[OT] Bali terrorist attacks

[Emiricol]

As an American, and thus with 9/11 in recent memory, let me offer my condolences to the victims. Terrorism seemed FAR less devastating 13.5 months ago...

As an Honorably discharged U.S. Marine, I understand the very, very disturbing and painful emotions all you Aussie former warriors must be feeling...

As a fellow human, I hope you'll accept my warm fuzzy thoughts for the survivors, or my prayers for those who appreciate such.

-Emiricol

 

[Piratecat]

My sympathies to the victims.

Instead of closing this yet, I'd like to remind everyone that religious and political discussion aren't appropriate here. I know it's hard to discuss this without those getting in the way; you might want to head to somewhere like Ashtal's Nutkinland for a more appropriate (if more rough-and-tumble) venue. Thanks!

 

[Atticus_of_Amber]

My sympathies to the victims.

Instead of closing this yet, I'd like to remind everyone that religious and political discussion aren't appropriate here. I know it's hard to discuss this without those getting in the way; you might want to head to somewhere like Ashtal's Nutkinland for a more appropriate (if more rough-and-tumble) venue. Thanks!

Agreed. There's a slipery slope here and I think we're going to accelate rapidly if we dont' stop now.

Take it from a past offender that the moderators are *very* commited to stopping political or religious discussion on these boards (despite the difficulty of drawing an arbitrary line in a community that plays a game that frequently models politics and religion and allows dessimination of news about real world events).

Unless I hear any new facts about the bombings, I'm not going to post here anymore...

 

[Emiricol]

Excellent.

 

[tleilaxu]

That’s just the point, these people DO care about what you think of America. Being an ally of “the Great Satan” is what makes you a target. These people hate and despise US foreign policy, the US government, American culture and the American people (in that order) and anyone who allies with the US become guilty by association.

That doesn't necessarily make it the US's "fault". Causation is not necessarily culpability. Butthe enemy of your friend easily becomes your enemy as well (and vice versa).

I suspect that if this is the work of Islamic Fundamentalists, it is Australia’s staunch/fawning (depending on your POV) support of the US that has made us a target. If this is the work of Indonesian nationalists, then it is Australia’s support of the East Timorese separatists (and the apparent hypocrisy that implies after Australia’s quarter-century of support for the Indonesian occupation right up until our back-flip at the time of the collapse of the Suharto regime)* that made us a target.

I suspect it was really a combination of both.

*Note: There is a respectable case that until Suharto collapsed there was nothing Australia could do for the East Timorese except try to influence Indonesia’s policy by 'constructive engagement". I’m not sure I believe that (maybe I'm just too cynical) but it’s plausible…

Well, I guess you have to choose who to be friends with. Say what you like about America, but I'd rather they be my friends than a few thousand cracked out fanatics.

 

[Piratecat]

Say good night, Gracie.