Rumsfeld's on Bravery

From: "Gene Storey"
Date: 12/15/2003 2:19 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: o8eDb.1882$6l1.1440@okepread03

CNN reports:

"In the last analysis, he seemed not terribly brave," Rumsfeld said.

About 600 soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and
special operations forces of Task Force 121 conducted the raid in
Ad Dawr, near a group of ramshackle buildings. They found Saddam
hiding in a 6- to 8-foot-deep hole, equipped with a basic ventilation
system and covered with bricks and dirt.

What's Saddam going to do? Use his pistol against anti-tank weapons
like his sons? He was never considered stupid. I'm beginning to think
Rumsfeld might be talking through his ass again.

--

Saddam paid the families of suicide bombers, promised to go down fighting and
called on others to fight to the very end. He caved. If he was really smart he
would have made the U.S. soldiers kill him thereby making him a martyr.

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired

"B2431" wrote
From: "Gene Storey"
CNN reports:

"In the last analysis, he seemed not terribly brave," Rumsfeld said.

About 600 soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, and
special operations forces of Task Force 121 conducted the raid in
Ad Dawr, near a group of ramshackle buildings. They found Saddam
hiding in a 6- to 8-foot-deep hole, equipped with a basic ventilation
system and covered with bricks and dirt.

What's Saddam going to do? Use his pistol against anti-tank weapons
like his sons? He was never considered stupid. I'm beginning to think
Rumsfeld might be talking through his ass again.

--

Saddam paid the families of suicide bombers, promised to go down fighting and
called on others to fight to the very end. He caved. If he was really smart he
would have made the U.S. soldiers kill him thereby making him a martyr.

I think there's a difference between bravery and stupidity. He could have
booby-trapped the whole farm. It was nothing but a hide-out, and he didn't
suspect his final detail would sell him out. He'll be a martyr when they hang him.

B2431 wrote:
Saddam paid the families of suicide bombers, promised to go down
fighting and called on others to fight to the very end. He caved. If
he was really smart he would have made the U.S. soldiers kill him
thereby making him a martyr.


That reminds me of another brave Middle Eastern leader, Yasser Arafat. After
whining about the Israelis outside his door and how much he wanted to die and
become a martyr, he refused to open the door. I'm sure the Israelis would have
been happy to oblige him.

These guys are always braver than hell, particularly when they're talking about
someone else dying. No sacrifice is too great. Insha'h Allah.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
.com...
B2431 wrote:
Saddam paid the families of suicide bombers, promised to go down
fighting and called on others to fight to the very end. He caved. If
he was really smart he would have made the U.S. soldiers kill him
thereby making him a martyr.


That reminds me of another brave Middle Eastern leader, Yasser Arafat.
After
whining about the Israelis outside his door and how much he wanted to die
and
become a martyr, he refused to open the door. I'm sure the Israelis would
have
been happy to oblige him.


Actually, Israeli certainly wouldn't have been (though they may have
detained him in some humiliating way). They know very well that killing him
would also kill any attempt for peace for a very long time.

"Yama" wrote in message
...

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
.com...
B2431 wrote:
Saddam paid the families of suicide bombers, promised to go down
fighting and called on others to fight to the very end. He caved. If
he was really smart he would have made the U.S. soldiers kill him
thereby making him a martyr.


That reminds me of another brave Middle Eastern leader, Yasser Arafat.
After
whining about the Israelis outside his door and how much he wanted to
die and
become a martyr, he refused to open the door. I'm sure the Israelis
would have
been happy to oblige him.


Actually, Israeli certainly wouldn't have been (though they may have
detained him in some humiliating way). They know very well that killing
him
would also kill any attempt for peace for a very long time.

If not the West Bank, where would Christian Arabs go?

Yama wrote:
Actually, Israeli certainly wouldn't have been (though they may have
detained him in some humiliating way). They know very well that
killing him would also kill any attempt for peace for a very long
time.


Frankly, I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter what the
Israelis do. As long as Israel exists, the Arabs will always try to destroy it.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 23:03:55 GMT, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote:

Yama wrote:
Actually, Israeli certainly wouldn't have been (though they may have
detained him in some humiliating way). They know very well that
killing him would also kill any attempt for peace for a very long
time.


Frankly, I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter what the
Israelis do. As long as Israel exists, the Arabs will always try to destroy it.

And the Israelis will try to destroy the Palestinians. There are no "clean
hands" in that mess.

Al Minyard

"Alan Minyard" wrote in message
...

And the Israelis will try to destroy the Palestinians. There are no "clean
hands" in that mess.


Maybe not, but one side's hands are significantly dirtier than the other
side's. The majority of Israelis are willing to live alongside a peaceful
Palestinian state, few Palestinians are willing to live in peace alongside
Israel.

"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Alan Minyard" wrote in message
...

And the Israelis will try to destroy the Palestinians. There are no
"clean
hands" in that mess.


Maybe not, but one side's hands are significantly dirtier than the other
side's. The majority of Israelis are willing to live alongside a peaceful
Palestinian state, few Palestinians are willing to live in peace alongside
Israel.

I am not sure about the veracity of that. It would appear that a significant
number of Israelis have no real interest in seeing a Palestinian state under
any realistic conditions, hence the fact that they have their current PM in
office. My wife visited the area at the end of '98, before the situation
heated up to its current level of violence--she departed here pro-Israel,
and returned sympathetic to the Palestinians. A CSM I served with had a
similar revalation after his visit. Both sides have more than enough blame
at their doorstep and blood on their hands.

Brooks

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 17:45:13 GMT, "Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:


"Alan Minyard" wrote in message
.. .

And the Israelis will try to destroy the Palestinians. There are no "clean
hands" in that mess.


Maybe not, but one side's hands are significantly dirtier than the other
side's. The majority of Israelis are willing to live alongside a peaceful
Palestinian state, few Palestinians are willing to live in peace alongside
Israel.

And you know this how?? From Israeli polls? I am not saying that you are
incorrect, I am simply saying that I, and I believe you, do not really know.

Al Minyard