With the war - we have more reasons to carry...

[Clark]

Very interesting points by Gingrich - It verifies that we need to carry 24/7 because we are on the front lines.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/08/gingrich/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

[VegasGeorge]

Well, I can tell you this much. I watch very carefully every time I drive past our airport, McCarran International. I'm looking for than van at the side of the road with the guy holding a missile launcher. I'm watching for the man or woman who brings in a suitcase, or backpack, or bag, or package but walks out without it. I carry when I go to my Christian church. (Just started that today!) I'm armed when I go out and about. That's all I can do as far as homeland security is concerned.

Las Vegas is a resort town swarming with foreign visitors. Everywhere you turn you see groups taking pictures of the infrastructure. Any attempt at profiling here is just about useless. So, I do what I can. But, it's not much.

[Genghis77]

The stereotype Arab terrorist is pronanly an unwarranted fear. In Phoenix Arizona, illegal aliens have been responsible for more than 80% of crime for years. Even more so violent crime. Know why they sneak across our border? It's because they have criminal records in their home countries. The average Mexican or whatever could just obtain a tourist visa to, say, visit the Grand Canyon and then stay. INS would only ask them to leave voluntarily if caught. And they would be free to repeat this. Such a person isn't considered illegal, only overstaying their visa. And such decent people. The true illegal alien is smuggling drugs across the border to finance things. They are typically paying $5000 to 8000 to the coyote in cash, drugs or later extortion. And drugs are more associated with violent crime than the jihadists.

[Bill of Rights]

Interesting point there, Genghis, about drugs vs. the jihadists.

I offer the following quote from Dan Brown's book, Angels and Demons:
His ancestors had formed a small but deadly army to defend themselves. The army became famous across the land as protectors - skilled executioners who wandered the countryside slaughtering any of the enemy they could find. They were renowned not only for their brutal killings but also for celebrating their slayings by plunging themselves into drug-induced stupors. Their drug of choice was a potent intoxicant they called hashish.
As their notoriety spread, these lethal men became known by a single word - Hassassin -literally, "the followers of hashish." The name Hassassin became synonymous with death in almost every language on earth. The word was still used today, even in modern English... but like the craft of killing, the word had evolved.
It was now pronounced assassin.
(end of quote)
In light of this, I have to wonder if there is not some connection and that drugs are not at least a factor in some, many, or even most of the jihadists activities as well, though I don't doubt or question Genghis' statement.
In the final analysis, though, I don't care if the BG is on drugs, a jihadist, or both. Display to me that he or she is a threat and prepare for your next life. Anyone else out there considered dipping your JHPs in pork grease? :twisted:

Blessings,
M

كافر and proud of it!

[Lady Di]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Pork grease. I can't help it. That one made me laugh! I go to this site to educate myself, and it's always a bonus when I can be entertained as well.

[Bill of Rights]

Glad to be of service, Lady Di. I was only partly trying to be funny, though.

Their belief is that if they touch pork, they are unclean and cannot enter paradise. It's perhaps a bit of psychological warfare, but I'll take any advantage. There is no such thing as "fighting dirty" in war, and that's what they've declared on us: Jihad, or "holy war". Ergo, I think it's particularly fitting that I be willing to attack what they consider "holy" about themselves when defending myself and my country.

Blessings,
M

[Lady Di]

Yes, St. Michael, I'm aware of their aversion to pork and it would be a fitting retaliation measure against terrorists who have made it their mission in life to destroy us. The original comment just struck my funny bone, and it's always nice when you can learn and laugh. :lol:

[Bill of Rights]

I know you knew, but I explained it more for anyone else who might not... I'm sure that if we don't now, we will someday have newbies on the board who might choose to use this info. No offense meant, especially not to your intelligence.

Sorry if I came across otherwise.

