On September 11, 2018 at 3:56 pm, Quinn Watson wrote:
Mark,
On this 17th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, it is useful to reflect on the strategy embarked by the Bush Administration in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. One has to wonder where we would be today if we had never devoted so much American blood and treasure to oust Saddamm Hussein. Sure, he was a bad guy. Terrible guy. But there are a lot of terrible dictators the world around that we've not ousted.
I think Bush did a good job in the years after 9/11, when he had the hardest job in the world. But would we have been better served to focus 100% of our resources solely on hunting down Al Queda in Afghanistan and Pakistan? I sometimes wonder if we could have gotten Bin Laden several years sooner, spared many US soldier and Iraqi civilian lives, and prevented the rise of Isis had we taken this course of action instead of invading Iraq. Your thoughts?
On September 11, 2018 at 3:56 pm, Andrew A wrote:
Mark, how far should a responsible ordinary citizen go towards educating himself about the true nature of Islam and Jihad that motivates these attacks as opposed to highlighting the weak political and cultural response on our side? Which is worse, our own stupidity about events such as 9/11, or the evil of the Jihadists?
I know that both issues are important, but which is more important in your estimate? Could the relative importance of each side of this issue vary? Are there contexts where the anti-Jihad component is more important or vice-versa?
On September 11, 2018 at 3:57 pm, David Taylor wrote:
There can be no peace until all Muslims renounce Jihad. But because Islam is an ideology of conquest and inherently supremacist, that cannot happen.
I think often of the Muslim protest outside Westminster Abbey and Mark's rejoinder asking who would like to join him at the counter-protest in Mecca outside the Grand Mosque...
On September 11, 2018 at 3:57 pm, Al Man from CA wrote:
Hi Mark
Since 9/11/01 the (increasingly hard) Left has accepted Islam into their alignment of various "victim" groups. Do the Leftists (American and European alike) really think that by proactively defending Islam now they won't be
targeted like the rest of us Infidels if Islam ever took over?
Welcome back!
On September 11, 2018 at 4:04 pm, Charles Moritz wrote:
Do "American" Muslims think of themselves as apostates? If Islam is a theocracy, how do they rationalize the
separation of Church and State? Thanks, Charlie
On September 11, 2018 at 4:07 pm, Mark Ferrigno wrote:
Mark,
17 years since 9/11 and 17 years in Afghanistan. The left used to be all about an "exit strategy" We never hear about exist strategies anymore.
Will the US ever leave Afghanistan?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:13 pm, Joseph Huber wrote:
Hi Mark,
I just read where the Muslim Council of Britain (joined by three Parliament members) is trying to have Franklin Graham barred from entering Britain. Apparently he is "Islamaphobic" and has no right to walk among the Brits. Not meaning to diminish the suffering of 9/11 in any way, I think the fact that this is even being considered shows the Islamists have waged a far more effective war against the UK and Europe than they did against us on 9/11.
Do you foresee a time when the people of Britain reclaim their heritage, or has PC and immigration tipped the scales too far already for that to happen?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:15 pm, George Pereira wrote:
Do you know what happened to that unhappy JAG?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:18 pm, Carmen wrote:
Mark,
How do we make our so-called leaders (and the mainstream media) call and face Islamist terrorism for what it really is, so that we can actually start to combat it effectively? How do we stop the relentless infiltration and influence of Muslim Brotherhood-connected persons in to all levels of government and major institutions?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:28 pm, Rich wrote:
Hi Mark, love the club! Not listening in until later so I apologize if you've covered anything below:
The War on Terror, now there's a quaint phrase! Seems to me fighting a War on Terror while having open borders is like turning on the AC but keeping a window open. I don't think Trump is our savior but he is the only politician who has had the guts to not allow the multicultural/coexist crowd walk over him and the career political class hate him for it, but I digress.
In terms of strategy, it seems to me as if we've spent the past 15+ years trying to kill this guy or get this group out of that region, but almost no time trying to prevent the next terror cell from popping up. As a result, we end up occupying everything in perpetuity. I'd argue that, no matter how thick our rose-colored glasses, certain cultures, groups or religions will always hate one another, so the idea that we can win any war on terrorism is absurd. But let's do the easy thing and suppose I'm wrong. How would you recommend we put an end to all terrorism? Or are you with me and think it's a pipe dream?
Thank you!
On September 11, 2018 at 4:33 pm, Fran Lavery wrote:
Mark, before reflecting on 9/11, I thought it might be good to review your Mailbox video from this past June 6th. You titled it "Dear Prudence"'and you tried to explain to Diane Oliver why you used the term "imprudence", rather than "criminal" in referring to the policies of the Western governments which allowed mass immigration from the Middle Eastern war torn Muslim countries. I heard Mr. Nigel Farage recently sign off on Tucker's show this summer that freedom is coming back to Europe. Can you explain his comment?
