Predator Drones

[Azdgari]

Woeler, have you ever taken time to get to know someone who practices Islam, or spent time in an Islamic country? Because that kind of stuff really helps one develop some empathy and understanding. As it is... I guess I don't want to get into it. I really don't agree with what you're saying on a lot of levels, I don't think it's good stuff at all. I guess that's as far as I want to go. We've got a tendency to end up in a stalemate when it comes to religion, neh? ;P

[Regulus]

If only that reason would be ''because they bomb us'', but that isn't their reason. Their reason is ''because they are not Muslims, or the insult Allah''.

It isn't just because we bomb them. It is because we have been trying to westernize their culture.

From their point of view, we are the ones condemning them. And I'm not going to say they are wrong to believe that.

@Azd, Yes I know Islamic people, I have visited mosques, I have read the Quran both in English and in Dutch. I will not feel the slightest empathy for an ideology (with its followers) that goes out of its way to insult, to judge and to condemn me as an inadequate human being, which this ideology does with self-righteous gusto.

So... we should kill them?

We're talking about a civilization that does not differentiate their sewer from their drinking water. Essentially, they're living at least 2000 years in the past, because even the ancient Romans managed to do that.

National security is hardly as big of an issue as the politicians make it seem.

Live and let live.

[Azdgari]

Do you think that we should eradicate Christians and Jews as well?

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.

[Azdgari]

And since the Taliban consists of extremists (by its very nature) and not the average civilians (obviously, since the article you posted clearly differentiates the two), aren't you defeating your own point? That the average Pakistani/Middle Eastern is not a Taliban extremist?

[Azdgari]

You have some good points and bring up things I'll definitely look into. There is always a point at which preemptive action is more important than talking things out, and perhaps the Middle East is one of those cases. The outlook is indeed grim: however, I will continue to believe that the average Pakistani is more apt to worry about the well being of his/her family than attacking westerners, unless corralled to do so by Taliban agents OR bombed by the US. As I've said before, I think my nation should try to pursue a pathway that A) does not endanger civilians and B) does not perpetuate a cycle of hate. Does that pathway exist yet? I'm not sure. For now, though, I'm not content to say "They're inferior and can't be reasoned with. Kill them all."

If all muslims are as bad as you say, one in four people in the world is evil. Shouldn't we find a way to reconcile them and make peace, rather than exterminate them?

I do agree with you: our western culture is better than extreme Islam. There's no question. A culture that justifies rape and rampant misogyny is barbaric. Is our culture better than somewhere like Turkey? Not particularly, I don't think. They are Islamist in the way America is Christian: moderately, and secularly.

Those two questions I had before I'll ask of you elsewhere: I think they derail things a bit. ;3

[Azdgari]

I would have made a large glass dish from that area 50 years ago. Would have saved us a lot of nonsense.

Careful what you say then, friend.

[Azdgari]

In the context of calling the area a cancer to the earth? It didn't seem to me like the idea was abhorrent to you. I realize otherwise now. :]

[Baya]

Woeler, I mean no disrespect, but all religions are silly in their nature, not just Islam. Islam is violent, but so is Judaism and Christianity. If you say Santa doesn't exist, but then assert that a Christian, Muslim or Judaic God does, then you are defeating your own reasoning.

Now, as for the use of drones...I'd like to make a correction. Drones are not only used for Arabic Countries, as Afghanistan and select regions around it are not Arabic. I just thought I'd clarify for the sake of eliminating a generalization that America only goes to war with Arabic countries.

Second, the use of drones is definitely unethical and costly. Yes, American Soldier's lives are spared, but one American soldier's life equates to civilian casualties? That doesn't sound at all like a logical rationale for using unmanned and inaccurate drones. Yes, there are extremists hidden in huge villages, but killing ten innocents to capture one criminal does not remotely seem like a democratic principle, now does it?

[SlayerOfLight]

Woeler, I mean no disrespect, but all religions are silly in their nature, not just Islam. Islam is violent, but so is Judaism and Christianity. If you say Santa doesn't exist, but then assert that a Christian, Muslim or Judaic God does, then you are defeating your own reasoning.

Fair enough if you think Christianity is just as ''silly'' as islam when it comes to believing in an almighty being, but please at least acknowledge the fact that we (true) christians aren't terrorists, don't threaten cartoonists with death, and don't beat up or kill non religious people, and the list goes on...

[Azdgari]

I don't think true muslims do that either. Truly religious people are truly peaceful people.