Test Your Knowledge of History By Taking This Pop Quiz:

[tucsonlib]

A small group of fanatical true-believers mount an attack against a foreign, sovereign nation. As justification they cite the policies and actions of that nation's government, which, at least in their eyes, are criminal and inhumane. For several years they had harbored a deep-seated hatred toward that nation's leaders.
Thousands of people are killed in the attack. Most of the victims are innocent civilians. The perpetrators are widely condemned as murderers and terrorists.

The attack I just described took place on:

a) September 11, 2001?

or

b) March 20, 2003?

or

c) Both?

[iamjoy]

1. Only "a"

You can't count "b" because that wasn't really a small group (sadly enough)

[tucsonlib]

2. Re: Only "a"

The architects certainly were....

[LeftishBrit]

3. (a) - but it would be (c) if you omitted the phrase 'small group of fanatical true believers)

(b) was carried out by a large band of people with varying motives: fanatical true believers; cynical crooks; and many who were simply ignorant and wrong-headed.

I WOULD say that the British contingent of (b) was largely a small group of fanatical true believers - certainly Tony comes into this category.

[tucsonlib]

4. Re: (a) - but it would be (c) if you omitted the phrase 'small group of fanatical true believers)

Okay, I'll give you an "A-". (Teachers hate it when a student is "cheeky".) ;-)

[MadAndy]

5. D: This question is stupid and indicates moral confusion in the questioner.

[tucsonlib]

8. I assume, then,

that your answer is "a". Wrong! Your answer is stupid and indicates moral confusion.

[El Pinko]

6. Has to be a.

The people who committed the atrocities of March 20, 2003 were not true believers, but cynical, ruthless thugs of the worst order. I don't believe they thought what they were doing was "right". They are Straussian/Machiavellian despots who seek only to acquire more power and wealth for their own circles, and really couldn't care less how many humanoids are ground into hamburger to accomplish their objectives.

I will NEVER accept the notion that these people are just idealistic, overoptimistic "true believers". Bullshit. Cynical thugs all the way.

[tucsonlib]

7. Wrong

"True Believer" - noun - a fanatic, esp. a religious or political one.

[El Pinko]

9. Like I said, I don't see them as "true believers".

I see them as mobsters, thugs, crooks acting out of self-interest.

I don't believe that what they did was about ideology. They simply used their ideology as a tool to get what they wanted - money and power.


Like the guys who went to peace protests in the 60s to get laid and didn't really care about peace - these thugs used neocon BS to get their war.


But I don't think they believe in it anymore than I think they believe in God like they say they do.

They want money & power. Period.


And I don't think they are fanatics, either. They are cold, calculating and reptilian to the nth degree.

[tucsonlib]

10. OK

A legitimate opinion. We'll probably never know their true motivations. In any case they're still a bunch of murderers and terrorists. Agreed?

[El Pinko]

11. Agreed on that - and I hope you don't think I'm just being argumentative.

I've seen the argument in MSM publications that Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rummy, etc. were "true believers", that they "honestly" believed that invading Iraq would lead to this great flourishing of democracy in the region.

I honestly think this is part of their attempt to A. redeem their legacy B. cover their asses in case there are ever any sort of war crimes charges filed.



Flourishing of democracy? If they believed in that, why would they be working so hard to destroy it here in the US? I think these people DESPISE democratic institutions. This is why they privatized all of Iraq's state industries before a government was even formed so the people would never have a say in the matter.


Mercenary, dirty thugs.

[tucsonlib]

12. Not at All

But I do consider Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz etc. to be "true believers" in PNAC and their neo-con agenda. As for Bush - He only does what God (aka that voice in his head) orders him to do......