Fanatical Islam

[ChelCThe Law]

I'm curious to know the views of people here since other recent threads show quite spectrum of opinions.

Do you believe that this exists in any large and organized fashion?

Do you believe it is a threat to us? Other nations?

Is there any circumstance in which you would support war? Only on our soil? On foreign ground but only if attacked first? On foreign soil if the threat is imminent?

Do you believe it is more dangerous to have a warmonger or a head in the sand variety president?

[ChelCThe Law]

I'll offer my opinion. I do believe fanatical Islam exists in a somewhat organized fashion. I believe that within their immediate areas their threat is palpable, but I don't believe the threat is great for us yet. For Israel I believe the threat is great simply because of their size and location. It wouldn't take much, really to cripple Israel.

I believe the nature of the pockets of organization make attacks difficult to prevent, which makes questions of war confusing. The movement is not organized by country though I believe it has infiltrated the governments of many. I desire peace, even isolationism to a point, but I don't believe that we should never ever strike abroad or first. What constitutes the first strike is arguable anyhow. Some would say that an intruder in my home made a first strike just by entering and I'd have the right to defend myself. I don't believe in questions of personal defense that I must wait to be physically attacked to defend myself from a serious threat. I don't believe war is different in that regard.

I think the vast majority of muslim people are peaceful people and have no ill feelings toward us. Like every religion, they believe theirs is correct. Many people take their beliefs out of context and stretch them to mean things which I don't believe they mean.

That's my perspective. My niece has a Turkish boyfriend who I'm relatively certain isn't hoping for our destruction, but I can ask him at the Christmas party.

[Thomascaptain of 1,000]

I belieive in the rules of engagement laid out in D&C 98:

Verse 33: And again, this is the "law"that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out into battle against any nation, kindred, tongue or people, save I, the Lord,commanded them.

34: And if any nation, tongue or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift an standard of peace unto that people, nation or tongue.

35:And if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time,they should bring these testimonies before the Lord;

36:Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them going out to battle against that nation, tongue or people.

37: And I the Lord would fight their their battles, and their children's battles, and their children's children's until they had avenged themselves on all their enimes, to the third and fourth generation.

I believe their is a radical Isalm organization bent on destroying us, however I don't think they are our greatest threat to saftey. I Believe they are controlled by others who also seek our destruction. There is too much scripture and warning from prophets to ingnore on this issue. Satan works in the ways of deception and darkness. He uses feints whithin feints to draw our attention, then slips in the knife from an unexpected place. We must rely on the Lord for Protection.

[one4freedomcaptain of 100]

I belieive in the rules of engagement laid out in D&C 98:

Verse 33: And again, this is the "law"that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out into battle against any nation, kindred, tongue or people, save I, the Lord,commanded them.

34: And if any nation, tongue or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift an standard of peace unto that people, nation or tongue.

35:And if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time,they should bring these testimonies before the Lord;

36:Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them going out to battle against that nation, tongue or people.

37: And I the Lord would fight their their battles, and their children's battles, and their children's children's until they had avenged themselves on all their enimies, to the third and fourth generation.

I believe their is a radical Isalm organization bent on destroying us, however I don't think they are our greatest threat to saftey. I Believe they are controlled by others who also seek our destruction. There is too much scripture and warning from prophets to ingnore on this issue. Satan works in the ways of deception and darkness. He uses feints whithin feints to draw our attention, then slips in the knife from an unexpected place. We must rely on the Lord for Protection.

^ This.

Also, I don't accept the notion that we only have war-mongerer or head-in-the-sand options. I believe RP has a pretty good understanding of the unwanted consequences we have brought on ourselves by meddling in the middle east. Not wanting to preemptively kill thousands of people isn't a bad quality.

These words of Pres. Kimball cannot be quoted enough!

We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel -- ships, planes, missiles, fortifications -- and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become antienemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan's counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior's teaching:

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:44-45).

We forget that if we are righteous the Lord will either not suffer our enemies to come upon us -- and this is the special promise to the inhabitants of the land of the Americas (see 2 Nephi 1:7) -- or he will fight our battles for us (Exodus 14:14; D&C 98:37, to name only two references of many). This he is able to do, for as he said at the time of his betrayal, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53). We can imagine what fearsome soldiers they would be. King Jehoshaphat and his people were delivered by such a troop (see 2 Chronicles 20), and when Elish's life was threatened, he comforted his servant by saying, "Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). The Lord then opened the eyes of the servant, "And he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (vs 17).

What are we to fear when the Lord is with us? Can we not take the Lord at his word and exercise a particle of faith in him? Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world as ends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in faith; to carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be our enemies.

We must leave off the worship of modern-day idols and a reliance on the "arm of flesh," for the Lord has said to all the world in our day, "I will not spare any that remain in Babylon" (D&C 64:24).

[Tribunalcaptain of 1,000]

I believe what many call "fanatical Islam", by American-standards, is actually 'mainstream Islam' throughout the Muslim world.

I believe what many in the Muslim world call 'radical Islam', we in the United States would call Americanized Muslims.

Many Muslims in the United States have joined the melting pot of America much to the changrin of the Muslim world.

[ChelCThe Law]

That reminds me that I forgot to answer my last question. I believe it is much more dangerous to have a warmonger President.

FWIW- I like Ron Paul, but he has warts too. I do have some differences of opinion. I'm not thrilled with any of the candidates for the GOP.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

I believe that fanatical Islam is Islam too poor or politically prohibited from living in the U.S.. Once they get here they are good muslims. They're just mad about missing the party thrown by the Saudi royal family here every weekend.

Seriously though I think that the threat of fanatical Islam is equal and of no greater threat than "militias" in the U.S. (which are on our soil).

I believe that the Palestinians have a just cause in fighting Israel and that Israel has a just cause in fighting against them. The jews were forced on them and took over, but the world had turned it's back on them (especially the U.S. with the immigration acts of '21 & '24, which if not done, there would probably be like 3 jews in Jerusalem today as most were heading here before they were cut off and even put in quarantine camps). Israel does mean things to palestinians routinely and they try to get even every chance they can though their impotence is obvious as is the whole Arab worlds as illistrated by the history of Jewish/Arab conflict.

