Saturday, October 22, 2005

Almost a month gone by?

Seesh - the last time I posted was the 27th? A month has already passed....? Time seems to go by too quickly. Helen is busy preparing fro her interview at the U of Iowa hospitals next weekend. We have our firts year anniversary approaching and guess where we will be spending it - Iowa! The same place we were married. It was back in 91 where I started my freshman year at the University, and its funny how the possibility of returning and living there doesn't bother me. I love Seattle, but it seems like my life will complete a full circle if we end up back in Iowa City.

Another reason I haven't posted is that I have been finished reading a "Ghost Wars" by Steve Coll. This is a good thing, as I just received my renewal notice from public library. I was sparing every free moment and carving out some evening time reading this book. My wife was accusing me of loving the book more than her- sorry honey you are always numero uno in my life. :) It's a sad moment when you read a good book and dreading the moment you reach the last chapter. The last chapter titled "What an unlucky Country" had a moment of built suspence which just leaves you numb. You'll have to read the book to find out more.

One sentence in the book that struck me sums up the war on terror and explains what we are up against: p 572 "The difficulty is compounded when the enemy are religiously motivated fanatics who see their violence as above politics and divinely sanctioned."

This idealogy 'divinely sanctioned and above politics' is a potent force that requires patience to defeat. After reading the book, I see the importance of confronting this force head on. The debate is how efficiently and effectively are we waging this campaign.

A month without a post?

Seesh - the last time I posted was the 27th? A month has already passed....? Time seems to go by too quickly. Helen is busy preparing fro her interview at the U of Iowa hospitals next weekend. We have our firts year anniversary approaching and guess where we will be spending it - Iowa! The same place we were married. It was back in 91 where I started my freshman year at the University, and its funny how the possibility of returning and living there doesn't bother me. I love Seattle, but it seems like my life will complete a full circle if we end up back in Iowa City.

Another reason I haven't posted is that I have been finished reading a "Ghost Wars" by Steve Coll. This is a good thing, as I just received my renewal notice from public library. I was sparing every free moment and carving out some evening time reading this book. My wife was accusing me of loving the book more than her- sorry honey you are always numero uno in my life. :) It's a sad moment when you read a good book and dreading the moment you reach the last chapter. The last chapter titled "What an unlucky Country" had a moment of built suspence which just leaves you numb. You'll have to read the book to find out more.

One sentence in the book that struck me sums up the war on terror and explains what we are up against: p 572 "The difficulty is compounded when the enemy are religiously motivated fanatics who see their violence as above politics and divinely sanctioned."

This idealogy 'divinely sanctioned and above politics' is a potent force that requires patience to defeat. After reading the book, I see the importance of confronting this force head on. The debate is how efficiently and effectively are we waging this campaign.