The War on (Some) Terrorists

[andrewducker]

Following a recent issue of Promethea, a few people on the rec.arts.comics.misc newsgroup got engaged in discussion about The War On Terror (or TWOT for short). After much discussion back and forth about who was responsible for what, whether George Bush was morally better than Osama Bin Laden, etc. the topic came up of Europe being a nation of pussies who wouldn't stand up to terrorists if they were raping our pets, as we weren't backing the US in TWOT. And that this was reprehensible after the US saved our asses in WW2.

After someone else pointed out that it took the US being attacked themselves to bring them into the war, and that they joined a good few years after everyone else, I decided to pitch in with some actual ideas about why Europe isn't charging into battle under the flag of General George. The following has the sense of what I was saying there, but cleaned up somewhat so it makes sense out of context:

The Europeans have different ideas of how to deal with states that For instance, we just caused a wave of human rights laws to be passed throughout a whole 'bloc' of former USSR countries, by telling them that they could join the EU once they had done so.

Similarly, after decades of increasing the problems in Ireland/Northern Ireland by being 'tough on terror', extended negotiation, pumping money into the area, educating people and generally improving the area seems to finally be causing the reign of terrorism to come to a close.

It's the fact that Europeans have seen War Against Terror tried and failed for centuries that means we are repulsed by the US's attacks, not a kneejerk anti-americanism (at least amongst people I know. Some people are just anti-American, a trait I despise). In fact, if anyone can point to a widespread terrorist campaign that was successfully stopped through force, I'd be interested to know.

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Well said, I completely agree. The fact that popular sentiment in the US is largely behind these mad efforts saddens and worries me. On another note, which issue of Promethea, that doesn't remind me of any I have - hopefully there will be a new one out when I go and check my box at the local comics store. I love that comic, detailed, well-illustrated occult instruction in comic book form :)

[andrewducker]

I think it's issue 24.

You can read the thread here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=slrnb0q1b9.irq.carlf%40panix2.panix.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DISO-8859-1%26q%3Dmoore%2Balan%2Bpunch%2Bface%2Bpromethea%26btnG%3DGoogle%2BSearch

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I got and read issue 24 yesterday and just looked at those comments (or at least the first few, since I got so upset reading them that I had to stop). It's no wonder that more people in the rest of the world dislike Americans these days. People like Carl Fink are certain making an unappealing spectacle of themselves. I read that issue and while it was a little bit simplistic, I quite liked it and thought that it definitely had a valid point. Also, the massive denial about the horrors the US has already inflicted on Iraq was honestly disgusting to read. I really don't like where this country is going and am feeling increasingly isolated from mainstream opinion (and considering how far I already was from it, that's no small statement).

[blackmanxy.livejournal.com]

Now wait just a darn second here, son. Sounds ta me like yer talkin about solvin the problems stead o' just tryin to take out tha symptoms. That's some pretty radical thinkin there and we don't stand fer crap like that in the good ol US of A. Leastways our gubmint don't.

*sighs*

With the War on Drugs and the War on Terrorism going on here, I'm awfully surprised GW and his circle didn't decide to call the recent national effort to get kids into shape "the War on Fat." But that's just the American way these days. Got a problem? Declare war on it! Don't bother putting enough thought into it to realize that force won't work or that there are other ways to solve the problem, and certainly don't ever admit that you're part of the problem.

For what it's worth, there are some Americans who look at Europe and see what America could be.