Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
i thought you said AQ's name didnt exist prior to 911?
No, I didn't say that, I was just asking.
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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
well of course, but what substantive difference does that make to 911 even if you're correct?
I was talking about aQ, not 9/11.
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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
again, i need context for what you're asking. that link i provided mentioned a french quotation, not sure of the relevance specifically.
The French quotation just said some dudes trained at a base, nothing bout al Qaeda?
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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
well, that's probably a fair point. but again, i find the existence of labels rather secondary to the understanding that islamic extremists exist and that their cells, more or less, are associated with a loose collection of "players" that may have called themselves AQ at one time or another. obviously they don't possess the organisational rigidities we may be more familiar with elsewhere, but i find it curious to argue that they don't exist, when compared to the relative sophistication of the 911 attacks, easily the most elaborate plan ever successfully enacted.
When you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, it wasn't really very elaborate. Bunch of noobs barely scrape into getting flight qualifications on simulators, board planes in bunches, hijack planes with boxcutters and somehow fly them into big towers. That's about it. The flying feats are the most astounding part, but not elaborate.
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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN sorry, its been a while and am well out of the loop concerning which towel-head is leading which army of johad. all i know is that OBL's arm of jihad was responsible for 911.
You kind of missed the point, no matter.
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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
of course not. the evidence (including bin laden's admissions) make me correct. whether we'll know precisely what everyone's roles were prior (minus the 19 hijackers of course) to the attacks is up for debate, but there really is no question which (loose-knit) organisation was ultimately responsible.
Was there any evidence outside of his admissions? Maybe some Guantanamo guys fessed up?
EgosXII
what was your honours thesis on PKC?
hardcore trancer
Damn those Arabs and their hate for our freedom here.:mad:
srussell0018
Well if there's a video on youtube it must be true.
hardcore trancer
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Originally posted by srussell0018
Well if there's a video on youtube it must be true.
You didnt even watch it did you?
pkcRAISTLIN
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Originally posted by Tweak
When you get down to the nuts and bolts of it, it wasn't really very elaborate. Bunch of noobs barely scrape into getting flight qualifications on simulators, board planes in bunches, hijack planes with boxcutters and somehow fly them into big towers. That's about it. The flying feats are the most astounding part, but not elaborate.
yet still the most elaborate terrorist attack ever carried out.
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Originally posted by Tweak
Was there any evidence outside of his admissions? Maybe some Guantanamo guys fessed up?
some links are broken, but you can use the titles as a basis for further searches if you wish.
pkcRAISTLIN
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Originally posted by EgosXII
what was your honours thesis on PKC?
angry, hairy women and their inability to attain equality under liberal democracy.
Sushipunk
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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
angry, hairy women and their inability to attain equality under liberal democracy.
:stongue:
Sometimes it truly amazes me that you actually did a thesis on feminism. One of the wonders of the world.
pkcRAISTLIN
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Originally posted by Sushipunk
:stongue:
Sometimes it truly amazes me that you actually did a thesis on feminism. One of the wonders of the world.
i needed something that would keep me motivated for months, and they sure do piss me off! :)
Tasty Onions
Apparently the U.S. spends around $20 billion per year just on air conditioning for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's 2.5 billion more than NASA's entire annual budget.
The17sss
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Originally posted by Tasty Onions Apparently the U.S. spends around $20 billion per year just on air conditioning for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's 2.5 billion more than NASA's entire annual budget.
Yeah. Then when you dig into the (NPR) report, it turns out that they're lumping in all kinds of things that aren't related to AC such as road building and fuel for aircraft. And it's not even close to $20 billion.
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Defense Department spokesman Dave Lapan says that in fiscal year 2010, the Pentagon spent approximately $15 billion on energy for all military operations around the world. The Pentagon says when it comes to Afghanistan, it spent $1.5 billion from October 2010 to May 2011 on fuel. That fuel was used for heating and air conditioning systems, but also for aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, combat vehicles, computers and electricity inside military structures.
And, better living conditions including air conditioning are seen as helping reduce the risk of combat fatigue and PTSD:
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During World War II, it was found that, on average, 200 days of combat would bring on a case of PTSD. After World War II, methods were found to delay the onset of PTSD (more breaks from combat, better living conditions in the combat zone, prompt treatment when PTSD was detected). Military historians note that successful, and often popular, commanders throughout history have paid attention to the physical well being of the troops, all in the name of "maintaining morale."
That's why combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan often sleep in air conditioned quarters, have Internet access, lots of amenities, and a two week vacation (anywhere) in the middle of their combat tour. This has extended their useful time in combat, before PTSD (or "bad morale") sets in. No one is yet sure what the new combat days average is, and the new screening methods are an attempt to find out. The army and marines are now confronting the fact that, for a large number of their combat NCOs, the limits are being reached. It's a lot more than 200 days in combat, but the army and marines have the majority of their most able and experienced NCOs approaching that limit.
