So glad we defeated the Taliban!

Originally Posted by Wesker

If American lives are being sacrificed to bring "democracy" to these Muslim nations, I'd prefer to see them act in a more civilzied fashion. Since this isn't going to happen, my opinion now is the hell with them, we shouldn't waste another American life trying to mediate peace between these people since in the long run it won't matter anyway.

Still, it's not the fault of the people who have been living with this law for centuries, but of the people "bringing" democracy to them without actually enforcing their understanding of it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

To be honest, it's not a secret that the recent nation building sponsored by the US and their allies is failing left and right. I wonder what went wrong after WWII.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

This is a complicated issue because on the one hand, even an occupying force needs to respect foreign cultures, law and lifestyle. On the other hand, if you're going into a country with military force planning to establish a western style democracy, you better do it right and not be half-assed about it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Wesker

Islam presents a problem when it comes to respecting other cultures. Islam seems to have a victim complex. Muslims can inflict all kinds of horrible violence upon each other and theres nary a peep of protest. Release a rumor of Koran abuse or draw a cartoon of Mohammad and theres hell to pay. It seesm that only the "infidel" can be guilty of offenses against Muslims. This presents the occupying forces with the dilemma of trying to protect a people from themselves. Any actions taken against the offending party, if the offending party is Muslim, and the occupying force is the guilty one. It's a no win situation.Knowing this, "insurgents" and terrorists often hole up in mosques, knowing that for the infidel Americans to go after them would be some sort of horrific offense against islam and cause a public outcry.

This is exactly the type of attitude that makes your policy fail in Muslim countries. If you don't like Islam, you better stay the fuck out of the Middle East.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Wesker

About the Muslim attitudes, face it, there is tons of Muslim outrage towards any actions, real or imagined, conducted by the west, but beheadings, bombings etc. are all reasonably tolerated by most Muslims.

The death penalty is also tolerated by most Americans.

How ya doing, buddy?

It's still murder, though. And I still think countries should be allowed to make their own laws; however uncivilized they might seem to us - it's none of our business.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Adamgian

Secondly, I will take severe difference with your opinion on suicide bombings. They are utterly deplored in most countries with stable governments. Just look at the hotel bombings in Amman or multiple attacks in Saudi Arabia. As always, they are applauded by the minority that sponsors them, but the populations always have revolted against them. In both countries though, its a harder thing to notice from the outside than the inside, but after living in Saudi Arabia through some of the deadliest attacks, I can safely say that its not something the countries people condone.

Muslims protesting against terrorist attacks just don't excite people too much to be shown on TV. An angry, AK-47-wielding mob of Muslims with oversized photographs of martyrs suicide bombers, however, is pure entertainment.

As in every society, the radical/fundamentalist groups tend to be the loudest. No different in Europe or America.

How ya doing, buddy?