Faulty logic

I blog hopped today and found myself over at Holly Lisle's place. She has a link to an ex-Air Force surgeon, Major General Vernon Chong, USAFR, who has written a letter on the war. It's a long rant, so be warned.

I'm going to state up front that one writer's opinion Holly's, will not make me not buy her fiction or read her blog. Every one's entitled to speak up; just don't expect others to agree.

This letter, though... the more I read, the more I thought WTF? This man may be an ex-member of the defence force, but he sure has some faulty logic. For example:

2. Why were we attacked?

Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms....

No, your foreign policy, exploitation of third world countries and refusal to negotiate fairly with the rest of the world, is to blame; nothing else.

...We would of course have no future support from other nations, for fear of reprisals and for the reason that they would see, we are impotent and cannot help them.

I'm astonished at the lack of faith and committment to the US here, and the fact that the general sees the US as 'impotent'. FYI? We can help ourselves, thanks.

...They will pick off the other non-Muslim nations, one at a time. It will be increasingly easier for them. They already hold Spain hostage. It doesn't matter whether it was right or wrong for Spain to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Spain did it because the Muslim terrorists bombed their train and told them to withdraw the troops. Anything else they want Spain to do will be done. Spain is finished.

This is an outrageous statement. Every nation has the right to vote for whomever they wish, just like the US. Muslim nations want to be left alone without the interference of the West. On a business level, they need us as much as we need them. As the for comments about Spain, that is reprehensible. Spain has not given in to the Basque Separatists, nor will they give in to terrorists. Don't blame a nation for one man's decision!

The General goes on to predict France will fall next because it has a population that is 20% muslim. Does the General think that every one of those 20% are radical fundamentalists, dedicated to the downfall of the West, too?

If we can't stop the Muslims, how could anyone else? The sheer bloody arrogance of this statement appalls me. It is not now, nor ever been about stopping the Muslims. It's about treating them with the respect they deserve and an understanding of their faith and they way they do business - which is not the American way.

So, how can we lose the war?

Again, the answer is simple. We can lose the war by "imploding." That is, defeating ourselves by refusing to recognize the enemy and their purpose, and really digging in and lending full support to the war effort. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. If we continue to be divided, there is no way that we can win!

And still, the US fails to recognise the enemy. It is not in a person, people, nation or army; the enemy is in an ideology that the American way is good, right and everyone should be forced into complying. If not, you are the enemy.

This is war! For the duration, we are going to have to give up some of the civil rights we have become accustomed to. We had better be prepared to lose some of our civil rights temporarily or we will most certainly lose all of them permanently.

Given the way Representatives are presenting bill after bill undermining civil and human rights - See Bill Napoli, see the debate on Roe vs Wade - Americans shouldn't worry about giving up civil rights for the duration, they'll be taken away long before this war ever ends.

The letter goes on to complain about the criticism of US forces for prisoner abuse. Suggesting that it's okay because these were the 'same type' of people who tortured civilians for Saddam Hussein. The 'same type'? So, because they were middle-eastern in appearance, they can be tarred with the same brush? Does this mean that America no longer believes in justice? That they no longer need the perpetrators, simply someone who was there? What a mockery! Blame your media, blame the world's media, hell blame those dumb-ass soldiers who did it and took pictures!

And finally, name any Muslim countries throughout the world that allow freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal rights for anyone -- let alone everyone, equal status or any status for women, or that have been productive in one single way that contributes to the good of the world.

Islam isn't about materialism. Islam isn't about the mighty dollar or commercialism. Islam is not about a global view. In relation to the above comment, Islam is about living in peace with the neighbours, it's about living within the means produced and the tenets of Mohammad. It's about giving to the poor, embracing difference, supporting the weak and creating community. Sound familiar? Oh, FYI? It was the Muslims who saved art, medicine, agriculture and architecture for the world during the Dark Ages.

Democracies don't have their freedoms taken away from them by some external military force. Instead, they give their freedoms away, politically correct piece by politically correct piece. Maybe the General has an insight into his own country after all.

The General then goes on to compare the US to Rome.

I'm sickened by this self-aggrandizing, ignorant, inflammatory piece of propagandist shit. It's full of half-truths and outright lies, demonizing all Muslims, as the Viet Cong were demonized during that particular war. America lost that one, too.

This kind of bullshit is lethal. Instead of urging Americans to understand, to listen and understand what the other side is saying, it says: "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out." As if dialogue and negotiation is just all too difficult.

You wanna win this war? Then look to your own policies, see how they affect other nations, see how greedy your politicians and business people are in stripping the third world, see how your dealings disadvantage every other nation but your own because you threaten embargoes for non-compliance. And when you see what is truly happening, and why, then, maybe, your government will be ready for peace.