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Originally Posted by HastenDan
I understand your points but I just don't see the use of the MOAB as justifying the histrionics from some on the left.
We agree the democrats are clueless, but they are not the left. The Rachel Maddow point of view (again, not leftist), an insidious brand of propaganda, is like a social cancer that turns people (like JJ) into partisan zombies who can't think. I just re-read what JJ has written ITT just to make sure there were no actual arguments there and yep, he is a confirmed zombie.
That said, I have an additional argument to make. What are we trying to achieve, ostensibly, with the bombing? I think the stated aims are pretty obvious in that we are supposedly trying to physically destroy capabilities of ISIS. However, history has shown that the more we use this sort of tactic, the more militant responses are organized against us by our targets. Al Quaeda was practically nothing pre-911. Now look at what it or its offshoot groups have become. They are truly global now. Militant Islam has reliably expanded in response each campaign of violence we have undertaken.
What are the implications of MOAB to this dynamic of us radicalizing the ME with our violence? It's all about perception. With respect to our objectives, it really doesn't matter what Rachel Maddow zombies moan about. What matters most is the perception of the MOAB use in the ME and other regions, like West Africa and Asian Pacific, the regions where militant anti-West movements are growing. If they perceive the use of MOAB as raising the stakes, or as a game changer, then that perception would solidify MOAB use as having definitely deepened and widened the conflict, the exact opposite of the ostensible aim.
The real increased lethality of the weapon above what has been used so far is important, but arguably not as important as the perception since the perception is what drives the response. History tells us this event will increase the ranks of Jihadists. By how much depends on how "hysterical" those in the anti-West hot spots get about it, for example those who were miles away but who could feel the ground shake. I know what my response would be to a foreign country making my ground shake. I bet if you were to be honest with yourself you would admit to having that same response- not submission.