Agreed. "No prisoners allowed" would be the right mantra in the fight against terrorists who blatantly, and gleefully disregard any protections to civilians and soldiers alike...
That's odd, insofar as the latest US Army Field Manual on counterinsurgency, based on the experience of the Army in the last few years of warfare abroad, is the exact opposite of your suggested approach. http://www.slate.com/id/2145175/ Perhaps you know better, you're on a roll today dog.
Ah, the much ballyhoo'd Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. I would think those who've been so critical of the policy would be happy with the new decision. I'm not a big fan of the administration but this seems to be a damned if you do or don't from some people. And I agree with some others that it's neither a flip flop nor anything approaching the biggest in history.
I don't know about a flip flop but it's probably the biggest b**** slap we've seen at the White House for a while. Runaway executive power, checked for once.
Doesn't matter. This is lip service. I'll bet before Bush's term is out we'll have more accounts of Geneva violations that took place after this decision and announcement.
I should say it doesn't matter to Bush, Cheney and friends. It is important that we as a nation are once again on the record.
Hayes, how can you post that with a straight face? (sure, I haven't a clue if your face is straight, or not, but ignore that, OK? ) I mean, really... it is a huge flip-flop. Just huge. Suddenly, after literally years of ignoring the Geneva Convention, they, what would be the word, oh yes! They flip-flopped, and completely changed their position. Come on, Hayes... you don't need to defend Bush on this one. The guy caved only because the SC told him he had to cave. Keep D&D Civil.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flip-flop flip-flop n. 1. The movement or sound of repeated flapping. 2. A backward somersault or handspring. 3. InformalA reversal, as of a stand or position: a foreign policy flip-flop. 4. A backless, often foam rubber sandal held to the foot at the big toe by means of a thong. 5. Electronics An electronic circuit or mechanical device capable of assuming either of two stable states, especially a computer circuit used to store a single bit of information.
So we respond to terrorists who gleefully disregard protections to civillians and soldiers alike by gleefully disregarding protections to prisoners and summarily executing them?
First, I guess its how you define flip flop. IMO in its popular usage the phrase means you've advocated one thing and then reversed your position when you're trying to appease a faction that doesn't agree with you. If any change in position is a flip flop, then I guess it is. That seems kind of absurd though. When I was 6 I didn't like mushrooms. Now I do. I guess I'm a flip flopper, lol. Second, your statement also cuts against calling this a flip flop. If one is forced to change their position it doesn't seem to meet the sentiment involved in flip floppery. I'm not Websters but I think the posted definition of flip flop really is too broad and doesn't capture the meaning as currently used. Being completely against 'nation building' and intervention before being elected, and then a total unilateralist interventionist later might be a better example of a 'flip flop.' But again I'm not even sure that is a flip flop since 9/11 provides a good rationale for changing an opinion. IMO saying someone is a flip flopper any time they change their opinion is just joining the empty soundbiting that most of us usually decry unless the action is an act of pandering to a particular audience (saying one thing to one audience and the opposite to another). Maybe I'm just totally misconstruing what flip flopping means.
Hayes, the President isn't just anybody. Blowing off the Geneva Convention, and then deciding it's cool after all, because you were forced to by the Supreme Court, isn't just anything, like changing your mind about whether you, "want fries with that." The man is President of the United Staes, even if he acts like the President of Walmart. Keep D&D Civil.
So, while the SC has spoken, a debate rages in Congress. I'm sure the administration has no idea what to do except stay the course...
I am not trying to trivialize the issue of Geneva Convention/not. Rather I am merely trying to figure out if any change of an opinion is a flip flop or not. After all the bbs is a good place to advance and/or hash out our theories on flip floppery.
A majority of those people at Gitmo aren't even terrorists. They are suspected, thus the term DETAINEES.