When would I fight them? When they threaten my homeland and then by way of removing the threat only (not by way of genocide nor cultur-cide).

[Fiannancaptain of 1,000]

Interesting video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 5GHHbIUxZY

That being said the greatest danger to the world today are those who want to erase religion and replace it with corporate materialism. These elite are as great a threat to Islam as to Christianity. The sad part is, for the most part Christianity is a castrated religion in regards to its potential to affect positive change on the world today. The average Christian today would be judged by the average Christian of 100 years ago as a secular humanist.
Many LDS are not far from that same description.

[Still Learningcaptain of 100]

I'm curious to know the views of people here since other recent threads show quite spectrum of opinions.

Do you believe that this exists in any large and organized fashion? Yes

Do you believe it is a threat to us? Other nations? Yes. Yes.

Is there any circumstance in which you would support war? Yes, but I believe Americans are decieved on the type of threat fanatical Islam is to us. Only on our soil? On foreign ground but only if attacked first? On foreign soil if the threat is imminent? Yes. I don't think we should wait until the first nuke goes off to retaliate. But I believe our current wars are due to corrupt US government trying to scare us into support for their own personal gain (oil, drugs). With regard to the type of threat Fanatical Islam is, I view it more of a threat to our society the same way communism is. No one is going to come in and force communism or Sharia Law upon America. It will be done gradually. Just as satan carefully leads men to hell, so will communsim and fanatical islam carefully lead us away from the constitution. It comes from within.

Do you believe it is more dangerous to have a warmonger or a head in the sand variety president?

That's a tie. I don't know if you are insinuating that RP has his head in the sand. I don't think he does. If he becomes president, he will also be given information that will force him to adjust his position. He will have to make the decision whether or not the information he receives is accurate (sources?). RP will have a difficult presidency if he does win simply based on all the corruption in the CIA, MIC, etc.

[Book of Ruthcaptain of 100]

I’m at a loss here. Islam is Satan’s counterfeit religion. Let me make my points
1. They do not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God
2. They do believe that Jesus Christ will be subservient to the Mahdi and proclaim the Mahdi as the supreme religious leader.
3. Will they fight until the absolute death with torture and terror for the Mahdi? YES
4. Do they believe Jesus Christ was crucified? NO….. hence the HUGE significance in His return and showing the nail marks and the scar on His side.
5. Do they believe that the Mahdi is upon the earth now? Many do.
6. Can they really pull this man out and set him up currently as the Mahdi? I hope not.
7. Islam controls beliefs through FORCE. There is no free agency, you follow or you are shunned or you and your family die.
8. Women are oppressed and are not treated as an equal. Exactly contrary to Eve being a help meet to Adam
9. Islam belief is that it will spread over the entire world, and everyone will be converted to Islam and worship the Mahdi or die. Direct contradiction to the Lords way of anyone who does not kill their brother will be welcomed regardless of religious beliefs.
10. They believe that Israel is the little satan and that America is the great satan.

The elitest banksters/globalist are evil, but they are Satan’s pauns. There are not that many of them, and they though they are a threat, and pull many strings, they will end up in the pit they themselves make. 1 Nephi 14:3

There are 1.3 billion muslims. I do not think that we need to bomb them, I think that we need to covert them. If we can convince them of the true Savior of the world, that is huge. There are many many good yet misguided muslims because of the traditions of Islamic believes. If we could just talk to them as we have with many that have come here, we get closer and close to humanity. Missions not missiles. Bad idea to do first strike, that will unite Islam against Israel and the U.S. and that is what they want.

[Oldemandaltoncaptain of 1,000]

ChelC:
I believe that fanatical Islam is a threat to ours and many nations, just ask the tens of thousands who have had their loved ones maimed and killed all around the world.

Are they organized? Yes but loosely as you suggest, ChelC. Even so they have common goals and have worked together at times to reach them. Their goal is to spread Islam and Sharia to the Middle East by way of a Caliphate then to the rest of the world. Radical Muslims living here in the US have stated that is their goal for America. Why do we blow off their beliefs and desires when they are willing to die for them?

Short term danger to the US is more terrorist attacks. We have had two successful major attacks here in the US and several small ‘lone wolf’ over the last 10 years or so. Why not any more large scale body counts? They are being held back for a reason. Are they waiting for the ‘perfect storm’ conditions when we have been knocked to our knees during a Greater Depression or World War or both? Why not wait for the best opportunity for one good punch to take us out or cause chaos. This way they can get into position and to lull the sheeple of America to sleep with the “America is safe from terrorists” lullaby or this one ”the war on terror is a myth created by the _____________conspiracy”.

I believe in the Thomas Jeffersonian form of foreign policy, a la Barbary War. Attack us, take our ships, kidnap or kill our people; we send in the Marines, rid the area of the vermin, and leave. After giving the vermin a chance to redeem themselves first and getting authorization from Congress of course. We warn the host of the parasites that we WILL be coming and give them a chance to see to their own problem first.

If you allow a bully through appeasement to believe that they can get away with terrorism then that will just embolden them to increase their attacks on the meek and weak. Peace comes through strength. That also behooves us not to be the bully ourselves!

Warmonger or a ‘head in the sand’ presidents can both just as dangerous.

1930-40s Europe could have stood up to Hitler and faced him down but didn’t. They tried appeasement and kept giving him their ‘lunch money’; Austria, Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Memelland, and then Poland. Didn’t work did it? So let’s talk nice to Ahmadinejad and he’ll stop funding terror around the world and not use his nukes to destroy Israel.

A ‘warmonger’ can get us into war too, obviously.

I would rather have someone who believed in a strong defense and who was not intimidated by the bullies around the world but still reluctant to use our military only as a last resort. Clandestine activities are useful just as the carrot and stick of trade can be.

Ron Paul is naïve, ‘head in the sand’.
Newt Gingritch would be the ‘warmonger’.