Also, what was that large blurred black figure in the corner past your right shoulder? Is that a life-size figure of the Grim Reaper, or a new robot Burqa clad gal?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:41 pm, Mingus > Parker, Los Altos, Ca wrote:
Mark,
It didn't take much time to bring Muslims to Europe or Hispanics to America over the last few decades. Given the speed of the demographic trends, 2050 being the predicted tipping point, it seems like the change has been cemented. You can't possibly reverse these things in the same amount of time. So shouldn't we just accept that in our lifetimes, our grandchildren's lifetimes, and probably great grandchildren's, Europe will be substantially Muslim?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:47 pm, Joe Patterson wrote:
In reference to 9/11 much is said about Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan but little to nothing about Saudi Arabia. Even though the mastermind, Bin Laden, 15 of the attackers were Saudis. Why is it that the Saudis seem to continually get a free pass where it comes to their complicity in terrorism?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:50 pm, Kate Smyth wrote:
"As the years roll by, was our response wrong and inadequate?"
Mark, what about "our friends", the Saudis?
On September 11, 2018 at 4:55 pm, Jeffrey Gilbert wrote:
Good afternoon Mark,
Two remarks:
(1) I believe it is important to remember, learn, and act from "9/11". However, I resist the urge (that seems to be abroad in the land) to define ourselves based on the worst event in our lives and the concurrent guilt/self-loathing that the fault for that event is somehow in ourselves. That seems to be a means of not learning from event and avoiding actions to prevent similar events in the future. I understand how those that lost lives close to them will always be severely affected. However, as a country, we must be focused on the future.
(2) Your discussion with Mr. Carlson about Google is important but did not consider an approach to shrink the power of "Alphabet'. It is a rather imperfect analogy, but I think the situation with Google search is very similar to Microsoft Windows / Internet Explorer circa the late 1990's. The antitrust case was complex and controversial but the result opened up the the browser market to real competition after Microsoft had achieved 90+% market share.
Thanks.
-- Jeff
On September 11, 2018 at 4:55 pm, Brandy Edwards wrote:
Hi Mark! It's your MS Club resident Fine Girl - Brandy! (Which, by the way, my parents have assured me I wasn't named after a 1972 Looking Glass song. Though, I suppose, the alcohol alternative they did name me after isn't much better.)
On the 9/11 topic, I find it strange that 17 years on, so many countries (mostly driven by the left) have chosen to forgive and forget the dangerous ideology that led to the attacks on that day. It's like we've gone backwards in a way because saying anything negative about Islam or Islamic terror is even more taboo today than it was in 2001. Which is odd because you'd think after America was attacked in such a horrific way, calling out the evil that did this would be a no-brainer. Instead, the law-abiding are forced to go shoeless through airports and have to live with the Patriot Act. We're called racists if we object, while the Islamic terror ideology is alive and well. It's kind of a shame actually.
On a lighter note, I have a question about your upcoming cruise. A couple of Clubland Q & A's ago, I asked you about your sick dog. Since I am in the same boat (ha! no cruise pun intended) with a very sick dog, I'm super disappointed that I will be unable to go on your cruise. I was wondering if your cuise is going to be a one-time thing or if you are planning to do it again next year? Thanks!!
On September 11, 2018 at 4:58 pm, Susan Thomas wrote:
Ciao Mark! I love all your programs, columns, books, TV and radio appearances, stories and poems, songs--etc. etc.! I'm endlessly grateful, and always appreciative of your many, many wonderful creations. Grazie mille!
I had wanted to comment on a question (or criticism) you got last time from someone who thought you didn't pronounce enough syllables for each word.... I was listening to the replay, so I couldn't send a note at the time, but my immediate thought was that the fellow was "pulling your leg," with specific reference to the Woodward book upon which you had commented, because that style of de-li-ber-ate e-nun-ci-a-tion of e-ve-ry .syl-la-ble, and em-pha-sis on sin-gle let-ters (such as the "g" in Wash-inG-ton) is exactly the
way that Woodward speaks!
I'll be listening today from Port Townsend in western Washington state , and I hope you'll be having lots of fun with all your friends and admirers and conversationalists around the planet.
-- best regards, Susan
On September 11, 2018 at 5:00 pm, Malcolm wrote:
Hi Mark just wanted to let you know that I absolutely love your pussy cat album and that I listen to it continually on repeat in my car as I drive around each day for the last year. It puts me in such a happy mood so thank you. At home I do branch out a bit by also listening to your Gold Finger album. Have you got another album coming soon?
I draw controversial meme/cartoons which definitely created a lot of talk within my art circles and friends. Some want me to release a book with them all shown. They say art is not art unless it is on display. I do worry about cartoonists and the difficulty created by some people who only see what they want to see. And then dictate that is all others can see or can take from it, i.e. the cartoonist is a racist, sexist. Of course same goes for some books now. .
However in the music industry there are some lyrics about rape, women as bitches, white hate, killing others, falling in love with under age girls. So to me it appears music lyrics are immune to the haters. Which is good. But how long will it last? Do people listen to lyrics? Can cartoonists learn from the music writers?
Kindest regards
Malcolm, New Zealand
