Too f**king stupid to be in charge of the W.O.T. (tm)

[Daltons Chin Dimple]

Illustrating a point perfectly as to why this mess is just getting worse. For many years people have joked about the average American not being able to find Iraq on a map and so on, but this is far more serious. It appears that those in charge and directly involved have a lack of insight that is beyond worrying.

Silvestre Reyes was chosen to head the House of Representatives congressional intelligence committee. He is expected to have an acute understanding of terrorist groups and their threats to American interests and was asked by Jeff Stein, a reporter for Congressional Quarterly, whether members of al-Qaeda came from the Sunni or the Shia branch of Islam.

“Al-Qaeda, they have both,” he answered, adding: “Predominantly probably Shi’ite.”

Shi'ite ???? Shit, more like !

In fact, al-Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organisation and views Shia Muslims as heretics. The centuries-old now fuels the militias and death squads in Iraq.

He was then asked a similar question about Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group. “Hezbollah. Uh, Hezbollah . . .” replied Mr Reyes. “Why do you ask me these questions at five o’clock? Can I answer in Spanish? Do you speak Spanish?”

"Go ahead," said Stein. “Well, I, uh . . .” said the congressman.

Two other people on the committee were asked similar questions earlier in the year, Jo Ann Davis and Terry Everett. When asked questions about the differences between Sunni and Shia. “One’s in one location, another’s in another location." and "No, to be honest with you, I don’t know,” were the replies.

Willie Hulon, chief of the FBI’s new national security branch, was asked to which branch of Islam were Iran and Hezbollah belonged. “Sunni” he replied.

Wrong !

Its been five years since these Muslim extremists flew hijacked airliners into the World Trade Centre. People all over the world with little more than a passing interest in Middle Eastern history and politics have managed to acquaint themselves with the facts and learn something. Not the people running the show though, clearly.

Trent Lott, No 2 in the Senate leadership, said recently: “It’s hard for Americans, all of us, to understand what’s wrong with these people . . . They all look the same to me.”

The report from the Iraq Study Group expressed amazement that more was not being done to “understand the people who explode roadside bombs”.

Only six people in the US Embassy in Baghdad are fluent in Arabic and only about two dozen of its 1,000 employees having some familiarity with the language.

I would laugh if it wasn't so serious.

[MPG]

I think you pretty much described the whole reason why the US is currently at war in Iraq or in fact it may also be the reason why the US has to deal with terrorism. The simple reason is that a large part of the American population just doesn't understand the outside world and feels that understanding the outside world would be an unnecessary burden. That the politicians are no different than the people they represent is no surprise to me.

As I keep saying, every country has the government it deserves.

[hawklord]

The BBC has more. For example:

Not that some Republicans are any better. Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, a Republican, didn't know the difference between the Sunni and the Shia. She isn't proud of her ignorance. She said "you know I should know."

Then she tried a guess of sorts. She said "The Sunni are more radical than the Shia. Or vice-versa." You may be interested in Congresswoman Davis's responsibilities. She oversees the CIA's recruiting of Islamic spies.

One's instinct is to thank heaven American politicians don't run the show alone, but are instructed in the finer points by the CIA and the FBI.

Just how consoling that is I'm not sure, because Mr Stein also questioned Willie Hulon, who's chief of the FBI's national security branch. Mr Hulon managed to get everything that matters dead wrong.

He also didn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia. He thought Shiite Iran and Hezbollah were Sunni.

[Daltons Chin Dimple]

It almost defies belief.

If you work in a bank and didn't know what a bank note looked like, would you be allowed to keep your job ?

[rappites]

Just like half of our government can't balance a check book. You actually expect them to know all of that complicated stuff about Iraq and their people.

My 14 year old son was happy when Saddam was executed. I said "why". I said I think it is awful that he was. I said it was awful what he did to his "people". But, who are we to police the world. If the United States wants to do something for someone in trouble. I want to help Africa.

It is awful.

[Intelligent_Design]

I have been saying for years that Americans are near the bottom of the chart as far as Worldwide intelligence and commonsense is concerned.

[Jakester]

...and you're the shining example?

[Jakester]

Er...dimly lit example?

[Intelligent_Design]

Originally Posted by Jakester

...and you're the shining example?

Well most of the time, yes. But once every 10 years or so I display some form of intelligence. I guess that still puts me ahead of the curve.:OhWell:

[hawklord]

There's an old saying, know thine enemy.

The US and NATO seemed to know the Soviet enemy pretty well, back in the 80s. OK, there were ****-ups and we were on the brink of nuclear holocaust a few times, but generally the balance was maintained effectively enough... until the financially-stronger US system caused "communism" (so-called) to implode.

I think dispassionate history will show the US did a pretty effective job, back then.

This new W.o.T. is in its infancy, and I can only assume that's why the powers-that-be are all over the place. We haven't defined the enemy yet.

Is al-Qaeda a global power with Osama its CEO, or is it a vague blueprint?

Is ordinary Islam the cocoon that nurtures militant Islam or are they as threatened by the militants as the Christians are?

Saddam Hussein oppressed Islamic extremism (along with just about everything else). So... was he really one of the good guys?