Would not vote for either in the Caucus here. Would vote for Paul as the Rep. nominee but not third party unless Newt won then I’d have to fast and pray A LOT.


OMD

[Oldemandaltoncaptain of 1,000]

SwissMrs&Pichfire:
Fanatical Islam is way more dangerous than our militias unless you’re talking about the white supremacists types. Then I’d say they were just as dangerous as the ‘lone wolf’ variety of Muslim Extremists. The more organized Jihadists have access to more funding, advanced weapons, and numbers than our 'extremist' militias do.

The ‘Palestinians’ are a group of people created by Israel’s enemies. Shocking but true.

There is no “Palestine” tribe, language or culture. They were Arabs of the Ottoman Empire that lived in the Holy Land at the time. There were not too many Jews there because the Romans had either killed, enslaved or chased off their people. After the Muslims conquered the land Jews were not allowed to return in mass, but only in dribs and drabs. After Elder Hyde’s dedication of the Holy Land for the return of the Jews then Zionism increased and the Jews began to return to Jerusalem and its environs in earnest.

The Jews prior to the Palestinian Mandate and the creation of the nation of Israel bought the land, farms, and homes from the Arabs that lived there. That is the land they settled and it was how the boarders were determined for the TWO nations that Brittan wanted to create.

England partitioned the land in order to create these two nations, Israel governed by Jews, and Palestine governed by Arabs. Israel accepted Muslims in their new nation, the Arabs rejected the whole plan and wanted BOTH territories for themselves. All of the surrounding Arab countries went to war to push the Jews into the sea. Have been trying to do so ever since. There is not one “Palestinian” group which will accede to the existence of a Jewish nation in the Holy Land. Their goal is one state ruled by Sharia and Islamic rulers. How do you negotiate with that SwissMrs&Pichfire?

The Jews at the time of their creation and winning the first Arab-Israeli War against the armies of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq accepted all of the Jewish refugees who were kicked out of those countries. Why didn’t the other Arab countries take in their brothers as the Jews did? Why keep them in camps where they could not get jobs, IDs, or homes but live at the mercy of hand outs? They were fellow Arabs and Muslims why not absorb them as the Jews did? To create a need to retake the land and push the Jews into the sea.

BTW there are Muslims happily living in Israel who vote in Israeli elections, have more freedoms there, and DO NOT want the PLO nor Hamas governing them.


OMD

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

I have to say that line of thinking doesn't sit well with me. Palestine did not sit vacant (how many years were they gone?) waiting to have it's name changed back and the Jews to return. Seriously who built the Dome of the Rock and when? There have always been people there, un-jewish people. But not enough and not with a real name, I know. Well except the Ottoman's under whose rule thus was said:

The rule of Suleiman and the subsequent Ottoman Sultans brought an age of "religious peace"; Jew, Christian and Muslim enjoyed the freedom of religion the Ottomans granted them and it was possible to find a synagogue, a church and a mosque in the same street.

So you must want the American Indians to control the U.S. and Canada again right? I mean they were here first and that's your logic. Our colonies were only scattered at Plymouth and Roanoke and the Caribbean before the settling caused warfare right? And heck they sure aren't Indians, talk about no name.

I’m at a loss here. Judaism is Satan’s counterfeit religion. Let me make my points
1. They do not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God
2. They do believe that Jesus Christ will be subservient to their deliverer and proclaim the deliverer as the supreme religious leader.
3. Will they fight until the absolute death with torture and terror for their deliverer? YES
4. Do they believe Jesus Christ was crucified by them? NO….. hence the HUGE significance in His return and showing the nail marks and the scar on His side.
5. Do they believe that the deliverer is upon the earth now? Many probably do.
6. Can they really pull this man out and set him up currently as the deliverer? I hope not.
7. Judaism controls beliefs through FORCE. There is no free agency, you follow or you are shunned or you and your family die.
8. Women are oppressed and are not treated as an equal. Exactly contrary to Eve being a help meet to Adam
9. Judaism believes that it will spread over the entire world, and everyone will be converted to Judaism and worship their old school god or die. Direct contradiction to the Lords way of anyone who does not kill their brother will be welcomed regardless of religious beliefs.
10. They believe that everyone not Jewish isn't as good as someone who is. They have nuclear weapons and have recently stated they will not rest until their enemies are disarmed!
11. They build walls like the Berlin wall, a communist method of forceful security.
12. They answer to no one but their old testament god

Let's be a little objective shall we?

[Oldemandaltoncaptain of 1,000]

SwissMrs&Pitchfire;
I have to say that line of thinking doesn't sit well with me. Palestine did not sit vacant (how many years were they gone?) waiting to have it's name changed back and the Jews to return. Seriously who built the Dome of the Rock and when?

Never said it sat empty.

SwissMrs&Pitchfire;There have always been people there, un-jewish people.

Who are “un-jewish people”? Please explain.

SwissMrs&Pitchfire; But not enough and not with a real name, I know. Well except the Ottoman's under whose rule thus was said:

The rule of Suleiman and the subsequent Ottoman Sultans brought an age of "religious peace"; Jew, Christian and Muslim enjoyed the freedom of religion the Ottomans granted them and it was possible to find a synagogue, a church and a mosque in the same street.

Religious ‘peace and freedom’ yes but both Jews and Christians were discriminated against under Islamic rule and law:

Religious association typically determined status in the predominantly Muslim Ottoman Empire. According to Moshe Ma’oz, Christians and Jews were seen as “inferior subjects or as illegitimate denominations.”[1] As a result, they were often discriminated against by the state entity…. Their failure to do so (acceptance of the Prophet Mohamed) may have caused Muslim rulers to view them in a substandard capacity. As such, they were required to pay a special poll tax, a jiyzya.[7] While they were allowed to hold certain senior-level positions, such as financial advisers or physicians, they were always required to hold only those positions subordinate to their Muslim counterparts. They were even sometimes subjected to restrictions in dress, or were harassed by certain officials and neighbors. This shows that despite the granting of dhimma to the Christians and Jews, unofficial acts of prejudice were sometimes condoned.[8] http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/24 ... man-empire

SwissMrs&Pitchfire;So you must want the American Indians to control the U.S. and Canada again right? I mean they were here first and that's your logic.
Our colonies were only scattered at Plymouth and Roanoke and the Caribbean before the settling caused warfare right? And heck they sure aren't Indians, talk about no name.

