Has George Bush actually got something right?

[Gilliver's Travels]

Interestingly, he called the would-be plane bombers "Islamic Fascists".

Not his usual loaded language, like "Terrorists", or "Evil Doers", or "Freedom Haters", or members of the "Axis of Evil"...

So, they are "Islamic Fascists". Yes?

 

[Grendel]

Not really. I don't see how he can attach an entire political philosophy to an effectively unknown group of people, of whom he knows little or nothing or their political beliefs.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Not really. I don't see how he can attach an entire political philosophy to an effectively unknown group of people, of whom he knows little or nothing or their political beliefs.

Fascism is the unwillingness to accept any other idealogies other than ones own, so yes I think it would be fair to bracket Islamic Fundamentalists as such. Personally, I think they should drop the 'Funda' part, and just go with 'Mentalists'

 

[Grendel]

Fascism is the unwillingness to accept any other idealogies other than ones own

That's a trait of Fascism, not a definition of Fascism itself. Fascism is an entire socio-economic philosophy incorporating elements of Capitalism, Nationalism, Socialism and Totalitarianism. To label terrorists as Fascists is simplistic, to say the least.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I like to refer to them as

C*NTS

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

That's a trait of Fascism, not a definition of Fascism itself. Fascism is an entire socio-economic philosophy incorporating elements of Capitalism, Nationalism, Socialism and Totalitarianism. To label terrorists as Fascists is simplistic, to say the least.

Know what you mean, but without the capital F, fascism has a secondary definition as an unbending authoritarianism that will accept no challenge, that will punish or even murder those who disagree with its tenets. Sharia authorises the murder of apostates, for example.

To that extent, this latest, less Manichean, Bush expression is harder hitting and more appropriate than previous ramblings.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Know what you mean, but without the capital F, fascism has a secondary definition as an unbending authoritarianism that will accept no challenge, that will punish or even murder those who disagree with its tenets. Sharia authorises the murder of apostates, for example.

To that extent, this latest, less Manichean, Bush expression is harder hitting and more appropriate than previous ramblings.

My point exactly. Sorry about the big 'F'. It was only because it was the start of the sentence!

Still prefer 'Mentalists' btw.

 

[Grendel]

To that extent, this latest, less Manichean, Bush expression is harder hitting and more appropriate than previous ramblings.

And there, I believe, you have hit the nail on the head. Without discussing the ins, outs, rights and wrongs of what Bush said, the important thing, as far as he is concerned, is that he has an impact on Joe Public's mindset. I doubt his thinking went much beyond "Fascists are bad. Muslimist tourists are bad, therefore they must be fascists." but millions of people listening to, or reading what he said are going to pay attention to it and think "shit, we must stop these fascist bastards".

Besides which, "freedom hater" just sounds a bit gay.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Talking of "Fascists", did Hitler really only have one trouser balloon?

 

[Trufflehound]

Talking of "Fascists", did Hitler really only have one trouser balloon?

Yes. The other one is kept in a safe place in the Albert Hall.

But apparently Goebbels had none at all... So I've heard.

 

[London Irish]

That's a trait of Fascism, not a definition of Fascism itself. Fascism is an entire socio-economic philosophy incorporating elements of Capitalism, Nationalism, Socialism and Totalitarianism. To label terrorists as Fascists is simplistic, to say the least.

Agreed - there is no doubt that the extreme Islamic fundamentalists share some traits and beliefs with the Hitler's and Mussolini's of history, but then with his propensity to invade countries, bomb the hell out of them and cause staggering loss of life, so does George W Bush. So on that criteria, it would be perfectly acceptable for me to refer to him as a Republican Fascist. Not very scientific for me to do so I think, but no worse than the kind of lazy thinking that Dubya and the American right engage in.

 

[Lammy]

Going on from what hans kraay apart from there being little or no publicity (which is what I'd much rather see) I think they should use much more soppy titles for them.

First of all I wouldn't refer to them as Islamic. The IRA were rarely if ever refered to as Catholic fundamentalists!

So I'd drop that straight away. I'd then use a much less HARD name like 'wally' or 'silly billy'

Police today have arrested 24 silly billies for attempting to be VERY naughty at Gatwick.