND SELF-DEFEATING AS A RESPONSE TO THE MINOR ANNOYANCES OF TERRORISTS WITH THEIR LIMITED ABILITY TO INFLICT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON A SLEEPING GIANT (OR A PAPER TIGER?). WHAT DOES NOT SEEM EXCESSIVE IS A "S.A.D." EXCURSION (SEARCH AND DESTROY) TO ELIMINATE THE SOURCES OF SUPPORT FOR SUCH AGGRESSION, SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE, MANUFACTURING AND TRADE, FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND THE ELIMINATION OF RADICAL GROUPS WHO GIVE RISE TO SUCH TREACHERY, WHO CAN USUALLY BE FOUND HIDING AMONG WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS OR IN HOUSES OF RELIGION. ADVANTAGE, “GOOD GUYS”!

BASICALLY, THE FREE WORLD IS FINANCING THE WAR AGAINST ITSELF THROUGH PAYMENTS FOR OIL TO SUPPORT OUR “HABIT” (NATION BUILDING” WOULD SEEM BE LITTLE MORE THAN ANOTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE “EMPEROR’S CLOTHES” RATHER THAN USING SUCH MONEY TO END OUR DEPENDENCE ON THIS WASTEFUL AND HARMFUL SOURCE OF ENERGY. REFUSING TO BE DUPED INTO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUICIDE WOULD GO EVEN FARTHER TOWARD DISCOURAGING SUCH ATTACKS, SINCE THEY WOULD HAVE LITTLE VALUE AND RESULT ONLY IN FURTHER RETALIATION AND DEPRIVATION WITHIN THE HAVENS WHERE THESE TERRORISTS HIDE. OBVIOUSLY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY, EVEN TO THEIR SUBSIDATION BY THE GOVERNMENT, WOULD SEEM TO BE AN OBVIOUS WEAPON OF WAR AND PROBABLY CHEAPER THAN THE PRESENT EXTORTION, WHICH WILL CERTAINLY INCREASE IN THE FUTURE. ONE WONDERS WHAT THE DEMAND AND “MARKET PRICE” IS FOR SAND?
ADVANTAGE, “GOOD GUYS”!

FINALLY, IT SEEMS THAT, IN THE MAJORITY OF THESE AGGRESSIVE SOCIETIES, A MAJOR PORTION OF THEIR NUTRITIONAL SURVIVAL IS DEPENDENT ON FOOD PRODUCED BY THE NATIONS THEY WOULD DESTROY. HOW INTELLIGENT IS THAT FROM EITHER VIEWPOINT? THEREFORE, EITHER SELLING FOOD, OR RESTRICTING ITS IMPORT, TO POTENTIAL AGGRESSORS. IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RIGHTS TO INSPECT AND VERIFY (S.A.D.?)THE ABSENCE OF ANY THREATS TO OUR SECURITY WOULD NOT SEEM UNREASONABLE AS A WEAPON OF WAR IN THE CURRENT CONFLICT. COINCIDENTLY, FOOD IS NOT EASILY DIVERTED TO FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNTS IN THE NAMES OF THE LEADERS, MUCH LESS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE WEAPONS OF WAR FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.
ADVANTAGE,”GOOD GUYS”!

WHILE THE MODERN WEAPONS OF WAR ARE NOT PLEASANT TO CONTEMPLATE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE NOT THE CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS OF A MILITARY STRUCTURED TO DEFEND AGAINST A FRONTAL ATTACK BY AN IDENTIFIABLE ENTITY AND CONSTRAINED TO “FIGHT” UNDER RESTRICTIONS THAT CLEARLY “AID AND ABET” THE ENEMIES INVOLVED.

PERHAPS THAT LEADS TO THE FINAL CONCEPT OF MODERN WEAPONS OF WAR. WHEN A NATION DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE ACTUAL THREATS TO ITS EXISTENCE AND LACKS THE WILL TO DEFEND ITS INDEPENDENCE, THERE CAN BE BUT ONE CONSEQUENCE. THAT NATION, AS HAS HAPPENED TO ALL OTHER NATIONS BEFORE, WILL CEASE TO EXIST. THEREFORE,

THE PRINCIPAL WEAPON OF WAR IS THE WILLINGNESS OF THE POPULATION TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO SURVIVE.

IN A NATION MORE CONCERNED WITH “BUTTER” (THE GOOD LIFE?) THAN “GUNS” (SURVIVAL?) THE LONG STANDING GOVERNMENT POLICY OF PANDERING TO THE THREATENED (VOTING?) POPULACE, WHILE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK, WILL NEVER SUFFICE. HAD OUR LEADERS RECOGNIZED THE “FIRST ATTACK”, WAY BACK IN THE ‘70’S, AND UNDERSTOOD THE MODERN WEAPONS OF WAR, THE MONEY SPENT ON USELESS MILITARY HARDWARE AND PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS BEING SENT TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO BE RECYCLED AS OWNERSHIP OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND PROPERTY IN OUR COUNTRY, COULD EASILY HAVE RESOLVED THE “PROBLEM” AND PROBABLY GONE A LONG WAY TOWARD MITIGATING GLOBAL WARMING, WITHOUT THE LOSS OF A SINGLE LIFE. WOW!
ADVANTAGE UNKNOWN! VAMOS A VER!

ENJOY,

TOM