No, but it was a travesty what we did to them. We should have honoured our treaties with them.

An Apostle of the Lord dedicated the Holy Land for the return of the Jews. You need to argue your point with God not me, SwissMrs&Pitchfire.


SwissMrs&Pitchfire;I’m at a loss here. Judaism is Satan’s counterfeit religion. Let me make my points.

How can it be a counterfeit religion when Jehovah gave it to Moses? They are in apostasy not a counterfeit. Islam is closer to Satan’s counterfeit than the Jews. Not saying Islam IS but I will use them as an example.

1. They do not believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God

The Jews believe in the Old Testament, in Jehovah, and the coming Messiah. Islam believes the when the Mahdi returns Christ will bow down to him and any Christian or Jew who does not worship the Mahdi will be killed.

2. They do believe that Jesus Christ will be subservient to their deliverer and proclaim the deliverer as the supreme religious leader.

Practicing Jews believe that Jesus was a false messiah, died and not resurrected. So I guess you can say they believe that when their true messiah comes ALL will bow down to him. It will be a shock when they find out they are one in the same. Same goes for Islam BTW except that those who don’t bow down will be killed.

3. Will they fight until the absolute death with torture and terror for their deliverer? YES

Not sure what you mean here. They do believe in the Messiah and his coming just as we do the 2nd coming of Christ. I would be willing to give my life inorder to not deny him, wouldn’t you?
On the other hand Muslim extremists are willing to die as martyrs while killing innocent men, women, and children. They even strap suicide vests on children and the mentally handicapped so they can go straight to heaven too.

4. Do they believe Jesus Christ was crucified by them? NO….. hence the HUGE significance in His return and showing the nail marks and the scar on His side.

Very true. It will be a shock. For Muslems even more so because most of those in Gog’s army will be Muslim. When Christ returns to SAVE the Jews, 4/5ths of their army will be destroyed. I am sure the 1/5th remaining will either bow down with the Jews or flee in terror.

5. Do they believe that the deliverer is upon the earth now? Many probably do.

Which deliverer?

6. Can they really pull this man out and set him up currently as the deliverer? I hope not.

????

7. Judaism controls beliefs through FORCE. There is no free agency, you follow or you are shunned or you and your family die.

What in the world are you talking about SwissMrs&Pitchfire. No Jew is threatened with death if they apostatize as you find in Sharia Law. I think you have your religions mixed up. Apostates from Islam are stoned not Jews!

8. Women are oppressed and are not treated as an equal. Exactly contrary to Eve being a help meet to Adam

Amazing!
Women in Isarel vote, drive cars, leave their house unaccompanied by a male family member, go to school, work in any professional field while the opposite is true under Sharia Law. WOW, SwissMrs&Pitchfire, are you sure you got your facts right?

9. Judaism believes that it will spread over the entire world, and everyone will be converted to Judaism and worship their old school god or die. Direct contradiction to the Lords way of anyone who does not kill their brother will be welcomed regardless of religious beliefs.

Again you are describing Islam to a tea and NOT Judaism! Have any proof?

10. They believe that everyone not Jewish isn't as good as someone who is. They have nuclear weapons and have recently stated they will not rest until their enemies are disarmed!

Israel has never threatened another country with annihilation as Iran has. Every Arab country around Israel has attacked it repeatedly for over 60 years. Which country did Israel attack unprovoked?

11. They build walls like the Berlin wall, a communist method of forceful security.

Communists built walls to keep people IN. Israel built walls to keep suicide bombers OUT. It has worked too. Every time they relaxed the boarders suicide killers come in to kill men women and children. Last year two slipped past the wall and cut the throats of a man and wife and their two little kids one a toddler. So yes they did build a wall.

12. They answer to no one but their old testament god

And I answer to no one but MY scriptural God. How 'bout you, SwissMrs&Pitchfire?

Let's be a little objective shall we?

Ye shall we.


OMD

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

Your post proves my point. The fact that you would engage to defend Israel as only apostate is telling. I didn't dedicate much time to making a case, as that wasn't my point to vilify Israel but point out the double standard (which has got to be obvious to anyone half awake) so I just left some points as they were.

The fact is that the number of Islamist militants with enough means and mobility to achieve any effect is miniscule and their targets limited to high value targets that are very unlike main street America.

If they cannot even defeat Israel why exactly should we worry? and to make my points more valid apparently I must add

[Book of Ruthcaptain of 100]

Dear SwissMiss:

WHAT???!!!!!!!! :-o

[Oldemandaltoncaptain of 1,000]

Media Watch Gaza Terrorist React to Video of Her Failed Suicide Bombing Attempt to Kill Israelis

Posted on December 20, 2011 at 9:12pm by Tiffany Gabbay



In a report that, according to Fox News’ Leland Vittert, “shatters the illusion that those who are driven by hate can have their minds changed,” one would-be suicide bomber who failed in her past attempt to kill Israelis proudly declares that she would do it all over again (next time she hopes successfully) just to “taste and smell paradise.”

The interview offers viewers a look into the hate-filled mind of a woman who was incarcerated after attempting to detonate a bomb that had been strapped to her body in order to kill as many innocent Israelis as she possibly could.

The terrorist was released from jail as part of a prisoner exchange deal and is now reportedly at home in Gaza.

Mediaite adds:

The report included footage of the would-be suicide bomber at the very moment her detonator failed outside of a hospital. After shedding her jacket, the woman can be seen crying and clutching at her neck and chest.

She was released from jail as part of a prisoner exchange deal, and is now home in Gaza.

After watching video of her failed attempt, the woman told Vittert that she is proud of her actions and hopes to once again “taste and smell paradise.” She maintains that she is still intent on blowing herself up in order to kill Israelis, and urges other young women to do the same.

Vittert adds that “staring death in the face” only seems to harden those bent on murder even more.



