Do you think terrorists are some sort of super smart evil geniuses?
Yes, and not smart to underestimate them. Look what happened to us the first time we did that…
Of course some of them are dumb enough to engage our troops in Iraq. Evidence comes in daily of the large percentages of the opposition that are not Iraqi, but foreign fighters. Those are the same guys that are usually busy strapping bombs to their chests for a stroll in downtown Jerusalem.
These people aren’t real plotting terrorists who are likely to pull off something in the U.S., just enraged people who want to take shots at our military and attempt to get them out of their part of the world.
“These people aren’t real plotting terrorists who are likely to pull off something in the U.S., just enraged people who want to take shots at our military and attempt to get them out of their part of the world.”
Correct. And there are many more now than there were in 2001. How’d that happen?
oh, i see, because there hasn’t been attack here since 9-11 that clearly means it’s because we are winning the war on terror. it’s not like big attacks in the u.s. take years to plan or anything. if you are going to use the “we haven’t had any attacks” stuff, then i’d like to hear you admit that clinton had a wonderful record on terror. after all, there were no attacks from middle eastern terrorists in the u.s. after the first wtc bombing…
not to mention, i never noticed any terrorists coming down my street at any point in my life…
I will not go that far, the last 5 in office all had a hand in this. Hate to pick on peanut boy, but if he would have crushed Iran when they had our people held hostage, a message would have been sent to all. Why is this looked at differently that WW2? we were attacked, we fight back. And yes it is that simple when you are dealing with life and death. Walk softly and carry a big stick. worked then and will work now. Let the military do their job.
I think the speech was interesting because he 1) switched rationales for the war once again, and 2) made it clear that generals on the ground would not ask for more troops because the administration has already boxed itself into a corner because of the troops number question. So now instead of WMDs, freedom for the Iraqis, its because there are terrorists in Iraq. And we won’t be using more troops to combat them. Apparently, once we label our combatants “terrorists”, we need no longer discuss the subject.
What would he be saying if there was another attack on US soil? I told you so? Or at least it hasn’t been more attacks? The gall of these guys is incredible. I will admit is curious how there hasn’t been a single color-coded warning since the election, has there?
war on terror and the related military incursion to afghanistan is somewhat comparable to ww2. iraq, however, is not. iraq didn’t become about terrorism until after combat operations ceased. we created the terrorist situation in iraq.
isn’t a bit more difficult to win iraqi hearts and minds when bush says, essentially, it’s better that we’ve drawn the terrorists into iraq and can engage them there–better iraqis getting killed than us?
So I guess the answer to this question is no, none of the cut and run advocates will answer this simple question, which I ask for the third time:
Will one of you Bush bashers step up to the plate and answer my question? Was bin Laden right when he described us as decedent and corrupt needing only a few hard blows to knock over?
"So I guess the answer to this question is no, none of the cut and run advocates will answer this simple question, which I ask for the third time:
Will one of you Bush bashers step up to the plate and answer my question? Was bin Laden right when he described us as decedent and corrupt needing only a few hard blows to knock over?"
Interesting that you equate “Bush bashers” to “cut and run advocates”. Many of us are fine with the label of Bush basher but do not advocate cut and run.
As for your “question”, no, it takes a lot more than a few hard blows. As for the decadence and corruption, I guess that depends on who you talk to. I hear from some powerful religious leaders very frequently about how decadent we are with our porn and gambling, drugs and alcohol. Some Americans even complain about lyrics in music. Is that what you mean by decadence?
As for corruption, there is always a tinge of that when you have such big money and power involved, regardless of the party in power. I do believe that corruption is increasing, and a good example of that is that the number of lobbyists in DC has doubled in the past 5 years with significant increases in corporate payments. Corrupt as a blanket statement? No. Increasing corruption? Absolutely. What do you think?
I guess I’d like to take a crack at the question of “Will one of you Bush bashers step up to the plate and answer my question? Was bin Laden right when he described us as decedent and corrupt needing only a few hard blows to knock over?”
Why has no one thought of Bin Laden’s objectives? The truth of the matter is that the Bin Laden did knock us over. We reacted EXACTLY the way he wanted us to react. Just what do people think that Bin Laden wanted to accomplish by flying airplanes into our buildings? He made no demands before or after 9/11. Why do you think that is? Because he wanted a reaction from the US. He wanted a holy war in the Middle East where the Islamic world would rise up against the West. And you know what, we are so fucking predictable and ignorant that we gave him the reaction he wanted.
So instead of capitalizing on the sympathy and support that the world gave us after 9/11, the support the world gave us in invading Afghanistan, the Bush administration completely screwed us for good by invading Iraq. WTF were those morons thinking. Really, there is no government or person outside the US that believes the bullshit Bush and co. throw out about terrorism and Iraq. That is the biggest lie and everyone knows it.
So instead of having world support, capturing Osama, changing hearts and minds in the Middle East, what did we do? We got knocked over by a few hard blows from a terrorist called Osama Bin Laden. Decadent and corrupt, maybe not. Completely ignorant, yes.
FYI, bin Laden was quite certain we would not come after him in Afghanistan. So on that point at least, he was wrong. He never expected to be chased into a cave somewhere, so your analysis is simply historically wrong. No big deal there, but if you say you are going to answer the question, at least answer it.
Yep. And don’t forget how stretched out our forces are too. If the bad guys really did all show up in El Paso I would argue we have made it more difficult for the military to respond by spreading our forces too thin. There are hundreds of American military installations all over the world that provide targets for terrorists but don’t really provide the U.S. much security. Some are essential, most are not, from what I have read.
Vigilence isn’t as sexy as action: We think we are doing something when all we are doing is making things worse (in my humble opinion). There was a report today about the thousands of tiny airfields throughout the U.S. with zero security? Another giant gap in security that could be solved by a lot less money and fewer lives than action in a foreign country.
We haven’t been knocked over, at least not yet, as bin Laden suggested. That would entail leaving that part of the world, including Israel, completely. Where you get the idea he thought we would invade Afghanistan and pursue him as we have is beyond me.
You didn’t address the weakness caused by decedence and corruption.
well, art, there certainly is a pathology in america. to me is seems like a ‘don’t tell me anything other than I want to hear.’ everyone has lost perspective and blindly follows their own philosophy.
bush is ruining the country! bush is saving us from terrorism! please. get a grip. pull your head out.
will the real art please stand up, please stand up.
“Yes, and not smart to underestimate them. Look what happened to us the first time we did that…”
First, it is just as worthless to overestimate an enemy as it is to underestimate them. Second, they are not evil geniuses, just regular everyday evil people. Third, 9/11 didn’t happen because we underestimated the intelligence of terrorists, just the audacity.
"These people aren’t real plotting terrorists who are likely to pull off something in the U.S., just enraged people who want to take shots at our military and attempt to get them out of their part of the world. "
The foreign fighters in Iraq are the same people that would normally be in terrorist training camps. Instead they are in terrorist/insurgent groups in Iraq. I’m sure there are still others that are in those training camps, but there are a lot of them who have had their attention drawn closer to home than when it was focused on the U.S.
Probably Iraqi’s trying to get to thier families but interesting nonetheless. It’s funny how Mexican border control seems to catch the non-Mexican illegal immigrants.
