# Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera HQ in Doha, Qatar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 22, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282 "2005-11-22T18:06:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/81 "2005-11-24T03:39:52Z")
Getting back to the memo-it HAD to be a joke, just because even Bush had to know someone would have said “Hey, wait a minute” for all of the reasons listed. He wasn’t and isn’t dumb enough to send troops into a friendly country. A country that we’ve fought and he could make a half-assed story about? Sure. But not blowing up Qatar. He knew and knows who Al-Jazeera is, and he would not have attacked them there. In Iraq I’d buy that he or someone else “unoffically” had them attacked. But not in another country for all the world to see. You have to give the current Powers That Be this much credit: they can plan things out. Not enough to help the soldiers in Iraq, but enough that they still smell like roses to a segment of the population. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/82 "2005-11-24T05:32:47Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Because my gentle and sweet cousin Clay was in Viet Nam. He told me what he did, and saw, and I believe him. Because I know that the brutality and fear that war generates is corrosive to the human soul, and rots away the humanity of even the best of us. With the worst of us, it just takes less time. Luc, according to Abe, that’s one of those logical fallacies. Just because fear and brutality rotted away your cousin’s humanity doesn’t mean shit. Your conclusion ought more properly to be that it might be genetic. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/83 "2005-11-24T05:40:56Z")
You may well have a point, since he and I are both Texans, hence we derive from a stagnant gene pool, one of the backwater swamps of the Caucasian sub-species: Ireland, Texas, Australia, all very similar in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/84 "2005-11-24T05:43:42Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > In order to be clear : the “let’s bomb Al-Jazeera” concept seems so utterly stupid that I have a hard time believing this story could be true. > > But I’m left quite speechless reading the various hypothesis made on this issue. Roughly, people are calmy debatting about whether the US president is totally incompetent or a complete moron or a souless mass-murderer… Yeah, I noticed that, too. I was wondering why no one is wondering why no one has asked for any confirmation, or isn’t that needed anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/85 "2005-11-24T05:50:17Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Let me bring this down a notch. Combat corrodes humanity. There are people who can endure fear and stress for interminable lengths of time and keep thier humanity and compassion intact. They are, regretably, rare. And, there are people who generalize, who paint with a very broad brush other people who they know nothing about, based on cherry-picked anecdotal evidence. They are, regrettably, all over the fucking place. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/86 "2005-11-24T05:55:13Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > … therefore, they have no conscience. Nit-pick: Shouldn’t that be “consciences”? And, how, might I ask, would you know who has one and who doesn’t, or does that omniscience come with the attitude? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/87 "2005-11-24T05:56:01Z")
And let me clarify a point, lest I slander kinfolk. He was reporting what he saw happen to others. But there is nothing unique in his experience, it is regretably all too common. People will do terrible things to people they hate, but even more terrible things to people they are afraid of. Luckily, the mostly just insult those that they envy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/88 "2005-11-24T06:00:58Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > I was wondering why no one is wondering why no one has asked for any confirmation, or isn’t that needed anymore? Yes, well, the problem with that is that the British Government not only controls the “confirmation,” but has threatened anyone who publishes it with prosecution under the Official Secrets Act. See post #43. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/89 "2005-11-24T06:12:09Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > So, do you have some figure to disclose in support of this statement? Because, given that the USA refuses to provide any estimate of the Iraki casualties, how could we compare them with other conflicts? So, how is **spifflog’s** undocumented presumption of parity any different from anyone else’s undocumented presumption of perfidiousness. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/90 "2005-11-24T06:15:32Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > If that were the case, it would still be inexcusable. One of the unspoken rules of war is, you try not to wipe out your allies. If after all these years as president, Bush still can’t keep his friends and enemies straight, it’s pathetic. Just like during the debates he kept confusing and confaliting Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan. It’s usually important to know who you are planning to blow up. Yeah, usually, but not for Bush… remember, he’s a moron. The same moron who tricked all those Democrats into voting to authorize use of force in Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/91 "2005-11-24T06:21:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And let me clarify a point, lest I slander kinfolk. He was reporting what he saw happen to others. But there is nothing unique in his experience, it is regretably all too common. > > People will do terrible things to people they hate, but even more terrible things to people they are afraid of. > > Luckily, the mostly just insult those that they envy. I don’t know from insults, **Luc** , but I think you should reconsider your position that there is nothing unique in any soldier’s experience. Frankly, that attitude helps make it easier to send hundreds of thousands of them off to war in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/92 "2005-11-24T06:23:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Yes, well, the problem with that is that the British Government not only controls the “confirmation,” but has threatened anyone who publishes it with prosecution under the Official Secrets Act. See post #43. :mad: You mean British subjects actually _obey_ such governmental edicts??? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/93 "2005-11-24T06:41:33Z")
