Skip to main content

Thoughts XXIX - Berlin, Trump, and Obama



Terrorist attack in Berlin.  It seems the perpetrator of the truck attack at a Christmas market in Berlin left in the truck not only his immigration papers (to be deported) but also his wallet.  I’m a simple guy that would never leave my wallet in any place but my pocket.  Most guys are like this, as women leave documents in her purse.  One basic conclusion is that our rather stupid perpetrator, Anis Amri, is deeply dead and concealed probably at the hands of his own group, with his documents used to deflect investigations from the trail.  Amri has a perfect profile for exploitation.
Note, terrorists place little value on life, even their own.
If what I’ve said makes sense, it signals a new approach to terrorism, one in which there is a serious and very secret core group willing to carry out terrorist acts, and moreover willing to sacrifice any and all toward that end.  The war of terrorists becomes ever more dangerous.  Their motto may be: to use the mass refugee presence as a foil to promote and permute terrorism everywhere. One could say this approach exploits the “lone wolf” paradigm, so much hoped for by some western government officials.
____________
Skill sets. Trump enjoys making deals, particularly negotiating with other parties to make a better deal.  He just plain enjoys the work, and he’s good at it.
Obama enjoys anything pertaining to racial enhancement, racial divide, and racial issues of all forms. He just plain enjoys it, and he’s good at it.
Both have finely tuned skills at such tasks.  Pertaining to foreign policy, Obama failed because his skill set did not apply. For Trump, his success may depend on how foreign policy matters can be cast as deals.  To be seen.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

UNCERTAINTY IS CERTAIN

  Uncertainty is Certain G. Donald Allen 12/12/2024 1.       Introduction . This short essay is about uncertainty in people from both secular and nonsecular viewpoints. One point that will emerge is that randomly based uncertainty can be a driver for religious structure. Many groups facing uncertainty about their future are deeply religious or rely on faith as a source of comfort, resilience, and guidance. The intersection of uncertainty and religiosity often stems from the human need to find meaning, hope, and stability in the face of unpredictable or challenging circumstances. We first take up the connections of uncertainty to religion for the first real profession, farming, noting that hunting has many similar uncertainties. Below are groups that commonly lean on religious beliefs amidst uncertainty.   This short essay is a follow-up to a previous piece on certainty (https://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2024/12/certainty-is-also-emotion.html). U...

CERTAINTY IS ALSO AN EMOTION

  Certainty is also a Feeling Certainty is often viewed as a mental state tied to knowledge and confidence, but it also functions as a feeling with distinct emotional and physiological components. While it arises from cognitive processes, certainty also has a subjective and emotional quality that makes it more than just a rational judgment. It provides a sense of assurance and security that shapes human experience in profound ways. Emotional Dimension . At its core, certainty evokes emotions that influence how we perceive and interact with the world. When someone feels certain, they often experience relief, comfort, or empowerment. These emotions are particularly strong when uncertainty or doubt is resolved, offering a sense of closure. For example, solving a complex problem or having a belief validated by evidence brings not just intellectual satisfaction but also emotional reassurance. Subjectivity. Certainty is inherently personal and subjective. It depends on individual...

Lies, Deceit, and the National Agenda

The world you grew up in is no more.  The world of reasonable honesty and reasonable lies has been replaced by abject dishonesty and blatant lies. Lies.  Yes. People have always told them.  You have told them; so have I.   We need lies; they are a foundational structure of social living.  They both deceive and protect.  Children tell them to their parents to avoid consequences, like punishment.  Adults tell them to their bosses, to enhance their position and/or avoid consequences of poor performance.  Our bosses tell them to their boards to suggest business is good, the project is on target, or the detractors are wrong.  The boards tell them to shareholders to protect their own credibility and most importantly, stock values.   Our politicians tell lies to their constituents, though sometimes innocently with them not actually knowing much more than they've been told.  They enhance their positio...