"We must preserve Al Qaeda. It has its uses"

[Thunder]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/10/the_case_for_keeping_al_qaeda?page=0,0

You read correctly. Some dumb-ass is actually arguing that Al-Qaeda should not be completely destroyed, but preserved in a minimal way, to keep Islamist terrorists centralized.

Honestly, if there is any article that will add fuel to the fire of conspiracy theorists and other fools who believe that there is some sort of relationship between the West and Al Qaeda, this is it.

For anyone to suggest that Al Qaeda should suffer anything less then complete irradication, is a real dick.

 

[Ocelot]

I thought that the in vogue argument a while back was that Al Qaeda wasn't centralised anyway?

 

[mortimer]

NEWS FLASH: College Student Says Something Dumb on the Internets!

 

[Thunder]

NEWS FLASH: College Student Says Something Dumb on the Internets!

the writer is a college student?

 

[drkitten]

the writer is a college student?

Yes: Gustavo de las Casas is a doctoral candidate in international relations at Columbia University.

 

[Cynic]

I think at the doctoral level, the term "college student" is misleading. A doctoral candidate shouldn't be seen as somehow less relevant or serious than someone who has only a batchelors or less and isn't aspiring to higher degrees.

 

[drkitten]

I think at the doctoral level, the term "college student" is misleading. A doctoral candidate shouldn't be seen as somehow less relevant or serious than someone who has only a batchelors or less and isn't aspiring to higher degrees.

I don't think that this particular idiot is being seen as "less relevant" than a similarly situated idiot on his way to a B.A. I think he's being seen as "just as irrelevant" as a sophomore who posted drivel like this.

And justifiably so, IMHO.

 

[Cynic]

Yeah, I'm not really defending the guy, though it's something to think about. If assymetric warfare is difficult, making it more assymetric would therefore make it more difficult. But somehow I just don't think there's a way of getting around that in a way that isn't stupid.

 

[Brainster]

I suspect he's a Jew, too.

 

[Thunder]

Yes: Gustavo de las Casas is a doctoral candidate in international relations at Columbia University.

well, it doesn't mean he is 25. he could have gone back to school after 20 years in the private sector.

 

[drkitten]

well, it doesn't mean he is 25. he could have gone back to school after 20 years in the private sector.

No, it doesn't. I don't think I suggested that he was 25. But if he had any relevant private sector experience, the bio probably would have mentioned it. ("De las Casas is the former Ambassador to Pakistan and a doctoral student at Columbia.")

And although I didn't say it then, yes, my bet would be that he's fairly young, or at least inexperienced. Working for 20 years as a manager at a Macy's, for example, might make him 45, but it wouldn't make him knowledgeable about Weltpolitik.

 

[leftysergeant]

He's a fascist, actually. He believes that nationalism is good for a country because it reduces crime. I hope he is laughed out of the system. Steven Jones is sharper than that turd.

I'll tell you what use al Qaeda is to anybody.

Morons like the Shrub need a super-villain against whom to fight in order to make it look lioke they are themselves worth somethiong to the country.

Think of Super Man without Lex Luthor to fight.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Morons like the Shrub need a super-villain against whom to fight in order to make it look lioke they are themselves worth somethiong to the country.

Please don't talk like a Troofer. You aren't one.

As to the idiot, Al Q was never centralized. He doesn't get 4th generation warfare, but then, most people don't. His "keep Al Q around to attract terrorists" is as brilliant as "go to Iraq, all the terrorists will go there and we'll kill them in Iraq."

In short, he's yet another fool, the kind of guy General Franks was referring to when he called Feith the stupidest smart guy he'd met.

DR

 

[Whiplash]

NEWS FLASH: College Student Says Something Dumb on the Internets!

And Parky starts yet another another new post to recognize it.

 

[Tailgater]

For anyone to suggest that Al Qaeda should suffer anything less then complete irradication, is a real dick.

Complete irradication is your solution?

 

[Locknar]

Several posts have been moved to AAH; posts be be on topic...and attack the argument not the arguer.

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: Locknar

 

[INRM]

This is a flawed argument as Al Qaeda is not centralized.

To make it worse as long as there is an Al Qaeda boogeyman out there, the government can continue to justify greater assertions of power.

 

[Tailgater]

Blah, Locknar, you didn't move my "irradication" post with the rest to AAH.

That's ok. DR got it.

 

[leftysergeant]

Complete irradication is your solution?

It is probably impossible now to totally wipe out all of al Qaeda, but where ever an operational cell is found, blast them into oblivion, send in teams to get them and put them on trial for terrorism. Whatever it takes. Treat them like any criminal organization.

The Taliban are quite another critter.

 

[Cynic]

It is probably impossible now to totally wipe out all of al Qaeda, but where ever an operational cell is found, blast them into oblivion, send in teams to get them and put them on trial for terrorism. Whatever it takes. Treat them like any criminal organization.

That's just the thing, isn't it? With regard to criminal organizations we don't do what you suggested. We infiltrate, and watch, and plan, etc. We try to prevent their crimes while leaving them largely intact because we know that if you make them scatter, they're still exist and we won't have any advantage over them whatsoever. It's a frustrating situation, but it's real. the kid might be an idiot, but the underlying foundation of his theory isn't fictional.