Talk:Ralph Peters

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Contents 1 Unnecessary to continually update article with occasional quotations from periodicals 2 "Edited" 3 Middle East Map source? 4 Craigslist posting 5 advertising 6 The "New Middle East" 7 Link to article on Petrodollar Warfare 8 Europe the killer continent

[edit] Unnecessary to continually update article with occasional quotations from periodicals

It seems that periodically people are fleshing out the "Opinions on the Middle East" section with snippets that Peters has written in his opinion column. I think this is unnecessary, unless he says something particularly noteworthy or unique (as in the middle east map with the borders redrawn). Otherwise, his opinions can be summarized rather succinctly: he is a strong supporter of American policy in Iraq, he believes that the surge is working, and that the American media are being lax in reporting this story. Most of the quotations in that section don't add much to the story. Jkp1187 (talk) 18:58, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Edited"

I corrected numerous inconsistencies and mistakes in this article. A better photo should be used of him.

Please correct any errors, but understand that it may be difficult to find a higher-quality photo that meets Wikipedia copyright guidelines. --Jpbrenna 21:31, 6 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Middle East Map source?

I glanced through Never Quit the Fight and did not see any map included. Admittedly, I have N O T read it in its entirety. Is the map on this page from a source, or just an estimation by the cartographer based on policies advocated by Peters? If it is the latter, could someone please give a chapter/page (if from a book) or article citation showing where Peters says that these border changes should be made? Thanks. Jkp1187 17:56, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

On the same topic, in order for the fair use claim for using this map to be valid, the map (or at least the borders it shows) actually has to be discussed in the text. Otherwise it's "purely decorative" and violates Wikipedia's fair use policy. —Angr 13:03, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

The map is shown here --Astrokey44 12:03, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

I have read his book in its entirety, and can confirm that image does NOT appear within. I'll change the credit appropriately. Jeodonnell 03:20, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Craigslist posting

Want to include this? http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/rnr/240226520.html It's signed Ralph Peters and sounds a lot like his writing. Perhaps before referencing it we might verify (to make doubly sure) it's not someone claiming to be he. --LordSuryaofShropshire 02:59, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

The above url no longer works. Ekotkie 09:42, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] advertising

this article reads like an ad for ralph peters. It tactfully avoids opinions but it seems like it was written by a big fan.

I don't really think it reads too much like an ad for Peters, and to a degree I think avoiding going into Peters' opinions may be a good thing. Peters is capable of expressing his own opinion and they can be found in his works. Attempts to portray his opinions could lead to bias, both in how they are presented and which opinions are selected as relevant. I knew Peters opinions before I came to this page, I came here to learn more facts about the man himself.

[edit] The "New Middle East"

The concept that Ralph Peters writes about is analysed by a Canadian political science researcher based in Montreal or Ottawa in depth. I think that elements of it can be added to the article. Very intriguing

Plans for Redrawing the Middle East: The Project for a “New Middle East” -from Global Research center. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=NAZ20061116&articleId=3882

-Russian review of article http://inosmi.ru/translation/231223.html

-Another good paper on Ralph Peters is by a German army think-tank. The Canadian researchers work is also used. http://www.imi-online.de/download/IMI-Analyse2007-06.pdf —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.101.98.235 (talk) 01:20, 17 April 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Link to article on Petrodollar Warfare

At the bottom of the Nonfiction section, there's a listing of a controversial quote from Peters' article, "Constant Conflict." Part of that qoute, "The de facto role of the US armed forces will be to keep the world safe for our economy." is hyperlinked to the wikipedia entry on Petrodollar warfare. I believe that this is inappropriate.

There's nothing in Peters' quote which explicitly specifies petroleum nor anything which would limit his understanding of economy to just that. The purpose of militaries has long been to protect economies. An understanding of US military history and its early wars always shows a economic component. One of the first missions of the US Marine Corps was to protect US shipping from piracy. Foreign powers have often attacked US shipping (too many instances to mention) and much "intervention" in Latin America surrounded protecting US economic interests, frequently facilities or properties owned by US companies. The Marine general Smedley Butler, author of WAR IS A RACKET, famously said that he was a muscle-man for Wall Street. Limiting Peters comments to oil, as important as oil is, is misleadingly incomplete.

[edit] Europe the killer continent

Ralph Peters has stated that Europe will either expel its Muslim population or engage in genocide/ethnic cleansing against them.

"For me, the question isn't whether Muslims will take over Europe, but whether Europe will simply expel them or kill any number of them first. Sound far-fetched? How would the Holocaust have sounded to an educated German (or Brit, or American) in 1932? Europe is a killer continent. When the chips are down, it will kill again." From: http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=29209

"The endangered species isn't the "peace loving" European lolling in his or her welfare state, but the continent's Muslims immigrants - and their multi-generation descendents - who were foolish enough to imagine that Europeans would share their toys. In fact, Muslims are hardly welcome to pick up the trash on Europe's playgrounds. Don't let Europe's current round of playing pacifist dress-up fool you: This is the continent that perfected genocide and ethnic cleansing, the happy-go-lucky slice of humanity that brought us such recent hits as the Holocaust and Srebrenica." From: http://www.nypost.com/seven/11262006/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_eurabia_myth_opedcolumnists_ralph_peters.htm?page=0

It is unclear to me whether Peters is simply warning of a coming catastrophe in Europe or whether he is actively encouraging it. Can someone who is more familiar with Peters' viewpoints research this and add it to the main page? Ndvanderhoofven 07:27, 30 July 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure how you can find this to be "unclear." Is there anything in those qoutes which implies that he's "actively encouraging" it? It's like saying you're unclear as to whether or not NBC-TV's Al Roker is actively encouraging next week's weather. Or that Scientific America's coverage of climate change is encouraging global warming. Peters is known (deservedly so, IMO) for his directness. I've never read anything from him calling for genocide., even when he clearly states that SOME people (not entire ethnic/religious groups) should be or may need to be killed. His writings on the muslim world seem to make a clear distinction between the minority of what he feels to be zealots and the majority which he feels are threatened by them. I would regard his above quotes as being a warning and not a prayer. Kielland 20:04, 2 August 2007 (UTC)