May 06, 2004

THE BRUCE OPTION

Mark Steyn on various Fallujah scenarios:

Tammy Bruce, the magnificent lesbian whom the doctrinaire left has driven over to the other side (politically speaking only, I hasten to add), has called on the US to “level Fallujah”, as long ago the RAF leveled Dresden and the USAF Hiroshima: that way the losing side knows it’s lost. “Steady on, old girl,” I thought, as I read Miss Bruce. I don’t subscribe to the view that we can win the “hearts and minds” of the Sunni Triangle, but, heartless and mindless as they are, I’m reluctant to kill 300,000 of them.

But Miss Bruce usefully clarified the options. If the Bush doctrine – fixing the problem at source by reforming dysfunctional states – is a long shot, what’s the alternative? If failed states stay failed, and we permit ourselves only to fight defensively, through e-mail chatter and airport security, and railway bombs neuter American allies even more thoroughly than they already are, and a suitcase nuke goes off in Dallas or Detroit, then at some point it’s going to be a choice between the Bruce option or a slow surrender.

Posted by Tim Blair at May 6, 2004 01:23 AM
Comments

I don't know about levelling the place but there's got to be some definitiveness to the victory with respect to the rabid terrorist scumbags that have been drawn there. As Frank Pentangeli says to Michael Corleone in GFII: "Jesus Christ. Look, let's get 'em all. Let's hit 'em all now, while we got the muscle."

The 'Franky Five Angels Option', lets say.

Posted by: CurrencyLad at May 6, 2004 at 01:42 AM

I have heard report that the police station which was invaded by Faloojians was thought to be harboring local women, who were being raped or sexually exploited by their guards.Given the situation at Abu Ghraib prison, which is very close to Falooja, we can hardly blaim them for this mistake. No prisoners were mistreated by the Police of Falooja, and after the militants had taken the department house I am sure their was much regret. The battle of Falooja could have been a case of reports leaked of tortures by the US devils compounded by mistaken attacks in righteous retribution against "atrocities" that never occured.

The lastest report is that the streets of Falooja today are more peaceful then the streets of Baghdad. Sending in a former general of Saddam's army was percisely the best move made during this series of tragic mistakes.

Posted by: Papertiger at May 6, 2004 at 08:12 AM

Please excuse me. the terms "torture" and "US devils" should have been put in scare quotes. I don't believe prisoners were tortured, or that US troops are devils.
I think that a few American prison guards freelanced and committed crimes that led to our problems in Falooja.

Posted by: Papertiger at May 6, 2004 at 08:36 AM

Virtually my entire phlanx of fascist friends have been snorking on about a few magatons for Fallujah for weeks; I'm surprised at the level of restraint shown. Given that the opposition is only mildly successful at soft-target bushwacking, a display of overwhelming power may just be the ticket to return them to their holes (or at least put most of them in one).

Posted by: Habib at May 6, 2004 at 11:35 AM

Given the way the jihadis are attacking all and sundry they are liable to anger the entire non-Musllim world eventually. Frighten countries like Russia, China, and others and they will hit back hard. Even France will hit back, if you scare them enough. These countries, unlike the US and Britain, are not likely to react by liberating Arabs and Muslims from tyranny in the hopes that will suppress terrorism. Those countries hardly think their own people should have liberty. Their reaction is more likely to be "The problem is Muslims. No Muslims, no problem." Anybody who wants to avoid that should be cheering for Bush, Blair, and Rummy.

Posted by: Michael Lonie at May 6, 2004 at 01:51 PM