All Bets Are ON

Ian Welsh iangwelsh@hotmail.com
Tue, 12 Mar 2002 15:23:31


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<P>The Indians were a marginal force and the analogy does not stand up.&nbsp; Unless you're planning on defeating every muslim nation in the world, destroying 90% of their population and colonizing the land?&nbsp; </P></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>From: &quot;John Hall&quot;<JOHNHALL@EVERGO.NET> 
<DIV></DIV>Reply-To:<JOHNHALL@EVERGO.NET> 
<DIV></DIV>To: &quot;FoRK&quot;<FORK@XENT.COM> 
<DIV></DIV>Subject: RE: All Bets Are ON 
<DIV></DIV>Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 19:09:22 -0800 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>That must be why we still have problems with Indian attacks. 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>The Indian attacks stopped when 'raiding the settlements' was equivalent to 
<DIV></DIV>seeing every Indian village in range wiped out. A lot of those Indian wars 
<DIV></DIV>were not fought to get some chief to sign a piece of paper. They were 
<DIV></DIV>fought so even the most testosterone pumped 17yr old wouldn't dare get on 
<DIV></DIV>his horse to go raiding. 
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<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Well, it does make sense to try and find them all. 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>They already see the destruction of the West as a form of self-defense. You 
<DIV></DIV>stop it when they find out that the result is their own destruction. 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>The following is apparently making the rounds in the Arab world: 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>(2030) at the WTC memorial. 
<DIV></DIV>Daddy, what happened to them? 
<DIV></DIV>Some bad Arabs crashed into them and made them fall down. 
<DIV></DIV>Daddy, what is an Arab? 
<DIV></DIV>Don't worry son. We don't have Arabs anymore. 
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<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Finally, consider Henry V Scene 3 Act 3: 
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<DIV></DIV>How yet resolves the governor of the town? 
<DIV></DIV>This is the latest parle we will admit; 
<DIV></DIV>Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves; 
<DIV></DIV>Or like to men proud of destruction 
<DIV></DIV>Defy us to our worst: for, as I am a soldier, 
<DIV></DIV>A name that in my thoughts becomes me best, 
<DIV></DIV>If I begin the battery once again, 
<DIV></DIV>I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur 
<DIV></DIV>Till in her ashes she lie buried. 
<DIV></DIV>The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, 
<DIV></DIV>And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart, 
<DIV></DIV>In liberty of bloody hand shall range 
<DIV></DIV>With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass 
<DIV></DIV>Your fresh-fair virgins and your flowering infants. 
<DIV></DIV>What is it then to me, if impious war, 
<DIV></DIV>Array'd in flames like to the prince of fiends, 
<DIV></DIV>Do, with his smirch'd complexion, all fell feats 
<DIV></DIV>Enlink'd to waste and desolation? 
<DIV></DIV>What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause, 
<DIV></DIV>If your pure maidens fall into the hand 
<DIV></DIV>Of hot and forcing violation? 
<DIV></DIV>What rein can hold licentious wickedness 
<DIV></DIV>When down the hill he holds his fierce career? 
<DIV></DIV>We may as bootless spend our vain command 
<DIV></DIV>Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil 
<DIV></DIV>As send precepts to the leviathan 
<DIV></DIV>To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur, 
<DIV></DIV>Take pity of your town and of your people, 
<DIV></DIV>Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command; 
<DIV></DIV>Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace 
<DIV></DIV>O'erblows the filthy and contagious clouds 
<DIV></DIV>Of heady murder, spoil and villany. 
<DIV></DIV>If not, why, in a moment look to see 
<DIV></DIV>The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand 
<DIV></DIV>Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters; 
<DIV></DIV>Your fathers taken by the silver beards, 
<DIV></DIV>And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls, 
<DIV></DIV>Your naked infants spitted upon pikes, 
<DIV></DIV>Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused 
<DIV></DIV>Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry 
<DIV></DIV>At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen. 
<DIV></DIV>What say you? will you yield, and this avoid, 
<DIV></DIV>Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy'd? 
<DIV></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>-----Original Message----- 
<DIV></DIV>From: fork-admin@xent.com [mailto:fork-admin@xent.com]On Behalf Of Paul 
<DIV></DIV>Prescod 
<DIV></DIV>Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 9:27 AM 
<DIV></DIV>To: FoRK 
<DIV></DIV>Subject: Re: All Bets Are ON 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>I see that as neither effective nor moral. The brother or cousin that 
<DIV></DIV>you can't find will be on the next set of planes. Once the polarization 
<DIV></DIV>of the situation is complete, people will sacrifice their families 
<DIV></DIV>because they will see the destruction of the West as a form of 
<DIV></DIV>self-defense. This is the usual cycle. 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;... 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; 3) I'm well aware of the violation of Western moral norms involved here. 
<DIV></DIV>I 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; didn't say I liked it. But I'm afraid I prefer it to the more socially 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; accepted solution. Namely: declare war and start destroying towns and the 
<DIV></DIV>&gt; people who live in them. 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>The socially accepted solution is the destruction of organizations 
<DIV></DIV>(government or otherwise) that support terrorism. Towns should only get 
<DIV></DIV>involved if they are havens for combatants. 
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Paul Prescod 
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<DIV></DIV>http://xent.com/mailman/listinfo/fork 
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<DIV></DIV>http://xent.com/mailman/listinfo/fork 
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