I never held myself up as a moral paradigm of virtue. However if groups like the SAS decimate ISIS enough that Kurds or moderate Syrian rebels can kick them out of the area more power to them.
War is hell, people die. The “Yay!” in this particular scenario is, at least in part, a more direct and precise approach to how The West is doing it’s part. Blowing up a couple buildings to hit a single dude the way the US has been doing things for the last 6 or so years, with the resulting excessive property damage and collateral injuries, has arguably strengthened anti-Western opinions. And rightly so. This approach is more surgical and unintended casualties would be expected to be much lower. As much as possible, it’s a much more respectful way of conducting an invasive action.
I don’t get why more people don’t understand this. Before oil was valuable, people in the Middle East used to wander around eating sand(hyperbole). If we, the great technological power, could render their oil worthless, why not go for it?
Our plan is to use up all of the oil, just like we killed off the buffalo and got rid of those other pesky nomads that were standing in our way. We don’t have a plan, that’s our problem; lack of resolve and foresight to do what’s best in the long run. So instead we lustfully celebrate the spilling of blood in the arena. Yay!
So yes, I celebrate us doing something targeted to a group that is supporting and performing beheadings while making a spectacle out of it; but I’d prefer we took a longer view of things. But since that ain’t happening anytime soon then hurray for our side for striking back in an smarter way than a just another smart bomb.
Because that way the boys with guns wouldn’t get any new toys, and more importantly, the fat cats who profit from making those toys won’t get any new money. Plus, plenty of Western interests make money from oil, and they need their dollar fix just like any other addict.
I’ve wondered about this too. A fraction of the 2-4 trillion the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan will end up costing us could’ve totally revamped our energy system. Even a small % devoted to research & subsidies could have changed transportation drastically.
ISIS is now threatening to use nuclear weapons against the UK.
We don’t have a plan, that’s our problem; lack of resolve and foresight to do what’s best in the long run. So instead we lustfully celebrate the spilling of blood in the arena. Yay!