We seem to have reached some sort of communication impasse, here… > [@Dishfunctional](#): > > I don’t know from insults, **Luc** , but I think you should reconsider your position that there is nothing unique in any soldier’s experience… Apparently, you have no idea what I said… > [@](#): > > …_Frankly, that attitude helps make it easier to send hundreds of thousands of them off to war in the first place_. …and I have no clue as to what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/94 "2005-11-24T06:48:04Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > And, how, might I ask, would you know who has one and who doesn’t, or does that omniscience come with the attitude? Amusing. The guy who’s _against_ mass killing and destruction has an “attitude”. I know they have no moral code because they demonstrate none - simple as that. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/95 "2005-11-24T06:49:36Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > We seem to have reached some sort of communication impasse, here… > > Apparently, you have no idea what I said… > …and I have no clue as to what you’re talking about. You may be right… I thought you were generalizing, making blanket statements about all soldiers based on your cousin’s experiences in Nam, and then extrapolating further that combat rots the humanity of all who experience it. Excuse me if you weren’t. Shame on you if you were. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/96 "2005-11-24T06:58:47Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > Amusing. The guy who’s _against_ mass killing and destruction has an “attitude”. > > I know they have no moral code because they demonstrate none - simple as that. You know, that really is simple! I didn’t realize you were the Ultimate Observer, Discriminator and Judge Supreme of Conscience. But all joking aside, that moral code you don’t see, could it be that you just don’t recognize it? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/97 "2005-11-24T07:06:11Z")
Me: “…There are people who can endure fear and stress for interminable lengths of time and keep thier humanity and compassion intact…” You: “…then extrapolating further that combat rots the humanity of all who experience it…” And, again… Me: “…There is much in their narratives unique…” You: “… I think you should reconsider your position that there is nothing unique in any soldier’s experience…” Contrast and compare. Its not _potato, potahto_. You’re not even _close_. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/98 "2005-11-24T07:25:54Z")
You know, there’s another possibility… What if its a leak from Blair’s people, and all this huffing and puffing about ‘official secrets’ is just a smoke screen. That he’s trying to distance himself in the eyes of the Brits by letting it slip out how he kept George the Certifiable from doing something really stupid? Keeping in mind a couple things: first, that the Bushiviks were not reticent in bandying about the notion that Al-Jazeera was little more than a propaganda arm for AlQ. And that he has a bit of a history for rash statements. For instance, Woodwards book about him has him ducking his head into Condi Rice’s and saying “Fuck Saddam! We’re taking him out!”. Of course, this was right about the same time as he was telling us that he was not a war monger, that he was going to exhaust all opportunity to avoid war, etc., lie, and etc. Recall his ultimatum to the Security Council. Remember? How he said he was going to demand the second resolution vote regardless, that he was calling their bluff, that he was going to have everybody’s cards on the table? Remember how that went “Poof! Gone!” Proving that someone on staff can count to seventeen. So he says it, Tony the Poodle says, “Oh, not the done thing, you know, George, launching uprovoked air raids on…yes, of course we are, but Iraq isn’t an _ally_, surely you do see that, don’t you?..” And they both forget about it until Tony finds it useful… ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/99 "2005-11-24T07:31:53Z")
Ah, I see what happened… _time warp!_ Here you go: You: “Because my gentle and sweet cousin Clay was in Viet Nam. He told me what he did, and saw, and I believe him. Because I know that the brutality and fear that war generates is corrosive to the human soul, **and rots away the humanity of even the best of us. With the worst of us, it just takes less time.** ” Me: …then extrapolating further that combat rots the humanity of all who experience it… You: “And let me clarify a point, lest I slander kinfolk. He was reporting what he saw happen to others. But **there is nothing unique in his experience,** it is regretably all too common.” Me … I think you should reconsider your position that there is nothing unique in any soldier’s experience…" I know… it’s late. I guess my point is that some rise to the occasion, as hard as that may be for you to imagine. For every writer who decries the horror a soldier sees in war, there are others who proclaim the valor. We are each unique, as are our responses to our unique experiences, and it’s no more fair to compare your cousin to, say, Genghis Khan than it would be to compare Genghis Khan to all soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/100 "2005-11-24T07:38:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You know, there’s another possibility… > > What if its a leak from Blair’s people, and all this huffing and puffing about ‘official secrets’ is just a smoke screen. That he’s trying to distance himself in the eyes of the Brits by letting it slip out how he kept George the Certifiable from doing something really stupid? > > Keeping in mind a couple things: first, that the Bushiviks were not reticent in bandying about the notion that Al-Jazeera was little more than a propaganda arm for AlQ. > > And that he has a bit of a history for rash statements. For instance, Woodwards book about him has him ducking his head into Condi Rice’s and saying “Fuck Saddam! We’re taking him out!”. Of course, this was right about the same time as he was telling us that he was not a war monger, that he was going to exhaust all opportunity to avoid war, etc., lie, and etc. > > Recall his ultimatum to the Security Council. Remember? How he said he was going to demand the second resolution vote regardless, that he was calling their bluff, that he was going to have everybody’s cards on the table? > > Remember how that went “Poof! Gone!” Proving that someone on staff can count to seventeen. > > So he says it, Tony the Poodle says, “Oh, not the done thing, you know, George, launching uprovoked air raids on…yes, of course we are, but Iraq isn’t an _ally_, surely you do see that, don’t you?..” > > And they both forget about it until Tony finds it useful… Sheesh… G’nite, Gracie. PS: Is there really such a place as Nipples, Minnesota? Google slapped my face! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282.md?page=6)