Airborneranger4israel
04-26-2004, 05:57 PM
Recently suicide bombers in Iraq blew themselves up in four attacks killing 68 people and wounding over hundred. All four bombs were located in front of the Iraqi police building. Many of the 69 people killed were innocent civilians including 23 school children. This tactic shows how the terrorists and insurgents will use cruel tactics to achieve an end result like Machiavelli described in The Prince.
Machiavelli says “is it better to be loved than feared, or the reverse?....it is much safer for a prince to be feared than loved,” The terrorists instill fear and hatred towards Muslims and their own people when their goal is to kill Americans and rid the Middle East of so called occupants. Yet, they are able to gain both the admiration of the Iraqis’ for there bold and powerful acts against the “Giant” enemy and instill fear in any one who might challenge them. Also Machiavelli states “but above all, he refrains from the property of others because, men forget more quickly the death of a father than the loss of father’s estate.” The terrorists much rather sacrifice their lives and the lives of 24 children than give up their land. Traditional societies place a large emphasis on property and are extremely territorial. This fuels their violent Machiavellian resistance to the US.
The terrorists’ acceptance of massive collateral damage is in keeping with Machiavelli’s philosophy. It is supported by the rise in violence since the US occupation of Iraq. A top Marine Corps General in Iraq said “An American Attack against insurgents in Falluja was inevitable… Unless militants there immediately surrendered their heavy weapons and ammunition.” Territory and religious principles appear to be more precious than human life to the terrorists.
In the beginning of the invasion the Iraqi’s were happy with the US liberation from the bath party regime. After the fall of Sadam the US soldiers struggled to bring about peace and understanding between ethnic and religious rivals living amongst each other. US soldiers acted with Restraint and Compassion in tense situations. This is not the Action Machiavelli would have prescribed. Machiavelli believed “Men have less hesitation in inuring one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared.” Like Machiavelli explained, the militants were emboldened and felt free to use lethal force to achieve their political objectives. Under Saddam’s rule anyone who opposed his policy were afraid to challenge him because of the threat of death and torture. This proves Machiavelli was correct in saying that people have greater hesitation in attacking someone who makes himself feared. I believe that the attacks on Americans and Iraqi civilians will continue until we instill fear in the resistance.
Machiavelli says “is it better to be loved than feared, or the reverse?....it is much safer for a prince to be feared than loved,” The terrorists instill fear and hatred towards Muslims and their own people when their goal is to kill Americans and rid the Middle East of so called occupants. Yet, they are able to gain both the admiration of the Iraqis’ for there bold and powerful acts against the “Giant” enemy and instill fear in any one who might challenge them. Also Machiavelli states “but above all, he refrains from the property of others because, men forget more quickly the death of a father than the loss of father’s estate.” The terrorists much rather sacrifice their lives and the lives of 24 children than give up their land. Traditional societies place a large emphasis on property and are extremely territorial. This fuels their violent Machiavellian resistance to the US.
The terrorists’ acceptance of massive collateral damage is in keeping with Machiavelli’s philosophy. It is supported by the rise in violence since the US occupation of Iraq. A top Marine Corps General in Iraq said “An American Attack against insurgents in Falluja was inevitable… Unless militants there immediately surrendered their heavy weapons and ammunition.” Territory and religious principles appear to be more precious than human life to the terrorists.
In the beginning of the invasion the Iraqi’s were happy with the US liberation from the bath party regime. After the fall of Sadam the US soldiers struggled to bring about peace and understanding between ethnic and religious rivals living amongst each other. US soldiers acted with Restraint and Compassion in tense situations. This is not the Action Machiavelli would have prescribed. Machiavelli believed “Men have less hesitation in inuring one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared.” Like Machiavelli explained, the militants were emboldened and felt free to use lethal force to achieve their political objectives. Under Saddam’s rule anyone who opposed his policy were afraid to challenge him because of the threat of death and torture. This proves Machiavelli was correct in saying that people have greater hesitation in attacking someone who makes himself feared. I believe that the attacks on Americans and Iraqi civilians will continue until we instill fear in the resistance.