Unattributed e-mail forward worthy of reading.

[dorminWS]

Subject: Rattlesnake Logic

As long as we insist on maintaining the "moral high ground" we will NEVER win the war on terrorism. We're in a conflict in which we absolutely insist in playing by the rules against a maniacal group who have no rules.

Rattlesnake Logic

After the Boston bombing the news media spent days and weeks trying to determine why these men did what they did. They want to know what America did to make these brothers so angry with us. They want to know why these men were not arrested before they did something so terrible. The media is in a tizzy about this new era of homegrown radicals, and about why they could live among us and still hate us.

A friend of mine from Texas explained it all to me: “Here in west Texas I have rattlesnakes on my place, living among us. I have killed a rattlesnake on the front porch. I have killed a rattlesnake on the back porch. I have killed rattlesnakes in the barn, in the shop and on the driveway. In fact, I kill every rattlesnake I encounter.

I kill rattlesnakes because I know a rattlesnake will bite me and inject me with poison. I don’t stop to wonder why a rattlesnake will bite me; I know it will bite me because it's a rattlesnake and that's what rattlesnakes do. I don’t try to reason with a rattlesnake…I just kill it. I don’t try to get to know the rattlesnake better so I can find a way to live with the rattlesnakes and convince them not to bite me. I just kill them. I don’t quiz a rattlesnake to see it I can find out where the other snakes are, because (a) it won’t tell me, and (b) I already know they live on my place. So, I just kill the rattlesnake and move on to the next one.

I don’t look for ways I might be able to change the rattlesnake to a non-poisonous rat snake...I just kill it. Oh, and on occasion, I accidentally kill a rat snake because I thought it was a rattlesnake at the time. Also, I know, for every rattlesnake I kill, two more are lurking out there in the brush. In my lifetime I will never be able to rid my place of rattlesnakes. Do I fear them? No!

Do I respect what they can do to me? Yes! And because of that respect I give them the fair justice they deserve.... I kill them...”
Maybe as a country we should start giving more thought to the fact that these jihadists' are just like rattlesnakes, and act accordingly!

I love this country; it's the damn government I'm afraid of.

[smltooner]

Well said.

[BertMacklin]

I must disagree, with sentiments about the Boston Bombers in particular, to a greater degree the individuals born into and subsequently resist an occupation. Dehumanization of an enemy, even those that use questionable tactics or what we in a currently free west define as terrorism, has served to liken our own actions to killing snakes. No one who was not born into occupation can fully understand the amount of desperation that this causes one to undertake in resisting an occupation. But one can ask a few questions.

Would the U.S. be a target, or as likely a target, of Chechen radicals if we were not allies of Russia proper?

Why do Al-Qaeda and ISIS have a clash of ideals?

Why has dropping ordinance by the thousand pound failed as a tactic in quelling radicals?

Why is ISIS attempting to gain notoriety, perhaps trying to get the U.S. to attempt similar airstrike based warfare in the middle-east again?

Keep itching that poison ivy, it'll feel better till it grows some more. I never understood how any act that goes against western principles in a fashion that would possibly permit victory is cowardice, an IED on a road, but when we launch hellfires from drones it is somehow more righteous.

This is really besides the point, that our bombs, our current methods of the last decade are only good for one thing; building an army where there once was none.

[dorminWS]

In my mind, at least, the "killing rattlesnakes" metaphor implies a more personal transaction than bombing with drones. But Barry doesn't want to get anyone's boots dirty.

[BertMacklin]

In my mind, at least, the "killing rattlesnakes" metaphor implies a more personal transaction than bombing with drones. But Barry doesn't want to get anyone's boots dirty.

Even so a campaign of brute force in any form, IE the low road, would only serve to swell recruitment.

[dorminWS]

In my mind, at least, the "killing rattlesnakes" metaphor implies a more personal transaction than bombing with drones. But Barry doesn't want to get anyone's boots dirty.

Even so a campaign of brute force in any form, IE the low road, would only serve to swell recruitment.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Even so, won't meek forbearance also only serve to encourage the perpetration of more outrage? I think the point is, that if you poke a snake you will definitely antagonize him, but he is going to bite you whether you poke him or not. Nature of the beast. Can't live with them as they are. Can't reason with them or change their nature. All that's left is to kill them.

[Reverenddel]

When people hate you for illogical reasons, you cannot reason with them via logic.