Below is a disturbing look into the heart and mind of an aspiring suicide bomber:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1337811784001/

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/watch-gaza-terrorist-react-to-video-of-her-failed-suicide-bombing-attempt-to-kill-israelis/

[ChelCThe Law]

It's hard to wade through the propaganda. On this site, we can't agree on 9/11 so it seems pointless to bring that threat up. If it was in fact brought on by murderous infidel hating muslim extremists, then does that qualify as a first attack on our soil? If so, how do you fight an enemy without borders? It seems like the only way possible is in pockets.

I believe there are people who would say they have been commanded to take up arms. I've heard several members of the military report that the spirit directed them to choose as they did. I know many of you would say they are deceived.

Do you think that in ancient scriptural accounts that the majority of the people knew without a doubt of the rightness of their cause? I'm willing to be most had mixed feelings on the matter. It was the mighty ones with extraordinary faith who were certain, and I'm willing to bet that most of us aren't at that level of faith.

I'm willing to entertain both sides of the argument. From my perspective, both sides have cause to feel anger and resentment. I think it's foolish though to dismiss real threats from those who have attacked and vow to do so again. How can Israeli's possibly compromise with the threats they are under? War has been thrust upon them already, IMO.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

The modern state of Israel was forged in the fire. The question isn't about whether to melt down their firearms and forge plowshares, it is about policies that either enhance their security and promote peaceful resolution or provoke war and hatred.

That's the problem debating here, most people look at it as a black and white God's chosen people vs. anti-God jihadists, when in reality the situation isn't like that and that part isn't even worth debating anyways. The debate stems around accountability and action. The U.S. has at it's origin the divine mandate of God and yet the debate isn't about whether we are children of hell or not, it's about policy because we are able to discuss that to a reasonable level here. That's how it should be with the conflict in Israel as well, but it isn't, it always descends into yet another evil jihadist thread.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

I've heard several members of the military report that the spirit directed them to choose as they did. I know many of you would say they are deceived.

Do you think that in ancient scriptural accounts that the majority of the people knew without a doubt of the rightness of their cause? I'm willing to be most had mixed feelings on the matter. It was the mighty ones with extraordinary faith who were certain, and I'm willing to bet that most of us aren't at that level of faith.

First off, the Spirit telling somebody to join the military is much different than the Spirit telling somebody the wars are just.


Secondly a well respected member of our Branch recently went to the temple and communed with God about having another kid (their 5th in 9 years) and was told that it would be a boy and his name was to be *****. Well of course they had a girl... Brigham Young said that the Spirit was never received 100%. We all interpret the Spirit and often wrongly. Swiss and I often share are promptings and very frequently the added insight changed the message that we thought we were hearing.

For example when we were living out on our land Swiss received the prompting that we would be living out on our land through the winter. When we decided to move into town for the winter, she was confused. Upon reflection she realized that she had assumed that it meant THAT winter when in reality it was a reassurance for the future and definitely not that winter.

We also knew that we were done having kids with our third (we had not and still have not used artificial birth control). We both discussed the impressions we had received and knew that we were done for that period of our life. But we also knew and articulated it as done in this period of life. Despite trying our best to have more kids for years we did not have another until our life had changed dramatically. The space of almost 5 years was sufficient to leave us questioning whether that meant mortality or a re-ordering as we first assumed. Now our youngest ex-utero is 3 this summer with another to be born this spring. (Heavenly Father has spaced our kids better than we could have ever done if we hadn't left it entirely in His hands, 11,9,7,2.5, almost 3rd trimester).

God saw the end from the beginning and planned accordingly hence the plan He has for each of us is the best one for our progression. That does not in any way presume a rosy path down celestial garden paths. When He sent Shadrach, Meshach, And Abednego into the fiery furnace He was not tacitly endorsing the furnace nor it's operators.

So, no I don't doubt the promptings, but rather acknowledge that likely it was received in imperfection and cannot be seen as endorsement as anything more than a specific path for a specific persons progression.

[ChelCThe Law]

I agree completely and that's why I am not admantly for or adamantly against something I've not been given sufficient knowledge to understand. I can only form opinions based on what I have before me.

[InfoWarrior82captain of 1,000]

Please do your research on "The Grand Chessboard" by zbigniew brzezinski. K thnx bye.

[ChelCThe Law]

So do I understand that your position infowarrior is that our entanglements in Israel are only for the purpose of preventing the rise of a "eurasian" power?

For those falling on the Palestinian side of the argument. What would you have the Jews do? What is your idea of a solution for the Israeli's?

From my point of view they have no reason to trust that Palestinians want peace, so to make concessions seems fruitless.

[InfoWarrior82captain of 1,000]

So do I understand that your position infowarrior is that our entanglements in Israel are only for the purpose of preventing the rise of a "eurasian" power?

If you don't have time to read the book or about this man:

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

Israel could draw a line and stick with it for starters, as opposed to ever advancing and retreating settlement building. They could adopt stricter rules of engagement and punish wayward soldiers with gusto. They could respect Palestinian's freedom of movement through the wall so people can actually hold a job rather than condoning the endless harassment that leads to despair. A little would go a long way.

A good movie to watch: "For My Father"
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... =122955916

[Oldemandaltoncaptain of 1,000]

SwissMrs&Pitchfire
Israel could draw a line and stick with it for starters, as opposed to ever advancing and retreating settlement building. They could adopt stricter rules of engagement and punish wayward soldiers with gusto. They could respect Palestinian's freedom of movement through the wall so people can actually hold a job rather than condoning the endless harassment that leads to despair. A little would go a long way.

Arabs live within the borders of Israel. Why can’t Jews live within the borders of a future Palestinian state, SwissMrs&Pitchfire?

