On Moral Superiority

Interesting piece in the New York Post today about the U.S.'s refusal to bomb Taliban members who were gathered at a cemetery (in accordance with established rules of engagement. Apparently, the decision has led to a lot of outrage from people connected to the 9/11 attacks:

Lt. Robert Jackson, of Engine 54/Ladder 4 in Midtown - which lost 15 men at the WTC - noted that the Taliban don't play by the same rules as the American military, which said its higher ethical and moral standards prevented it from attacking the terrorists while they were gathered in a cemetery.

"The terrorists would not have held back," Jackson fumed.

"These guys are terrorist cowards. They hide behind women, they hide in schools. But we're not. We're the United States of America."

What Jackson doesn't see is that because we're America, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard. If we want to convince the world that we're any better than a vicious group of people willing to use any means to achieve their ends, then it is essential that they see our commitment to things like fair play and respect for human life.

The cemetery rules of engagement are there for a very important reason -- to allow our foes what they deny us: human dignity. Only in keeping the moral high ground will we make any headway in this nebulous "war" we've gotten into.

Why, Captain Obvious, How Nice To See You Again So Soon!

New York Times: In Unpredictable District, Some Say Bush Is Politicizing Terrorism. No, you think?

On a related note, the evangelical they interview in the story is refreshingly suspicious Bush's lie-filled rhetoric: “The whole thing about W.M.D. and that Iraq is somehow tied to 9/11, I just don’t believe it.” So maybe there is hope for the redemption of American Evangelicalism, after all?

Thank You, Captain Obvious

Obvious AP headline of the day: Senate Finds No al-Qaida-Saddam Link. This is what I've been trying to tell you people for the past five years.

File this under 'Headlines luaphacim Can't Resist'

Cannibal teacher may have had fourth victim

Seriously, isn't that irresistible? You clicked on it, didn't you? Go on, admit it.

This tickles my funny bone :-)

Note from the LuapHacim, 11/14/2012: The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect my current beliefs and convictions. Even if they do, I would almost certainly express them in different words today. Time changes people, and I am not exempt. Nonetheless, because of its historical value, I will not modify or remove this post. It tells you (and me) something important about where I've been. Read on at your own peril.

Sorry for the long absence; life has gotten in the way.

This makes me smile:

[Iranian president] Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shrugged off tomorrow's U.N.-imposed deadline for Iran to halt its nuclear program and said he and Bush should take their dispute to the airwaves.

"I suggest holding a live TV debate with Mr. George W. Bush to talk about world affairs and the ways to solve those issues," he said in a rare press conference in Tehran. "The debate should be uncensored, in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say, and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth."

Isn't that the best idea evar? The world's two least sane leaders in the same place, at the same time, talking at one another about the same topic.

One wonders if Bush's non sequiturs and rhetorical missteps would be able to hobble Ahmadinejad's twisted, outrageous, brilliant insanity. Either way, I'd watch it.