A Study in Contrasts

in the late afternoon on Saturday, the 12th of August 2006 by Chad

From the Gazette’s Editorial Pages… letter number 1:

We can’t allow ˜useful idiots’ to dictate foreign policyDuring the Cold War, the term useful idiots was used to describe leftists who excused or denied atrocities committed by communists. Today’s leftists grovel to a different drummer: Islamo-fascism. Here are some useful idiocies conjured up in the convoluted fantasy world of the political left for the benefit of Islamo-fascist terrorists:

Idiocy: Diplomacy is the only solution to terrorism.

Reality: Diplomacy is a negotiation between two rational parties in which each party has something of value to offer the other. When a free
nation negotiates with a terrorist nation all it gains is a liar’s promise that its citizens won’t be incinerated. This is extortion, not diplomacy.

Idiocy: There is no long-term military solution to terrorism.

Reality: Military victory is the only possible solution to terrorism. But victory requires total war against terrorist governments, not against their proxies.

Idiocy: Islamo-fascists hate us because we side with Israel.

Reality: Islamo-fascists hate us because we are not Muslims. We are at war with equal-opportunity murderers. They kill Jews, Christians, Hindus, pagans, atheists and other Muslims without regard to race, ethnicity or nationality.

The various idiocies currently in use to save Hezbollah from Israel are so inane as to defy explanation:

Israel must use a proportionate response to the murder of its citizens. Only one terrorist may be killed for each Israeli child murdered.

Hezbollah must not be destroyed since it is also a political party. Apparently murder can be justified in the name of democracy.

Israel is responsible for the deaths of innocent Lebanese. Idiots believe Israel should turn the other cheek to terrorists launching ball-bearing-laden rockets at civilian targets while hiding behind Lebanese children.

The greatest obstacle to victory against the Islamo-fascists is not the terrorists themselves but the useful idiots of the left who defend them.

Jerry Varner

Colorado Springs

At one time a succinct and comprehensive lesson on global politics. Contrasting with that,

U.S. complicity in attacks makes reader ashamed

Like millions of Americans, I am appalled by the actions of the Israeli government in Lebanon. What is taking place in that country approaches criminal war conduct and should not be tolerated by the Western world, let alone by our country. To invade and destroy a whole nation in such a brutal fashion over the taking of two Israeli soldiers and the occasional firing of primitive rockets by Hezbollah into northern Israel cannot be justified and must be stopped immediately.

I am ashamed of our government for not stopping the killing and allowing this to happen. Is it a wonder hatred against Americans is at an all-time high in the rest of the world? I will be even more ashamed if Congress and our current administration in the White House approve a Lebanon reconstruction package in the near future on the backs of the taxpayers of this country in lieu of passing the bill to Israel.

Whatever happened to our American values that not long ago criticized the indiscriminate bombing of Guernica, Spain, by the Nazis during the Spanish civil war as a barbaric act, but now we see something a million times worse as a legitimate act of self defense? Shame on all of us for not speaking up vigorously and for continuing to support and subsidize Israel year after year.

Chuck Rivers

Colorado Springs

Hi Chuck, I’m going to whack you on the head with a very primitive club. But since it’s not high tech, you’re not allowed to complain or fight back. And I’m going to keep doing it for years. Oh, and by the way, if you had enough intelligence left after smokin’ your weed there Chuck, and actually looked into exactly what was happening, you’d find out that Lebanon isn’t being carpet bombed indescriminately. You’re either misinformed or deliberately lying. Very precise bombing and attacks are occuring. Or are you so damn stupid that you think that a liberal westernized country like Israel truly wants to go around killing women and children, while barbarians with no regard for human life like Hezbollah is in the right here?