Israel is one of the most open societies in the world. Out of a population of 6.7 million, about 1.3 million — 20 percent of the population — are non-Jews (approximately 1.1 million Muslims, 130,000 Christians and 100,000 Druze).1

Arabs in Israel have equal voting rights; in fact, it is one of the few places in the Middle East where Arab women may vote. Arabs currently hold 8 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Israeli Arabs have also held various government posts, including one who served as Israel's ambassador to Finland and the current deputy mayor of Tel Aviv. Oscar Abu Razaq was appointed Director General of the Ministry of Interior, the first Arab citizen to become chief executive of a key government ministry. Ariel Sharon's original cabinet included the first Arab minister, Salah Tarif, a Druze who served as a minister without portfolio. An Arab is also a Supreme Court justice.

Arabic, like Hebrew, is an official language in Israel. More than 300,000 Arab children attend Israeli schools. At the time of Israel's founding, there was one Arab high school in the country. Today, there are hundreds of Arab schools.2

In 2002, the Israeli Supreme Court also ruled that the government cannot allocate land based on religion or ethnicity, and may not prevent Arab citizens from living wherever they choose.2a

The sole legal distinction between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel is that the latter are not required to serve in the Israeli army. This is to spare Arab citizens the need to take up arms against their brethren. Nevertheless, Bedouins have served in paratroop units and other Arabs have volunteered for military duty. Compulsory military service is applied to the Druze and Circassian communities at their own request.

Some economic and social gaps between Israeli Jews and Arabs result from the latter not serving in the military. Veterans qualify for many benefits not available to non-veterans. Moreover, the army aids in the socialization process.

On the other hand, Arabs do have an advantage in obtaining some jobs during the years Israelis are in the military. In addition, industries like construction and trucking have come to be dominated by Israeli Arabs.

Although Israeli Arabs have occasionally been involved in terrorist activities, they have generally behaved as loyal citizens. During the 1967, 1973 and 1982 wars, none engaged in any acts of sabotage or disloyalty. Sometimes, in fact, Arabs volunteered to take over civilian functions for reservists. During the outbreak of violence in the territories that began in September 2000, Israeli Arabs for the first time engaged in widespread protests with some violence.

The United States has been independent for almost 230 years and still has not integrated all of its diverse communities. Even today, 60 years after civil rights legislation was adopted, discrimination has not been eradicated. It should not be surprising that Israel has not solved all of its social problems in only 57 years.http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/fence.html

Israel has instituted checkpoints for one reason – to prevent Palestinian terrorists from infiltrating Israel. If the Palestinian Authority was fulfilling its road map obligations to dismantle the terrorist networks and disarm the terrorists, and its security forces were taking adequate measures to prevent Palestinians from planning and launching attacks, the checkpoints would be unnecessary.

Israel tries to balance its security concerns with the welfare of the Palestinians, and is especially sensitive to the medical needs of Palestinians. Thus, many Palestinians are allowed to enter Israel to receive treatment from some of the finest medical facilities in the world.

Unfortunately, Palestinian terrorists have tried to take advantage of Israel’s goodwill. In December 2004, for example, a Hamas agent with forged documents claiming that he was a cancer patient in need of medical treatment from an Israeli hospital was arrested by security forces. Hamed A-Karim Hamed Abu Lihiya was to meet up with another terrorist, obtain weapons from allies inside Israel, and carry out an attack. That same month, a man recruited by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade to plant a bomb on the railway tracks near Netanya tried to use false papers indicating he needed hospital treatment to enter Israel. Another Hamas terrorist planning a suicide bombing was arrested in March 2005 after pretending to be a kidney donor.32

On June 20, 2005, 21-year-old Wafa Samir Ibrahim Bas was arrested attempting to smuggle an explosives belt through the Erez crossing. Bas aroused the suspicion of soldiers at the checkpoint when a biometric scanner revealed she was hiding explosives. When she realized they had discovered the explosive belt, she attempted unsuccessfully to detonate it.33

Bas had been admitted on humanitarian grounds to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva several months earlier for treatment of massive burns she received as a result of a cooking accident. After her arrest, she admitted that the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade had instructed her to use her personal medical authorization documents to enter into Israel to carry out a suicide attack. In an interview shown on Israeli television, Bas said her “dream was to be a martyr” and that her intent was to kill 40 or 50 people – as may young people as possible.

Nevertheless, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian obstetrician and gynecologist from the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, who has worked at the Soroka Hospital, wrote that he was “outraged at the cynical and potentially deadly suicide bombing attempt.” Dr. Abuelaish said he does research at the hospital's Genetic Institute and has warm relations with his colleagues. “I make a point, whenever I'm at the hospital, of visiting Palestinian patients,” he said. “I also schedule appointments for other Gaza residents, and even bring medication from Soroka to needy patients in the Strip....On the very day that she planned to detonate her bomb, two Palestinians in critical condition were waiting in Gaza to be taken for urgent treatment at Soroka ”

Dr. Abuelaish added, “Wafa was sent to kill the very people in Israel who are healing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and West Bank. What if Israeli hospitals now decide to bar Palestinians seeking treatment? How would those who sent Bis feel if their own relatives, in need of medical care in Israel, are refused treatment?”34

The Israeli checkpoint saved the lives not only of countless Israelis, but of the Palestinian would-be suicide bomber. By using this tactic, the Palestinians have reinforced the necessity of retaining the checkpoints and forced Israel to carry out more stringent inspections, yet another example of how terrorists are making life unnecessarily difficult for innocent Palestinians.

“Israeli hospitals extend humanitarian treatment to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and West Bank. These efforts continued when all other cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis came to a halt during the most recent intifada.”
— Palestinian obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish35
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/fence.html

Israel’s Security Fence

by Mitchell Bard

After scores of suicide bombings and daily terrorist attacks against its civilians that have killed more than 850 people and wounded thousands more since September 2000, Israel’s unity government decided to construct a security fence near the northern part of the pre-1967 “Green Line” between Israel and the West Bank to prevent Palestinian terrorists from infiltrating into Israeli population centers. The project has had the overwhelming support of the Israeli public which sees the barrier as vital to their security.

There is actually nothing new about the construction of a security fence. Many other nations have fences to protect their borders (the United States is building one now to keep out illegal Mexican immigrants). Israel has similar barriers along its borders with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. In fact, a fence already surrounds the Gaza Strip and not a single suicide bomber has managed to get across the Gaza barrier into Israel. Ironically, after condemning Israel's barrier, the UN announced plans to build its own fence to improve security around its New York headquarters.

