tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11368628.post7193739700959582333..comments2024-03-29T00:24:13.128-04:00Comments on Daniel Greenfield / Sultan Knish Articles at DanielGreenfield.org : We Can't WinDaniel Greenfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13575285186581875356noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11368628.post-56208209444920461892008-07-31T22:55:00.000-04:002008-07-31T22:55:00.000-04:00Yes. Very interesting and insightful.If you'll all...Yes. Very interesting and insightful.<BR/><BR/>If you'll allow a somewhat long comment:<BR/><BR/>I found my old copy of threat management expert Gavin deBecker's "The Gift of Fear."<BR/><BR/>He writes that there are four elements to consider when trying to determine success, though he writes about the ability of a criminal to succeed, it could, I think be taken in reverse and used as a tool to help the US and Israel suceed; or at the least understand why terrorists are confident and the good guy's are throwing in the towel. My thoughts are in ()<BR/><BR/>1. Perceived justification-- "anger is a very seductive emotion because it is profoundly energizing and exhilarating."<BR/><BR/>(Are Americans angry or energized as they were immediately after 9/11? Have we lost our righteous outrage?)<BR/><BR/>2. Perceived alternatives--"Does the person perceive that he had available alternatives to violence that will move him toward the outcome he wants?...Knowing the desired outcome is the key. If a person's desired outcome is to inflict physical injury, then there are few alternatives to violence."<BR/><BR/>(The Palestinians clearly don't want peace or land. The desired outcome is singular--destroy the Jewish nation and Jewish people).<BR/><BR/>3. Perceived consequences--"How does the person view the consequences associated with using violence? Consequences might be intolerable, such as for a person whose identity and self-image would be damaged if he used violence..." <BR/><BR/>(Perhaps why Americans are plagued with guilt over the use of torture at Gitmo? The reason Israel repeatedly tries to make peace with the Palestinians?)<BR/><BR/>4.Perceived ability--"Does the person believe he can successfully deliver the blows, or bullet or bomb? <BR/><BR/>"People who have successfully used violence have a high appraisal of their ability to prevail using violence again."<BR/><BR/>(The terrorists obviously do. What do we hear on the news about the surge in Iraq? It isn't working, we need to bail out, etc.)<BR/><BR/>Debecker cites this last element, perceived ability, to the attitudes of the Palestinians. He writes, "A recent 60 Minues show gave a good example of most people's reluctance (to see things from the perspective of the terrorist). <BR/><BR/>"It profiled the mastermind terrorist known as the Engineer, a man who helped Kamikaze marytrs strap explosives to their chests. His agents became walking bombs, carrying death into populated areas.<BR/><BR/>"Interviewer Steve Kroft asked one of the Engineer's terrorist followers to describe the man who could do such terrible things.<BR/><BR/>"The answer? 'He's a very normal person, just like all of us' Kroft took exception. 'You said that he is just like all the rest of us. I, I, I, would say that, that no one would consider him normal."<BR/><BR/>"The terrorist replied, "I believe your statement is incorrect. There are thousands and thousands in our country that believe what we believe--and not only in our country, in the rest of the Arab world and even in your country."<BR/><BR/>Debecker continues, "At the end of the day, the American bomber who kills a hundred people in Iraq decides to use violence the same way as the Palestinian bomber who kills a hundred people in Israel.<BR/><BR/>"This idea may bother some people, but effective predictions require that we not make value judgments."Keli Atahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05089132216830000713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11368628.post-65996218908394819242008-07-31T12:16:00.000-04:002008-07-31T12:16:00.000-04:00Very good post once again.Very good post once again.Chana @ Lemon Lime Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11656854855385193867noreply@blogger.com