Blessings,
M

[Genghis77]

The assassins were back in the 12th Century. Moving forward a bit I would like to point ouut thet the Conquest of the Americas was a holy war launched by Christians and killed about 80% of Amerinds native to North and South America. Moving further on, the American Civil War, WWI, WWII and my familiar Viet Nam experience were very much inspired by Christian heathen principles as well. In Viet Nam, I assure you that a Viet Namese, especally a Buddhist one was not regarded as human. And the South Vietnamese government was very much the Roman Catholic part of Christianity. And least we forget the likes of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) who was operating in the name of Christianity even more recently than the Hashimite Empire. I also point out that Japanese-Americans were put in camps in WWII because of both race and religion. Meanwhile the more serious threat with German-Americans and Italian Americans remained free. I knew of a neighbor in my youth that was a German spy. He was radioing information to Germany regarding the Manhatten Project and employed at the University of Chicago particle accelerator.

I must also correct you on something regarding the Assassins. They were located in the Western portion of Persia, in what is now Iran. Irani's are not Arabs. They are Persians and will quickly point out the difference. Neither do they speak Arabic, they speak Farsi.

I have a BS in History of the Levant and teach at the local college. I also worked in Saudi Arabia for 3 years and probably have some real first hand knowledge. I would be more concerned with a small minority of Saudis and Yemenis that expouse the Wahabi belief in Islam. Then there are the Palestinians that are just plain uneducated and ignorant.Just for your information when the Moors invaded Spain and Europe, the warfare conquests are mostly exaggerated. Their conquests were mainly inspired by the fact that conversion to Islam by a Christian slave meant freedom. As to Christians and Jews, they suffered a 10% tax under Islam. Preferable to the typical 40% tax under Christian kings. Living amoung them and not in a compound. I found Arab people very friendly, honest and peaceful. As anywhere, there are exceptions. That being the Matawi or religious police that are always Wahabi's. And kids thad are schooled in a madress get schooled that Jews are pigs and Christians are dogs. From those ranks there comes trouble.

For the record, I am a devout athiest and don't favor one religion over another. But Christianity and Islam are unequalled in history for extremism and numbers of deaths. Frankly I am more concerned with Members of the Church of Jesus Christ Christian that has a flag using a modified swastica. They are in great numbers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho as well as orthe locations nation wide. They are readily identifiably with tattoos, shaved heads and jack boots. Never a terrorist attack in Washington, Oregon or Idaho, but this group commonly called "skinheads" kill people all the time, preferring to murder Blacks, Hispanics, Orientals, Amerinds, Arabs, Jews and a few Catholics when identified.

9/11 was a fluke by terrorists that were very organized and determined. It is very atypical. Historically, terrorism has been mostly by the hands of the domestic terrorist. Home grone native sons.

If you learn to hate an entire race or religion, you have become the very thing you accuse them of. A little story: I knew a number of Saudi RAF who reported flying to Denver with a rabbi entourage on board. They talked and both sides had friendly conversations, even discussing the Palestinian-Israeli issue. This shows that if you actually meet and get to know them a little you are going to find what you learned from 3rd parties is wrong.

One more thing: President Bush made a serious mistake before the second invasion of Iraq. He referred to it as a "Crusade." Now 9/11 was by extremists but neither a military operation or agents authorized by another government. Yes it may have been a jihad for the perpetrators but that's it. Calling for a holy war or Crusade by a chief of state makes it very official. He did not think well in delivering that statement or consider the consequences. But he definitely added to the ranks of Islamic opposition.

Do I think people, citizens of other countries, should own guns? No and that is already illegal. Do I think foreign nationals should take flying lessons in the US. No! Flying lessons are readily available in Saudi Arabia where most of the 9/11 terrorists were from. When I left Saudi Arabia in 1984, more than 50,000 Saudis were qualified to fly 747's. Almost none have ever actually flown even a single engine prop. They qualified on simulaters. Almost as common as a video arcade (whoops! those are banned in Saudi Arabia along with bowling alleys, theaters amd dance halls.

Want to effectively deal with Islamic terrorists? Simple. Do like the Israelis. They bulldoze down the house of the terrorist's parents, possessions and all. The terrorist might want to become a martyr but their very sensitive to harm to their parents.