Tancredo: Bomb Muslim Holy Sites

[LawVol]

I'm almost speechless here. Thankfully, this guy doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of becoming the commander in chief:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo’s campaign stood by his assertion that bombing holy Muslim sites would serve as a good “deterrent” to prevent Islamic fundamentalists from attacking the United States, his spokeswoman said Friday.

“This shows that we mean business,” said Bay Buchanan, a senior Tancredo adviser. “There’s no more effective deterrent than that. But he is open-minded and willing to embrace other options. This is just a means to deter them from attacking us.”

On Tuesday, Tancredo warned a group of Iowans that another terrorist attack would “cause a worldwide economic collapse.” He said that attacking Muslim holy sites first would be the only means to prevent terrorists from attacking America. IowaPolitics.com recorded his comments.

“If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina,” Tancredo said. “That is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they would otherwise do. If I am wrong, fine, tell me, and I would be happy to do something else. But you had better find a deterrent, or you will find an attack.”

Tom Casey, a deputy spokesman for the State Department, told CNN’s Elise Labott that the congressman’s comments were “reprehensible” and “absolutely crazy.” Tancredo was widely criticized in 2005 for making a similar suggestion.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

It shows a complete disconnect with COIN, anti-terrorism, and international law.

[Stevely]

Breathtakingly stupid. I am sure no one would want to, you know, take revenge for such an act.

Congress is beyond satire.

[marct]

“If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina,” Tancredo said. “That is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they would otherwise do. If I am wrong, fine, tell me, and I would be happy to do something else. But you had better find a deterrent, or you will find an attack.”

And, of course, no other power would ever think that this would be a really good way to take the US down? I won't ask if Tancredo has ever read Sun Tzu - from this quote I expect the reaction would be "done what with who?" - but, just maybe, he has one or two people on his campaign who might be capable of thinking? Would he suggest bombing the Vatican since the current pope is opposed to birth control and, obviously, spreading a vile anti-democratic message? Not only does it show "a complete disconnect with COIN, anti-terrorism, and international law" (thanks, LawVol), it also shows a capacity for thought on par with a two-year old in a sandbox.

You know, back in the 17th and 18th centuries, there used to be a school of thought called "degenerationism" that argued that humanity had fallen from a pristine state and was getting steadily worse. When I read something like this, I keep hoping that an Aristophanes will arise and yet all we get is Michael Moore. Maybe the degenerationists had a point...

Marc

[Nat Wilcox]

It's clear to me that neither the deterrence nor retribution goals of much law enforcement are interesting here...as you say yourself, the hardcore guys aren't going to be deterred by anything, being willing to immolate themselves to kill my cats. And I'm not interested in vaporizing Medina in retribution for Cleveland. I'm sure you agree.

Or at any rate, that's what I wrote three weeks ago. Would someone wake me up, please?

[Dominique R. Poirier]

Nice shot!

Isn't this idea what some would call suicide attack?

A "cultural suicide attack" in that case.

I award it the title of funniest post of the day.

[Tom Odom]

all we get is Michael Moore.

Michael is rather middle of the road compared to Tancredo

Now Tancredo and Pat Robertson....

That's the ticket!

Tom

[marct]

Now Tancredo and Pat Robertson....

That's the ticket!

Hmmm, gives me some new ideas about "combined action teams" ! Oh, please, can we send them to Afghanistan to do PRT work !!!!!!!!

[redbullets]

It shows a complete disconnect with COIN, anti-terrorism, and international law.

But it unfortunately shows a great connect with the views of many of our countrymen and women who willfully choose to remain disconnected and believe that ignorant approaches/responses are the solution.

Cheers,

[Tacitus]

I'm almost speechless here. Thankfully, this guy doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of becoming the commander in chief:

It shows a complete disconnect with COIN, anti-terrorism, and international law.

Gentlemen,

I could turn on the radio and turn it to the AM frequency of any talk radio station around here and within minutes hear similar "solutions" to fighting terrorism and resolving the situation in Iraq. Really, this kind of armchair strategy passes for conventional wisdom on the "local Limbaugh" shows on the airwaves around here. Maybe not where you are, but it is pretty common in these parts. Chalk it up to the appalling state of our educational system, "end times" dispensationalist theology, or just willful ignorance.

I am reminded of the words of Captain Louis Renault in the film Casablanca:
I'm shocked, shocked to find that there is gambling going on here!

Likewise, is anybody shocked,shocked to hear a "kill 'em all, let Allah sort 'em out" mentality from a candiate making a not so subtle appeal to this constituency in a campaign?

[MountainRunner]

reminds me of a scenario one gov't consultant suggested in private. Spray liquid pig over a town you're about to move into, make what you did known and remind them they won't go to heaven "wearing pork". He believed this would reduce insurgent activity out of "self-preservation".

[tequila]

MountainRunner - That's priceless. Reminds me again that The Arab Mind is still on the Commandant's reading list.

[redbullets]

My very unscientific theory as to why this mentality persists in this country, developed while being regularly driven to Dulles International by Ghanaian taxi drivers much more attuned to the international scene than my countrymen, is that:

• The United States is geographically isolated from most of the world, unlike Europe where one can face in any direction, drive for a few hours, and arrive in another country and culture, coupled with;
• American citizens not being forced by economic necessity to pick up and travel to other places. Only a small percentage do so because they can, and we haven't had a worldwide conflagration to force sufficient numbers of young adults to see other places and realize Rush might not know what the hell he's talking about.

I'm probably off the mark, but it works for me when I'm fielding the "what the hell is going on over there" while traveling internationally.

Cheers,

[marct]

Hi redbullets,

My very unscientific theory as to why this mentality persists in this country, developed while being regularly driven to Dulles International by Ghanaian taxi drivers much more attuned to the international scene than my countrymen, is that:....

That's certainly an explanation that has been used by a lot of people in sociology, political economy and political science. Of course, most of them were Americans .

Canada shares the same geographic isolation as the US does and the same movement patterns (actually, slightly less mobile than the US), so you would expect to find the same attitudes, but you don't. Maybe Canadians are "more aware" of international events because the US is foreign but Canada doesn't hold the same dominating position in the US worldview.

Maybe it stems from the differences that came about as a result of your revolution with the US focusing inwards and on the frontier while the Canadian colonies (and later Canada) maintained strong ties with Britain. It may also have to do with historical differences as to how each of us has dealt with immigrant populations or with our differing conceptions of citizenship and identity.

Honestly, I don't know why the difference exists, but I do know that the "standard" reasons just don't face up to the comparative case.

Marc