tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post5951539082620715581..comments2024-03-28T12:29:39.157-07:00Comments on Graphic Firing Table: Maxim CV, and the Impossible Problem of the Islamic StateFDChiefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-25436318907299703032015-11-18T09:13:48.340-07:002015-11-18T09:13:48.340-07:00I have already despaired of the probably-irretriev...I have already despaired of the probably-irretrievable loss of much of our global commons, whether it's to average temperature rise or any of the other man-made ecological messes we refuse to address because it would 1) be difficult and 2) require some sacrifice of our technic civilization.<br /><br />I'm not really sure that if we didn't have this silly fixation on gaudy violence that we'd be willing to address the problems. They are truly complex and require a level of sustained information, interest, and discipline that human beings have seldom shown throughout human history.<br /><br />What <i>IS</i> kind of irking is that about a third of us - that is, the 27-35% of the U.S. public that identifies Republican - aren't even willing to accept that this <i>IS</i> a problem. I'm willing to accept lazy and indisciplined - that's just human nature. But willfully stupid? THAT's pretty frustrating.FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-86002475171722067222015-11-17T18:56:04.135-07:002015-11-17T18:56:04.135-07:00The thing that really grinds my gourd is how much ...The thing that really grinds my gourd is how much of a distraction all of this is to the important work of establishing a functioning global order that can effectively tackle climate change.<br /><br />Considered scientific opinion considers that we have to address CO2 emissions in a big way or climate will shift. A look at history shows that a shifting climate has *big* impacts on all sorts of things (most especially food production). <br /><br />We have lost 20 years of action already and I despair of what will happen if we lose another 20. Change will *not* be a nice continuous function. The world needs to get its act together quickly and it isn't something we have ever done before. But we gotta try.Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-43425028113512548952015-11-17T15:11:22.133-07:002015-11-17T15:11:22.133-07:00Good point, Ael. My thoughts on what the West CAN...Good point, Ael. My thoughts on what the West CAN do is pretty much summed up in the motto of the medical profession: <i>Primum, non nocere</i> - "First, do no harm".<br /><br />So, yeah. Pretty much back slowly away from the Middle East. Work slowly and cautiously and with multiple cutouts between the Western intelligence services and their clients. Accept that this place will throw out violence from time to time, use your intel to stop as much of this crime as possible beforehand, catch the criminals when it does occur, and punish those you catch.<br /><br />Right now we're busy making more chaos and more disruption in the region, and that, as much or more than anything, feeds these religious whackaloons.<br /><br />A peaceful, prosperous region filled with happy peasants and prosperous merchants wouldn't generate more than a handful of murderous nutjobs. Make sure you kick down the walls and wreck the place and watch how many of these sonsofbitches you generate...FDChiefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607785969510234092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31246093.post-23853610922817350802015-11-17T13:38:38.689-07:002015-11-17T13:38:38.689-07:00Great article Chief.
Except, I am not so sure tha...Great article Chief.<br /><br />Except, I am not so sure that there is nothing we can do. There is something we can do: Nothing! Deliberately, actively, do nothing. Don't try to pick winners. Don't bomb the bad guys of the month. Furthermore, you can actively discourage other folks from meddling. There are already sanctions on arms trading to these areas Enforce them actively to all who breach them. <br /><br />Be resolute in the face of attacks and do not interfere. People who perform terrorist attacks are criminal and if they come within grasp of our law enforcement agencies, treat them exactly how they deserve to be treated. Swift arrest, fair trial and if found guilty, appropriate punishment.<br /><br />This policy destroys the myth of the hegemonic "sole superpower" who controls the flow of history and the destiny of the world. Which means that the powers-that-be will never go for it.Aelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788190394672505925noreply@blogger.com