Philippines to Withdraw Forces from Iraq

[Phaedrus]

On the contrary, she is appeasing terrorists, and in the worst way possible. The fact that the Filipino people want her to do this is irrelevant, as much so as it would be if it were the "will of the people" that Jews be rounded up and slaughtered en masse.

Decaddes of appeasing terrorists is what enabled nineteen relatively unarmed men to kill nearly 3,000 in half a morning. It is a bad idea, no matter what the short-term consequence, to negotiate with terrorists. This is just basic psychology -- the more you give them, the more they will take (like politicians really.)

Yes, it was a bad idea for the Phillipines to go to Iraq in the first place -- but it is a far, far worse idea to withdraw at the behest of a handful of insurgents holding one man captive. This will only lead them to do it again and again.

The only moral answer to a hostage situation is to walk away.


Phaedrus


EDITED FOR CLARITY: The only moral answer to a hostage ultimatum is to walk away; i.e. to a situation where rescue is impossible. In all cases, however, the only moral response to anything a terrorist has to say is "Go fúck yourself. Hope you're insured."

[This message was edited by Phaedrus on July 15, 2004 at 10:05 AM.]

 

[jointpleasures]

The pulling out of the troops by the Phillipine president isn't a 'sign' the Phillipines is rejecting the USA or the fight on terrorism one iota. It isn't a 'sign' that those 50 soldiers were insignificant because they were only 5'2" and thus incapable of putting a strong fight.
They will rejoice, celebrate and dance when this trucker comes home and give glory to God and the virgin Mary and all the others. Then they will pull some organs, and do more tribal dancing and singing. Then when it's all calming down they'll feel thankful that because of their ultraspiritualality, things worked out for them.

Then they get to wake up soon, only to do it all over again. Must be a bitch seeing all these 'signs'.

 

[American]

Originally posted by xpanda:
The Filipino president... She's not appeasing terrorists as I've heard so much,QUOTE]

She is pulling the troops as a direct response to the demands of the terrorists. How is that not appeasing them? I believe this move, in the long run, will cost the Filipinos MORE than the life of one truck driver. This was incredibly shortsighted for a country that has terrorist problems of it's own.

I've changed my mind about the "insignificant" presence of other countries such as the Phillipines, Spain, Guatemala, Bulgaria, South Korea, etc. in Iraq. Their presence, even if only for humanitarian reasons, is a blow in some way to these Islamic radicals or they wouldn't be so desparately trying to get them to pull out. I think that now, it's all the more important for these smaller countries to stay the course. They're doing something right, and their presence is obviously fouling the designs of radical Islam.

The terrorists now know the tolerance level for guts of both the Filipinos and Spain. This will definately haunt both countries in the future in the form of more attacks, no question about it.