CARTHAGA DELENDA EST!

Reflections on the Daniel Pearl Execution Video

Initially, I downloaded the video of Daniel Pearl's execution by Islamic terrorists for a very simple reason. I do not like being told -- by people who have seen the video! -- that I am not allowed to see it. That insults my intelligence, and so my immediate reaction was: FIND IT AND DOWNLOAD IT! Having done so, I think a review is in order.

First, why is it that the control freaks at the wheel don't want us "little people" to see what they have seen? Do they fear for our psyches? Do they fear that we will be traumatized by seeing a brutal and grotesque murder? Or do they think we will be desensitized by the scene?

I think the answer is neither. I believe that those who oppose Americans seeing this film clip are trying to prevent the righteous indignation which naturally arises when one sees an innocent compatriot slaughtered in cold blood by a cruel and heartless enemy.

"The enemy!"

There's a term you don't hear much these days. But under any definition, the people who killed Daniel Pearl are our sworn enemies. And we are in a war. So why, then, is there such a well-organized effort to stop Americans from seeing something which could contribute to justifiable, warlike anger?

Might they be afraid that Americans at war might want to go kill the enemy?

We don't have to look far to find an appropriate historical precedent. In World War II, troops passed around a photograph of an allied pilot being executed by the Japanese. It was originally felt by military censors that the photograph would prove demoralizing, but it turned out to have just the opposite effect: it heightened the determination of our soldiers to kill the evil bastards who did the shocking deed, in short, to kill the enemy.

I would suggest that every American download the Daniel Pearl video, watch it, and remind himself that we are in a war, and that there is a detestable, bloodthirsty enemy whose stated goal is to do to all of us exactly what they have shown themselves doing to Daniel Pearl.

I do not believe watching this film shows any disrespect for Daniel Pearl or his family, and I suggest that the best way to respect the memory of Daniel Pearl (lest his death be in vain) is to watch the film, and then resolve that it is time to AVENGE DANIEL PEARL.

Did we need a reminder that we are at war and that the enemy is not nice?

UPDATE: (May 12, 2004) Welcome new visitors, and my thanks to whoever is sending me traffic on this post! (I can't figure it out yet, but I'm working on it...) Interested visitors might want to see two additional posts: one with a direct link to the Daniel Pearl video, and the other on Islamist snuff films in general.

Thanks for visiting!

UPDATE (May 13, 2004): I feel the same way about the beheading of Nick Berg as I do about Daniel Pearl, and I decided to make that video available, too. Interested readers can stream or download it by going here.

MORE (6-18-04): I feel the same way about the savage murders of Paul Johnson and Robert Jacobs that I did about the butchery of Daniel Pearl and Nick Berg, and I have made more material available (videos, photos, links, plus additional discussion) here and here for all who are interested.

The argument that the CIA is butchering all these Americans in some sort of "false flag" operation is wearing a bit thin, I'm afraid....