tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post4015898683165293539..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Reply to Reppert on "torture"Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-33713168192210703752007-11-14T19:15:00.000-05:002007-11-14T19:15:00.000-05:00"Jim Lippard said:In general, however, terrorists ..."Jim Lippard said:<BR/>In general, however, terrorists are not representatives of any country at war with the United States. It's more of a law enforcement and intelligence issue than a matter of warfare, despite the 'war on terrorism' terminology. Wars against tactics and concepts without defined goals or accountability to clear measures of success or failure have historically led to obvious failures"<BR/><BR/>i) We don't have the luxury of choosing our enemies. They choose us.<BR/><BR/>ii) How do you propose that we obtain intelligence?<BR/><BR/>iii) What do you propose we do with intelligence?stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-72263390475162673152007-11-14T18:00:00.000-05:002007-11-14T18:00:00.000-05:00In general, however, terrorists are not representa...In general, however, terrorists are not representatives of any country at war with the United States. It's more of a law enforcement and intelligence issue than a matter of warfare, despite the "war on terrorism" terminology. Wars against tactics and concepts without defined goals or accountability to clear measures of success or failure have historically led to obvious failures (see, e.g., the war on poverty and the war on some drugs--where there have been reductions in poverty and drug use it has been largely despite government efforts rather than because of them).<BR/><BR/>BTW, the recent successes in Sunni-dominated areas in Iraq (both Anbar province and the Ghazaliya suburb of Baghdad) have come about largely because the U.S. has started supplying weapons to Sunni tribal militias who had been fighting against us in return for their support (which hasn't made the Shia majority government, which has simultaneously been engaging in ethnic cleansing against Sunnis, very happy).Lippardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16826768452963498005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-50954128395920081212007-11-12T12:44:00.000-05:002007-11-12T12:44:00.000-05:00Ronnie said:Steve,Isn't part of the justification ...Ronnie said:<BR/>Steve,<BR/><BR/>Isn't part of the justification for this also that Terrorist do not comply to the Geneva Covention so why should we respect it in regards to them? They are video taping the decapitation of innocent people, who are not even part of a military and they want us to be concerned about waterboarding?<BR/><BR/>***************************************<BR/><BR/>Correct, Ronnie. The point of the Geneva Conventions is to reward those who respect the rules of warfare and penalize those who flout the rules of warfare. If, however, the Conventions are extended to cover everyone, then there's no incentive for anyone to respect the laws of warfare.stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-595803594655867662007-11-12T12:34:00.000-05:002007-11-12T12:34:00.000-05:00Steve,Isn't part of the justification for this als...Steve,<BR/><BR/>Isn't part of the justification for this also that Terrorist do not comply to the Geneva Covention so why should we respect it in regards to them? They are video taping the decapitation of innocent people, who are not even part of a military and they want us to be concerned about waterboarding?Ronniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12999674884401144818noreply@blogger.com