Friedman up the escalation ladder
Tue May 17, 2005 at 09:58:11 PM PDT
Now he is so clueless about how to end the suicide bombing of civilians (so am I) that he openly advocates esclation of the war:
If the Arab world, its media and its spiritual leaders, came out and forcefully and repeatedly condemned those who mount these suicide attacks, and if credible Sunnis were given their fair share in the Iraqi government, I am certain a lot of this suicide bombing would stop.... That is the only way it stops, because we don't know who is who. It takes the village - and right now the Sunni Arab village needs to be pressured and induced to restrain those among them who are engaging in these suicidal murders of innocents.
The logic is escalation: He can't handle Iraq, so he wants to handle the entire Sunni Arab world. Brilliant.
The Battle of Fallujah: A Thought from Tokyo
Wed Nov 17, 2004 at 07:38:51 PM PDT
America has won this battle. It was an overwhelming success, much more than I thoght possible initially. The success is, at least in part, owed to Sistani who did not intervene. (I am not about to argue whether it was a good thing.) Nor did Muqtada. Partially, their silience can be attributed to the evil which the Fallujah fighters represent. But, on the other hand, it is equally illusory to assume their silence is entirely based on conscience. Let's face it; Iraqis must be feeling as desperate as Democrats after the presidential election. If all the sacrifices on both sides for 18 months cannot force Americans to understand the true nature of the disaster, they would naturally wonder, what will? It's time for them to think pragmatically, and they know it. The Iraqi election is only 2 months away, why not just let it happen? Why don't we (Iraqis) let Americans have what they want and let them go home?
America will not betray me, I know it, in Japan.
Mon Nov 01, 2004 at 11:54:23 PM PDT
I have not identified myself until now. I'm Japanese, growing up in the 1960s under JFK. A 1968 liberal (Maoist) turning into a politically inactive cynic. I believe Ron Reagan was a good man. (So was Jimmy Carter.) I made an internet donation to American Red Cross on 9/11 watching TV in my home (it was just after the funeral service for my father, a former Japanese army officer). I supported Bush in the war on Afghanistan; I even felt he was a good president.
Back in 1960s, many Japanese questioned the Vietnam war. So did I, but we thought Americans would not understand us in Asia. I was astounded then when America woke up. I organized a high school peace coalition. Our society, of course, recognized my activities, and when I graduated from college in 1970s I could not find an employer. I then studied in the States and learned to be proud of what I am.