Israel is Forced to Act

The Palestinians committed themselves in the Oslo accords and in the road map to dismantle terrorist networks and confiscate illegal weapons. After more than 10 years of negotiations, and a mounting toll of Israeli civilian casualties, however, it became clear to the Israeli people that the Palestinian Authority (PA) made a strategic choice to use terror to achieve its aims and that something had to be done to protect the civilian population.

“It obliges us to establish a barrier wall which is the only thing that can minimize the infiltration of these male and female suicide bombers,” said Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who has emphasized that “the fence is not political, [and] is not a border.” ….

Making Terrorism More Difficult

Before the construction of the fence, and in many places where it has not yet been completed, a terrorist need only walk across an invisible line to cross from the West Bank into Israel. No barriers of any kind exist, so it is easy to see how a barrier, no matter how imperfect, won't at least make the terrorists' job more difficult. Approximately 75 percent of the suicide bombers who attacked targets inside Israel came from across the border where the first phase of the fence was built.

During the 34 months from the beginning of the violence in September 2000 until the construction of the first continuous segment of the security fence at the end of July 2003, Samaria-based terrorists carried out 73 attacks in which 293 Israelis were killed and 1950 wounded. In the 11 months between the erection of the first segment at the beginning of August 2003 and the end of June 2004, only three attacks were successful, and all three occurred in the first half of 2003.

Since construction of the fence began, the number of attacks has declined by more than 90%. The number of Israelis murdered and wounded has decreased by more than 70% and 85%, respectively, after erection of the fence.

Even the Palestinian terrorists have addmitted the fence is a deterrent. On November 11, 2006, Islamic Jihad leader Abdallah Ramadan Shalah said on Al-Manar TV the terrorist organizations had every intention of continuing suicide bombing attacks, but that their timing and the possibility of implementing them from the West Bank depended on other factors. “For example,” he said, “there is the separation fence, which is an obstacle to the resistance, and if it were not there the situation would be entirely different.”

The value of the fence in saving lives is evident from the data: In 2002, the year before construction started, 457 Israelis were murdered; in 2009, 8 Israelis were killed.



Other Benefits

…Israelis living along the Green Line, both Jews and Arabs, favor the fence to prevent infiltration by suicide bombers and by thieves and vandals. In fact, the fence has caused a revolution in the daily life of some Israeli Arab towns because it has brought quiet, which has allowed a significant upsurge in economic activity.

The Palestinians in the territories will also benefit from the fence because it will reduce the need for Israeli military operations in the territories, and the deployment of troops in Palestinian towns. Onerous security measures, such as curfews and checkpoints, will either be unnecessary or dramatically scaled back.


A High-Tech Fence

Although critics have sought to portray the security fence as a kind of "Berlin Wall," it is nothing of the sort. First, unlike the Berlin Wall, the fence does not separate one people, Germans from Germans, and deny freedom to those on one side. Israel's security fence separates two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians, and offers freedom and security for both. Second, while Israelis are fully prepared to live with Palestinians, and 20 percent of the Israeli population is already Arab, it is the Palestinians who say they do not want to live with any Jews and call for the West Bank to be judenrein (literally "clean of Jews"). Third, the fence is not being constructed to prevent the citizens of one state from escaping; it is designed solely to keep terrorists out of Israel. Finally, only a tiny fraction of the total length of the barrier (less than 3% or about 10 miles) is actually a 30 foot high concrete wall, and that is being built in three areas where it will prevent Palestinian snipers from around the terrorist hotbeds of Kalkilya and Tul Karm from shooting at cars as they have done for the last three years along the Trans-Israel Highway, one of the country's main roads. The wall also takes up less space than the other barriers, only about seven feet, so it did not have a great impact on the area where it was built.


This diagram shows why a wall is being built in a few specific places where Palestinian snipers have terrorized motorists.

Most of the barrier will be a chain-link type fence similar to those used all over the United States combined with underground and long-range sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, trenches, landmines and guard paths. Manned checkpoints will constitute the only way to travel back and forth through the fence. The barrier is altogether about 160 feet wide in most places.

Precedents

It is not unreasonable or unusual to build a fence for security purposes. Israel already has fences along the frontiers with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, so building a barrier to separate Israel from the Palestinian Authority is not revolutionary. Most nations have fences to protect their borders and several use barriers in political disputes:

The United States is building a fence to keep out illegal Mexican immigrants.

Spain built a fence, with European Union funding, to separate its enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla from Morocco to prevent poor people from sub-Saharan Africa from entering Europe.

India constructed a 460-mile barrier in Kashmir to halt infiltrations supported by Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia built a 60-mile barrier along an undefined border zone with Yemen to halt arms smuggling of weaponry and announced plans in 2006 to build a 500-mile fence along its border with Iraq.

Turkey built a barrier in the southern province of Alexandretta, which was formerly in Syria and is an area that Syria claims as its own..

In Cyprus, the UN sponsored a security fence reinforcing the island’s de facto partition.

British-built barriers separate Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in Belfast.

Ironically, after condemning Israel’s barrier, the UN announced plans to build its own fence to improve security around its New York headquarters.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jso ... fence.html

[SwissMrs&Pitchfirecaptain of 1,000]

Arabs live within the borders of Israel. Why can’t Jews live within the borders of a future Palestinian state, SwissMrs&Pitchfire?

Because they do it by force. Honestly what Jew would do it without force? They have antagonized a hornets nest and now they stand there with a stick whacking instead of just pulling back and letting them cool off.

[ChelCThe Law]

Another good documentary to watch is called something like "Hijacking the Holy Land." It comes down unapologetically on the pro Israel side, and so is one sided. Still, I find it very sobering to see what they are up against. I'm not sure that they have many good choices.

[Oldemandaltoncaptain of 1,000]

Innocent Muslims are also the victims of Fanatical Islam.




