Both of them see their chances as candidates slipping away. They have nothing to lose in making bombastic statements which might make lasting impressions

Huh. I hadn’t thought of that, Finnpundit. I just thought they were both morons, but you could be right.

But the option of nuking Mecca and Medina has re-emerged in another way: one of the more interesting developments in nuclear physics is the ability of nuclear scientists to detect a “signature” in any nuclear bomb explosion that can be traced back to the particular locations where fissionable material was enriched. In other words, we can tell who made any bomb that’s detonated anywhere in the world. As this kind of “smoking gun” evidence is available, it is possible to pursue the politics of Mutually Assured Destruction, or MAD, even with bombs delivered without missiles.

But as Markus points out above, the politics of MAD are only successful if we assume terrorists are logical people. Mutually assured destruction might appeal to people prone to apocalyptic thinking and, given the wild, free rein allowed for religious zealots in the Muslim world, it is not inconceivable that some Muslims will emerge who will think that the leveling of Mecca and Medina are perfectly acceptable losses as far as jihad is concerned.

Thus, MAD only works when the targets are the industrial and economic centers of society. Religiously symbolic targets are not as effective in bringing an enemy to its knees, as their loss simply does not translate directly into an incapacity to continue warfare.

Tancredo’s comments, though, are as thought out as those of Obama. Both of them see their chances as candidates slipping away. They have nothing to lose in making bombastic statements which might make lasting impressions that’ll keep their names in the minds of voters… until they try to run again in the future, beyond 2008.

Your right. Tancredo is pretty much running for vice president, and what little chance he stood of getting on the Republican ticket just evaporated. Most of the country doesn’t know who he is, aside from the political junkies.

“Sadly, the level of education among Americans is poathetically low when it comes to the Middle East, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in the Middle East”

So true. My friends who have known me for years actually thought I was muslim; albeit a very bad one who doesn’t cover, drinks, and happens to like bacon. When they finally figured out I wasn’t they wanted to know when I had apostated and if my family was upset when they found out

This is obviously not the first time he has brewed up controversy, as he has enemies within his own Party.

This is a man who refused to serve in Vietnam, a war he personally supported, citing “depression issues”.

This is a man who endorsed the NRA even after the Columbine massacre in ’99, even though the school shooting occurred maybe a mile away from his home in Littleton.

He exploited the Beslan massacre in Russia for his own twisted agenda.

He represents the 6th Congressional District in Denver that includes Lakewood, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, and Castle Rock, to name a few.

This guy hates Muslims with a passion, and I suggest you go on this site:

http://tancredowatch.blogspot.com

for more information about this chickenhawk.

I have a feeling that those who back him are the ones who are unwilling to put their money where their mouth is and go fight in the war.

It is true that Islam is NOT a race. BUT, people are also defined not by what they are but what people think they are. What that means is if a bigot like Tancredo sees Muslims as a “race,” and he criticizes them as a “race” then in his mind they are a”race” and his hatred is therefore driven by racism.

His ignorance dictates the terms, unfortunately. People think I am Muslim and attack me all the time calling me horrible anti-Muslim slurs. But the fact is I am Christian. Are they being anti-Christian? Or Islamophobes because they hate me as a Muslim?

Sadly, the level of education among Americans is poathetically low when it comes to the Middle East, Arabs, Muslims and Christians in the Middle East. But we can’t apply our intelligence to explain their insanity and ignorance. We have to merge the two to precisely see what they are doing and acting like.

“Basically, he believes that the white Anglo-Protestant race/ethnicity/religion is the superior culture and that all of these other influences are only serving to water down and weaken this “pure” Anglo-culture.”

No, Tancredo does not believe that in any way shape or form. That’s what you seem to believe, which sounds racist and weird all at the same time. You sound messed up kid. Get some help, and please stay out of your mothers medicine cabinet.

Ray, you’re close to the mark on your call. Tancredo is a racist, but even more than that, he is a civilizationalist. I spent a lot of time writing about him in my recent thesis, as he is a major player in the anti-immigrant debate in the U.S. If you want a clear picture of where he comes from, read his latest book, In Mortal Danger, where he lays out why the Anglo-Saxon Western civilization is under threat from illegal immigrants, Islamo-fascists and the radical multiculturalists. Check out this clip to get a sense of his positions.

Basically, he believes that the white Anglo-Protestant race/ethnicity/religion is the superior culture and that all of these other influences are only serving to water down and weaken this “pure” Anglo-culture. He is truly a scary man, and a lot of people I know would go to the end of the earth to prevent him from coming to power. It’s bad enough that he is already an influential Congressman. (Although I think his changes of winning the Rep. nomination are about 0.001%)

I would also add that he is part of what I have begun documenting in my research and recent thesis as the new white nationalism, a movement (Carol Swain’s terminology) in the U.S. that is the modern KKK but with more power and much more subtle….no more cross burnings. Here’s a few choice quotes from his latest book about Muslims and Arabs FYI:

My personal favorite:
-”Numerous media reports have featured intelligence officials’ warning of a connection between MS-13 (El Salvadoran youth gangs) and Al Qaeda. In July 2004, reports surfaced of an al Qaeda figure meeting MS-13 in Honduras in order to secure entry routes into the United States. Reports also surfaced that, during the summer of 2004, Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was possibly in contact with MS-13 and/or Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMNL) in an attempt to get them to commit terrorists acts in El Salvador with the hope of forcing that government to withdraw support for U.S. efforts in Iraq. The FBI will not comment on these report.” (p82)

-”In another Texas-Mexico border county, a sheriff’s department said deputies discovered a large metal container that had washed ashore from the Rio Grande [forms the US-Mexico borders in the Southwest]. The container held several cylinders, each filled with papers covered in Arabic writing. These findings, among other evidence, is part of the reason why another Texas sheriff has prepared a training CD for Border Patrol and other officers and agents working in the area.” (p86)

-”Muslims believe they must spread the word by mouth and sword.” (p65)

-”President George W. Bush continues to refer to our enemy as terrorists or, more recently, extremism. Of course, neither of these isms accurately characterizes our enemy. The real enemy is Islamofascism. Contrary to popular belief, Islamofascism did not begin with our support for Israel, and it would not end if that support were withdrawn.” (p65-6)

-”Religious freedom is not permitted in the Islamic world.” (p67)

-”I will certainly grant that all of the world’s billion and a half Muslims are not aligned with the likes of Osama bin Laden, that only a small percentage would strap on a bomb to detonate on a school playground. I must admit, however, I do wonder how many in the Muslim world are secretly pleased when they hear of such an attack [9/11]. Judging from the tepid reaction to these events by the leaders of the Islamic world, I have to believe the number of sympathizers reaches into the hundreds of millions.” (p70)

“Ibrahim Hooper, a national spokesman for CAIR (a group that regularly serves as chief apologist for radical Islam), accused me of having an “allergy” to their faith.” (p75)

Ok, I hope that gives folks a little taste of what Tom Tancredo is like. Not a nice guy

I can’t find the clip from the speech he gave about bombing Mecca and Medina, but here’s an interesting CNN clip with responses to his speech and comments to his Mecca-Medina speech.

If you want more, check out Tancredo Watch.

H