They should learn from Sharon. Even that sadistic zealot - and the Israel defense apparatus in general, realized long ago that trying to scare the shit out of their enemies just created more enemies who are all the more willing to kill themselves in the name of their own zealotry. Anyone willing to kill oneself for a "cause" is certainly not going to be deterred by the possibility of torture, etc. As I've mentioned before, the only conceivable explanation for the U.S. government's open admission to torture and other crimes against humanity is, firstly, that they can, and secondly, that it will serve to deter the enemy through fear. They need only ask their closest ally in the Middle East.
Speaking of zealots, I've seen progressive journalists and opinion writers using the words "draft dodger" recently to describe people like Cheney and Bush, et. al. Now, it is understandable that they would want to drive home the utter, unabashed hypocrisy of these people. But "draft dodger" has built-in negative connotations derived from its use during the Vietnam war, when it was used to describe those who refused to participate in that war. The left should not be falling into the trap of throwing a negative light on all those who refused to fight in that horror show. While it is useful to shed light on the hypocrisy of Cheney, Bush and the other chickenhawks, it should be remembered that it isn't their decision not to go to Vietnam that is worthy of criticism, but their decision to send thousands more to kill and/or be killed for a less-than-justified cause.
And while we're on zealots, the Ratzinger Church hierarchy has reached a new level of absurd hypocrisy with its latest "no gays" edict. In fact, it's pretty funny. One can easily imagine so many of those sleazy old bastards squirming in their seats during the reading of the text...
Now, according to this document, the good, Christian, decent, loving Church directors must "evaluate all of the qualities of the personality and assure that the candidate does not have sexual disorders that are incompatible with priesthood" Sexual disorders. Jeeezus. This from an institution that has been denying and rejecting any healthy form of sexuality for as long as anyone cares to remember. Then, when, accordingly, the huge army of gays inside the church are forced to closet their desires even more, the text accuses them of "an inauthentic attitude that does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and availability that must characterize the personality of one who considers himself called to serve Christ"...Christ. Poor poor Christ. Truth, loyalty and availability. Absolutely hilarious.
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