After Baghdad, Sunni terrorist hit the security core of Assad regime
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report December 23, 2011, 1:40 PM (GMT+02:00)


Victims carried from Damascus scene of terror

The Sunni Muslim war on the Shiite-Allawite ruler of Syria and the Shiite-led regime of Iraq has gained deadly momentum in the last 48 hours, DEBKAfile's military sources report. Friday, Dec. 23, two suicide bombers blew up cars loaded with explosives at the compound of the Syrian Security Directorate and military intelligence building in central Damascus, killing at least 40 military personnel and civilians, and injuring dozens more. It was the first such attack to take place in the Syrian capital in the 10-month uprising against Bashar Assad and struck at the heart of his regime.

In Baghdad, Thursday, more than 70 people died and at least 200 were badly hurt by a series of roadside bombs, an exploding ambulance and sticky bombs. Most were directed against Shiite targets.

Since Assad and the Iraqi Prime Minister Nour al-Maliki share the same backer, Tehran, the spate of terror which erupted this week was not just a trigger for civil war in both their countries but signaled a new and violent round in the Sunni-Shiite struggle for control of the Middle East.

Standing to one side are Iran, the Damascus and Baghdad rulers, Hizballah and the Palestinian extremist Hamas and Jihad Islami. Ranged against them are the Muslim Brotherhood and elements or associates of al Qaeda. They are backed with arms, funds, training and fighting strength by several Sunni Arab regimes, chiefly Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan and Libya.

Our counter-terror sources report an expanding flow of extremist Sunni infiltrators from Iraq into Syria and Lebanon. Not all are al Qaeda, as Assad claims. Some belong to the "Awakening Councils" which have evolved into the Iraqi Sunni tribal community's principal military arm. They were originally set up by Gen. David Petraeus, presently CIA Director, to fight al Qaeda. With US funding, training and commanders, these Sunni tribal fighters were successful from 2006 to 2008 in beating al Qaeda into the ground.

But the final US military departure from Iraq this week left the Awakening Council fighters high and dry by. Prime Minister al-Maliki, who takes his orders from Tehran, refused to honor the contract to pay their wages and their families are destitute.

As a result, many Iraqi Sunni fighting men decided to join up with al Qaeda. Their pursuit of a source of arms and a livelihood is taking them across borders into Syria and Lebanon where they join the ranks of anti-Assad Sunni militias, including the Free Syrian Army.

Seasoned in the ways of violence, they were fully competent to carry out the deadly terrorist attacks in Baghdad and Damascus. More such outrages are certain to come, adding a whole new dimension to the popular campaign to unseat Bashar Assad as well as post-war Iraq.
http://www.debka.com/article/21596/

[InfoWarrior82captain of 1,000]

http://www.infowars.com/western-backed- ... a-attacks/

Western-Backed Terrorists Kill 30 In Syria Attacks

Establishment media instantly turns to conspiracy theories to hide fact that country is in a state of civil war

Paul Joseph Watson
Infowars.com
Friday, December 23, 2011


At least 30 people have been killed and dozens wounded after terrorists attacked two Syrian state security buildings today, prompting the establishment media to launch a barrage of conspiracy theories in a flailing attempt to hide the fact that Syria is in a state of a civil war, a reality which dismantles the phony narrative that the Syrian regime alone is responsible for bloodshed in the country.




“Two booby-trapped cars blew up at Syrian security sites in Damascus on Friday, state television said, and witnesses heard large blasts rock the capital, with Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV reporting that 30 people were killed in the blasts and 55 were wounded,” reports Haaretz.

The plausibility of terrorists targeting the Syrian regime is perfectly viable given the fact that hundreds of Libyan rebels, commanded by Abdulhakim Belhadj, a committed jihadist who fought with the Taliban against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, were airlifted into Syria last month to aid the opposition in carrying out attacks against government forces.

US Special Forces are also massing on the border waiting for the green light to launch the NATO-backed “humanitarian” bloodbath, in a mirror image of how Libya was overthrown with the aid of western-backed Al-Qaeda militants, while at the same time the western media characterized rebel fighters who were commandeering fighter jets and carrying RPGs as “innocent demonstrators”.

In a desperate effort to prop up the phony narrative that the Syrian regime is attacking innocent protesters, when in reality there is an ongoing civil war with killings and atrocities on both sides, the corporate press responded to the bombings by instantly implying they could have been staged by Syrian authorities.

The establishment media, which unquestionably accepts and immediately regurgitates the official narrative when terror attacks occur in the west, has instantly begun to generate what they would usually term “conspiracy theories,” even implying that the Syrian regime could have been behind the blasts as a spectacle to garner sympathy from Arab League observers who entered the country yesterday.

While this is certainly possible, it’s amazing to witness how news organizations that routinely attack anyone who questions the official story of an event like 9/11 or 7/7 are now eager to provide a platform for skepticism simply because the attacks occurred in a nation which is one of the prime targets for the next NATO-backed “humanitarian intervention” (bombing campaign).

The London Guardian is a prime example, featuring numerous tweets from anonymous persons, almost all of which suggest that the circumstances behind the attack were manipulated.

“Is it merely a coincidence that these bombings only happened when the monitors’ advance team arrived?” asks one.

“Either it is a bogus attack carried out by Assad’s incompetent secret police, or it is a genuine attack carried out by the opposition’s incompetent armed wing,” writes another.

Incompetent? At least 30 dead and 55 injured hardly seems “incompetent” from a terrorist’s viewpoint. In addition, this is just the latest of a series of attacks against the Syrian regime that have been ignored or downplayed, including last month’s attack on an army base which killed ten Syrian air force personnel.

The west’s need to fool the world into believing that heavily armed Syrian opposition militants, backed by Libyan rebel terrorists, are in fact peaceful protesters who are being indiscriminately slaughtered by order of Syrian President Bashar Assad, necessitates the requirement to frame opposition attacks as suspect.

It’s just a shame that such skepticism completely disappears when terror attacks take place in the west. In those instances, all critical thinking ceases to exist and the press hastily prostrates itself to slavishly repeat the official story and denounce anyone who dares question it.