They hate our freedoms, our culture, our lifestyles, our way of life. We really couldn't care any less how they live, what they believe, or how they run their lives... but when they act stupid, and now I have to take my frakin' shoes off before I board a plane, or I have to worry any time I'm in a place with a large group of folks?

Screw that... Use rattlesnakes, take them out. Period. Done playing, and talking about it.

[0ne5hot]

Why don't we just carpet bomb the place with Rattlesnakes? It would be cheaper then conventional bombs and could have lasting effects on the region. And it would make an awesome foreign policy "You screw with us, we will rain down justice of biblical proportions on you."

[Reverenddel]

Strangely, I'm okay with this Rattlesnake bombing approach.

Because it would indeed allow Samuel L Jackson to profess "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I'm tired of these monday through friday jihadist on this monkey fighting plane." (snakes drop)

[SHMIV]

May as well drop down scorpions, too, and any other venomous creature that could survive the climate. And wouldn't that just screw with the UN? Awesomeness.

My experience with Muslims has been 100% negative. Considering that I cannot say the same for folks affiliated with any other religion, or lack thereof, I must conclude that the problem is with Muslims. Judging by Muslim behavior, reactions, and noticeable lack of reactions, I consider Islam to be a mental virus. Once infected, it seems that recovery won't happen. Kind of like a dog with distemper; the humane thing to do is to put him down.

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[BertMacklin]

In my mind, at least, the "killing rattlesnakes" metaphor implies a more personal transaction than bombing with drones. But Barry doesn't want to get anyone's boots dirty.

Even so a campaign of brute force in any form, IE the low road, would only serve to swell recruitment.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Even so, won't meek forbearance also only serve to encourage the perpetration of more outrage? I think the point is, that if you poke a snake you will definitely antagonize him, but he is going to bite you whether you poke him or not. Nature of the beast. Can't live with them as they are. Can't reason with them or change their nature. All that's left is to kill them.

But the argument is not simply for lethal force, it is to justify lethal force without thinking, without control, without understanding the why and how and consequences of the matter. I can kill a snake without fear because there are no moderate snakes or snake sons or cultural snake systems. Bring back random night raids, non-restrictive rules of engagement, permanent detention based possibly on suspicion alone, shooting mosques to blow off steam, and we expect terrorists or just any Muslim to show us sensibility in return?

We only support those who would support us just before they are annihilated, so guess who comes out on top every time when the smoke clears.

Its only a reactive response, much like our own. Both sides, at least the hardliners in charge anyway, think that the other is a plague which can not be bent only destroyed. Sure they may be eventually right if we continue on this path, but now everyone is just trying to get a head start on the process. If I hold a mirror up to SHMIV would it come out ISIS? Hard to morally oppose something we know so well.

[SHMIV]

No, there is no ISIS in my mirror. I don't cut people's heads off with a pocket knife.

Also, I don't suggest killing anyone simply because they disagree with me. My stance is purely defensive. By all accounts, we are at war with Islam. I believe that we would be prudent to act accordingly.

Islam started this war. They appear to kill folks that don't wish to convert to their religion. They also don't mind killing themselves in the process; in fact, that seems to be their preference. That's another difference; I may die for something that I believe in, but that damn sure won't be my first choice! In fact, I would try to find another way, if possible. And, in the event that I must die that way, it won't be because I strapped a bomb to myself and sat in a crowded shopping mall to blow myself up. That's just asinine.

Like I said; it is a war. Act accordingly.

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[MarcSpaz]

If waited, but I can't take it anymore.

It takes a monster to kill a monster.

There is no moral high or low ground. There is only death and survival.

There is no clash of ideals between Al-Qaeda and ISIS because they are one and the same. The same people, same individuals, just new flashy name.

The only way to stop someone who wants to kill everyone is simply to kill them first. Period. Take morality out of it and send your monster or die.

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[dusterdude]

You got it

[AlanM]

Dispatch them mercifully but proclaim that all will be buried in an undisclosed location sewn in a pig skin bag.

[smltooner]

I'm with you, Marc.....well said.

[j1mmyd]

Pretty sure the rattlesnake metaphor applies to these issues here at home.

Note that it didn't mention running onto the neighbor's place to hunt down his rattlesnakes or intentionally jumping into their nest and then feigning puzzlement at being bitten.

Conversely, it didn't say you should let them bite you while on business at the neighbors' place or preclude you from burning out that nest if it poses a threat.

It was quite simply, "Go about your business and kill what threatens you" without overthinking it. I like it!