Before you call someone rude try (again) reading history. Also try living with Moslems (which I have). Expecting every one in the world to think the same way is wrong. We are a vastly different culture from Moslems or Japanese. One of our biggest weaknesses is that lack of understanding.
Our sense of honor is governed by Christian morality. While Christians have (covertly) done plenty of nasty things, it is not the way we envision ourselves politically. When it comes to diplomacy we tend to be more strait forward and perhaps even miopic when it comes to what we expect others to respond to. It all goes back to Magna Carta and our respect of what was called Chivalry. We expect an agreement to be held to.
Of course anyone agrees to what gives them the advantage. The difference is that we agree to something and try to hold to it. The Moslem agrees (to take advantage of concessions we grant)and then breaks the agreement so he can manuver for still more advantage. We are learning this game, but we are still amateurs.
The ancestors of the Moslems learned the subtle art of politics from the Chinnese they conquered. Murder, kidnapping, terror tactics, etc is all considered normal "moral" politics.
The Japanese Samurae had the Bu[bleep]o code to live by which is a strict guide to behaviour. There is no comparison between the two cultures.
We still hold to standards of behavior that the Moslem mind considers foolish, because they limit advantage. We have the mistaken concept that They think like we do and will act according to our moral patterns. This is not true.
Examples:
That radical (as we call him) cleric in Iraq who keeps arranging for ceasefires (which we fall for) everytime he wants a small break to rearm or relocate his fighters. How many cease fires has he broken so far?
Saddam: How many games did he play to stall UN inspections (to his advantage? He played the game of agree then withdraw and so delayed his fall from power by ten years.
The Iran hostage incident: 440 days of yanking the US around and then delaying the hostage release so they could embarrass Jimmy Carter by allowing his successor (Reagan) the (appearance of winning their release).
Much more subtle than we would be.
try reading about Ghengis Khan, Bibars, Timor the Lame, and other great Pre-Moslem and Moslem leaders.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."
