| Submit your comments on this article |
| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Mike Sylwester Answers His Critics |
| 2004-06-23 |
| Some people are wondering too much about my motives. In order to reduce the comments about me, I will briefly restate some personal opinions here. In general, I approve of President Bushâs command of the War on Terrorism and of the war in Iraq. I believe that Al Qaeda intends to attack the USA with biological and chemical weapons, and I believe that the Hussein government in Iraq did help or would have helped in that effort. I think that in the current circumstances in Iraq we can legally arrest, imprison, pressure and interrogate practically all our captives according to the military policies we have generally exercised during the occupation. Beyond the question of legality, however, I think that, weighing all considerations we are wiser to refrain from physical discomfort, intimidation, humiliation and other such methods in our interrogations and to instead limit ourselves to persuasion and continued inprisonment. We thus encourage more opponents to stop fighting, to surrender, to accept peaceful resolution, and to treat our own soldiers accordingly. In general I think that Moslem society is a sick society but that it can reform itself. I served 14 years in USAF HUMINT organizations, separating voluntarily as a major in 1992 because the Cold War ended. My major activities during my service were interviewing defectors and immigrants, training for wartime interrogation activities, and preparing war plans. I love Rantburg, and thereâs not a single person here I donât like. Like many, I came here with a lot of anger, but I have gradually vented off steam and calmed down (I did flame Badanov all Sunday, but now I regret it). In my life I have often made angry, hasty, extreme statements, but I have learned from other peoplesâ examples to try to be more thougtful and restrained. I post articles and comments that I think will inform and influence other readers positively. Good vibes to all of you! . |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #13 If others in government don't like what he does, they can try to impeach him -- that is their sole check on his presidential power. Another check is criticism. . |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-06-24 12:12:50 AM |
| #12 We're not fighting an Army, Mike, we're fighting a mob of serial killers. We're fighting a variety of people. Some of them we cannot influence, but some we can. Don't let the worst of our opponents drag us down to their level. Instead, try to pull the best of our opponents up to our level. . |
| Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2004-06-24 12:09:52 AM |
| #11 Hmmm, interrogation? First of all, the President should stand by his Constitutional powers, and tell the legislature and the judiciary to butt out of his duty to execute his office and to âpreserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,â and to act as âCommander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States.â U.S. Const. Art. II. Those presidential powers include the authority to tell the armed forces how, and when to interrogate, and for how long. If others in government don't like what he does, they can try to impeach him -- that is their sole check on his presidential power. The current congressional ruminating in public over these kinds of matters is a traitorous disclosure of aid and comfort to the enemy, because the disclosure can and will be used by them. Hey Congress, STFU! On the other hand, I would be highly suspect of any information gained by intimidating the adversary. The subject should speak, not the fear. âNuff said. |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-06-23 11:07:37 PM |
| #10 I missed this on the first reading: We thus encourage more opponents to stop fighting, to surrender, to accept peaceful resolution, and to treat our own soldiers accordingly. Are you really this stupid? We could waft captives into an earthly version of their paradise, and when our soldiers fall into jihadi hands they'll STILL abuse them and eventually kill them. They really don't care how we treat their people -- hell, I bet they consider the treatment we do give their people proof that we're soft -- and only mention it to make points with the weak-minded in the West. The reality is that the Geneva Conventions exempt some people for a reason: it is much more humane to deal with those people harshly and quickly. If we treat terrorists as if they're entitled to the GC protections, then we're making a joke out of the entire idea. We're not fighting an Army, Mike, we're fighting a mob of serial killers. They're not slitting throats because the thugs in Gitmo aren't getting their Red Cross packages. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-06-23 11:00:03 PM |
| #9 OK, Mike, but...frankly, these IslamoNazi bastards are trying to kill us and if our interrogators need to use their discretion and get tough with prisoners, I'm all for any and all methods of persuasion that would get them to talk to SAVE LIVES. Quite honestly, I don't want to know the details about how we interrogate the WOT detainees. This is WAR and it's clear that the Enemy doesn't play nice. Further, I trust my fellow Americans--particularly our soldiers--to be decent people who won't abuse their responsibilities. And I've yet to see badanov say anything he deserved a flaming for... I'll be honest--you seem to be coming from an extremely Liberal Democratic position on many issues and that's not a good thing in my book. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-06-23 10:48:01 PM |
| #8 Ole Spook, ITC? |
| Posted by: whitecollar redneck 2004-06-23 10:41:44 PM |
| #7 Thanks for your service, Mike, but I don't believe your stated motives. Why? Well... You buy into the media lies about Abu Ghraib way too often. You ignore the documented facts too often. Your editing is way too convenient. Oh, and your attack on badanov was pathetic, dishonest, and uncalled for. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-06-23 10:33:55 PM |
| #6 Thanks for the comments, Mr. Sylwester. Although we still have some philosophical differences, it was illuminating. I'll keep your remarks in mind whenever I review your postings. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-06-23 10:23:05 PM |
| #5 I thought you talked the talk. I was on that side of things, first your stuff, then CI. Young man's game for those things, especially HUMINT. I ended up on the electronic side of things and prefer it now, although I do miss operating. (Like the old racehorse who is too old to be competitive, but still feels the urge to run). |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-06-23 9:30:04 PM |
| #4 I think your mother picked a good name. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-06-23 7:45:06 PM |
| #3 But I mean that in a colorful and cool vibe way, very cool vibe, vibelike, way kool, not that I don't know cool, that's cool. How you like that Mr. Lucky? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-23 7:43:51 PM |
| #2 Frankly Mike... Huh? You have a zen like pompouslnisty, but hell, who cares? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-23 7:41:57 PM |
| #1 good vibes you to mike! :) |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2004-06-23 6:59:48 PM |