tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post6014781345237596333..comments2024-02-24T00:41:37.836-08:00Comments on The Buddha Diaries: Learning to YellPeter Clothierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-9870491994633388332007-03-16T11:32:00.000-07:002007-03-16T11:32:00.000-07:00While not completely on topic, quite interesting.....While not completely on topic, quite interesting...<BR/><BR/>While Afghans may suffer from meekness in nature and have a hard time acclimating to the new order of aggression, Iraqi police units are in full swing. Case in point, I have a good friend whose husband is a Swedish Police Officer who was sent to Iraq to train the Iraqi Police force..and what you won't hear in the news is that HALF the police force is Al Qaeda! Evidentially THAT is why we're not able to leave yet and is the big cover-up that NO one is talking about (yes there are many, but this one isn't in the news everyday). <BR/><BR/>He recently got back from Iraq and was appalled by the chaos that was supposed to be the new force to take over there and how the Americans fouled up the process and took any and all comers, as it were. Unfortunately, it's a bit too late to do anything about it, the mistake was made and the damage is done...so once again, we have armed our enemy!<BR/><BR/>This is one of the reasons that they wanted more forces in Iraq, as they can not tell who is enemy anymore because they all wear the same uniform.<BR/><BR/>Go Bush! What's he batting now 01-1000???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-69711087271652969292007-03-15T15:29:00.000-07:002007-03-15T15:29:00.000-07:00Thanks, Eli, for the thoughtful response. I don't...Thanks, Eli, for the thoughtful response. I don't actually disagree with you in any way. I do believe that we have the right--the obligation, really--to defend ourselves against aggression; and that in paying men and women to do it for us, it would be absurd to expect any less than whatever it takes to achieve that end. It did strike me as a sad irony, however... Cheers, PaLPeter Clothierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11525159413387378704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-52672865367613096072007-03-15T15:14:00.000-07:002007-03-15T15:14:00.000-07:00I don't agree with the idea of American imperialis...I don't agree with the idea of American imperialism in general, but whose to say that's what's happening here? I'm been in martial arts for almost seven years now, and I can tell you that generally speaking, people want to know what to do if confronted with a threatening situation. I have seen people come and go from the class (which is based on practical police defense tactics instead of more traditional martial arts), learning what they feel to be important before moving on. These people are willing to pay someone to help teach them the effective way to deal with physical conflict, and I don't see why that couldn't be applied on a larger scale. We Americans teaching Afghans how to defend themselves or be an effective police unit is not necessarily unwanted in their eyes.<BR/><BR/>Another I've noticed relates to what you mentioned about the article, Peter. In my training we focus a good deal on putting our cores/centers/chi or whatever you prefer to call it into our actions, via throwing our hips into strikes to make them more powerful, yelling to focus our energy into a strike, or any of a wide range of techniques. Most people take awhile to warm up to the behavior of being able to turn aggression on and off at the drop of a hat, while others can do it right form the get-go. Still others (like the case way be with Afghanistan) are naturally meek and just can't seem to grasp the concept of the benefits of aggression in a life-or-death situation like the ones faced by police forces around the world. <BR/><BR/>It may be that American training simply won't work in Afghanistan because of the cultural differences that are causing this problem, but I think that any person serving on a police force anywhere has to place their own safety and the safety of others above the convenience and hospitality received by the aggressor in a situation. The Taliban is a perfect example of the aggression present in at least some of the people of the region, and when the police force can learn to channel those tendencies in a controlled, productive direction, then they will be ready to work as an effective unit.<BR/><BR/>Peter, I looked for that interview online, but I couldn't find it. These links provide a little (albeit older) information about the training situation going on over there:<BR/><BR/>http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/<BR/>viewArticle.asp?articleID=914<BR/><BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/world/<BR/>asia/04policecnd.html?pagewanted=3&ei=5088&en<BR/>=cc06e9e43e017b60&ex=1322802000&partner<BR/>=rssnyt&emc=rss<BR/><BR/>Hope that helps.<BR/><BR/>- EliAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965076219235086304.post-60574818015903697722007-03-15T11:30:00.000-07:002007-03-15T11:30:00.000-07:00It's always hard for me to tackle a problem or iss...It's always hard for me to tackle a problem or issue from the middle, if not impossible.<BR/><BR/>I mean, what the hell is a pushy, son of a bitch American doing in the middle east teaching anything, in the first place?! What galling stupidity. A very small glimpse of imperialism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com