Frightning? Not really. Not when you consider that the reason the Taliban were able to come to power was because Afganistan was ruined by 20 years of war. That the people were so sick and tired of total lawlessnes they would have clung to anyone who was offering order.
For all the pugilistic rhetoric America is still a very open and democratic country. There is still a functional government, a judiciary, public services.
There's just as extreme comments from the "opposition" too. Those who think people with faith have a mental disease, or stupid. That any form of organised religion should be shut down.
So it's not "frighting", it's just people with extreme views getting airtime - hardly unsurprising, since it's entertaining and thus newsworthy.
It's in countries that are vulnerable that there are "Taliban" issues. Countries where law and order, over freedom and conscience, looks like a good idea. Russia would be the big one. China's already there.
While I think the term "American Taliban" could apply to some of these people, it's a bit hysterical to use it with regard to many of the others quoted.
Secondly, the quote from James Watt is bullshit. He never said it. See Powerline (or are they part of the "American Taliban" too?): http://powerlineblog.com/archives/009510.php#009510
I also have grave doubts that the George Bush Senior quote is genuine, although I'm happy to be proved wrong.
muerk that is so far off the mark it is also frightening... the concern with the USA is that these people have very real political power. not only Dubya, irrational nutcases like these have control over budgets, police forces, and large numbers of followers in many separate instances.
people like this are happy to try and execute doctors who perform terminations. people like this genuinely think that iraq is all about defeating al qaeda.
and, 'American Taliban' is no more hysterical than the phrase 'Islamofascist'. they're both indicating single-minded extremists who see everything in black and white.
Frightning? Not really. Not when you consider that the reason the Taliban were able to come to power was because Afganistan was ruined by 20 years of war. That the people were so sick and tired of total lawlessnes they would have clung to anyone who was offering order.
ReplyDeleteFor all the pugilistic rhetoric America is still a very open and democratic country. There is still a functional government, a judiciary, public services.
There's just as extreme comments from the "opposition" too. Those who think people with faith have a mental disease, or stupid. That any form of organised religion should be shut down.
So it's not "frighting", it's just people with extreme views getting airtime - hardly unsurprising, since it's entertaining and thus newsworthy.
It's in countries that are vulnerable that there are "Taliban" issues. Countries where law and order, over freedom and conscience, looks like a good idea. Russia would be the big one. China's already there.
While I think the term "American Taliban" could apply to some of these people, it's a bit hysterical to use it with regard to many of the others quoted.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the quote from James Watt is bullshit. He never said it. See Powerline (or are they part of the "American Taliban" too?): http://powerlineblog.com/archives/009510.php#009510
I also have grave doubts that the George Bush Senior quote is genuine, although I'm happy to be proved wrong.
muerk that is so far off the mark it is also frightening... the concern with the USA is that these people have very real political power. not only Dubya, irrational nutcases like these have control over budgets, police forces, and large numbers of followers in many separate instances.
ReplyDeletepeople like this are happy to try and execute doctors who perform terminations. people like this genuinely think that iraq is all about defeating al qaeda.
and, 'American Taliban' is no more hysterical than the phrase 'Islamofascist'. they're both indicating single-minded extremists who see everything in black and white.