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2010-01-31 Arabia

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Posted by Fred 2010-01-31 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11138 views ] Top
File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia

#1 If these Yemeni geniuses are referring to the Marshall Plan precedent, they should not forget that both Germany and Japan were the targets of total war. They were defeated utterly, crushed and humiliated.

The enemy peoples weren't allowed to save face, they had to acknowledge their defeat. Liberation consisted of disbanding the old regimes and holding the people accountable for tolerating, if not supporting it. This was done irrespective of the will of the enemy peoples.

There was indeed magnanimity, but it was magnanimity in victory not before victory (or in defeat).

The Yemenis would be better advised to refer to the 21st century precedent of Afghanistan. They would not like a repeat of WWII with themselves as the defeated.

Posted by Gleretch B. Hayes6041 2010-01-31 05:13|| 2010-01-31 05:13|| Front Page Top

#2 "The Mouse That Roared", 21st Century Edition.

Posted by Formerly Dan 2010-01-31 09:01|| 2010-01-31 09:01|| Front Page Top

#3 I agree that aid to Yemen in more stable times might have been useful. Fortunately they have a wealthy neighboring kingdom fully capable of funding such things, should they choose.

Posted by lotp 2010-01-31 09:17|| 2010-01-31 09:17|| Front Page Top

#4 HOLD ON A DAMN SECOND...

Are they saying Bin Laden's now in Yemen?

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-01-31 09:25|| 2010-01-31 09:25|| Front Page Top

#5 Another disturbing consequence of this report is that elegant, non-violent solutions of tactical problems that involve rewarding bad guys will instantaneously shape the political and strategic battlefield in regions far away from the initial problem.

Looking at the Afghan reconstruction, maybe even the surge, elements in other Islamic countries are coming to the dangerous conclusion that an attack on the west will be amply rewarded.

In the internet age conciliatory and submissive messages towards Afghanistan have a global audience. I'm not confident that Western military and civilian leadership to aware enough of that effect.

They're somewhat like the proverbial Hollywood leftist who badmouths the US in interviews with the European press, causing a backlash in the US because the message spread.

Posted by Jumbo Clavimp3510 2010-01-31 10:14|| 2010-01-31 10:14|| Front Page Top

#6 Are they saying Bin Laden's now in Yemen?

His father is from Yemen (but made a fortune in the Saudi kingdom), he still has substantial family in Yemen and al Qaeda organizing happened there. Whether he himself is there at the moment is another question.

Posted by lotp 2010-01-31 11:32|| 2010-01-31 11:32|| Front Page Top

#7 when George Kennan concieved of the "Marshall" plan it was in response to the "then new" threat of Stalin and the Soviets in europe, Germany in particular. The germans were part of our cultural heritage and represented the finest in industrial capability, so We (the USA) helped them out. It payed off! The Yemenis and Pakistanis and Afganis are NOT part of our cultural heritage, in fact they are the antithesis of out cultural heritage. When the EU and the UN commit to these rebuilds of nations its easy for them to be smug about it as they themselves were once recipients of the same largess they now Assume to wield. Their presumption is, however, a bit nauseating when viewd from the American perspective where we actually "DO" things and dont simply recieve from others. but..... I'm ranting......

Posted by 746 2010-01-31 12:52|| 2010-01-31 12:52|| Front Page Top

#8 That's what the 'burg is for. Especially when you're correct.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-01-31 13:06|| 2010-01-31 13:06|| Front Page Top

#9 The Yemenis and Pakistanis and Afganis
are NOT part of our cultural heritage,

For a complete listing of Western cultural heritage regional exclusionary zone, see all above 20th parallel on this MAP.

Posted by Besoeker 2010-01-31 13:14|| 2010-01-31 13:14|| Front Page Top

#10 Are they saying Bin Laden's now in Yemen?His father is from Yemen (but made a fortune in the Saudi kingdom), he still has substantial family in Yemen and al Qaeda organizing happened there. Whether he himself is there at the moment is another question.

This imam's logic is in line with Bin Laden, who has stated he wants to destroy our economy and bleed us dry by dragging us intom conflict. Worth a look. AQ ideaology is certainly there and spread through marriage/progeny; everywhere he has been previously is chaotic. Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and if Kola Boof, concubine is to be believed, Morocco and other African nations. Snuffing out the bonfires would be considerably less expensive than rebuilding after everything has been gutted.

Posted by Omoluque Hapsburg8162 2010-01-31 13:45|| 2010-01-31 13:45|| Front Page Top

#11 Drop $40 billion worth of bombs on them.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2010-01-31 17:02|| 2010-01-31 17:02|| Front Page Top

#12 Fertilizer, Abu. Hopefully mixing with a lot of home grown organic matter.

Posted by ed 2010-01-31 17:20|| 2010-01-31 17:20|| Front Page Top

#13 I think we need to look to Haiti as an example. I don't want to spend billions rebuilding anywhere, especially a totally failed state on our own doorstep. NOT helping them may cost us even more, however. If we can help them recover from this tragedy, build an economy that will provide jobs for them locally, and give them a reason to STAY in Haiti, we may not have them showing up on our doorsteps, costing us billions in welfare. Also, if we CAN get them to not only rebuild, but change a bit of their thinking, we may not have to respond so intensely during the next tragedy, because they won't be so devastated.

I look at the imagery of Haiti every day. There are homes whose rooms are filled with vegetation, still standing vacant two, three, ten years after their roofs were removed during one of the frequent hurricanes that hit Haiti. The only way we can change the current "culture of begging" is to change the way Haitians feel about their country. Right now, there isn't much to be proud of.

Posted by Old Patriot 2010-01-31 20:14|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/ 2010-01-31 20:14|| Front Page Top

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