Why I love President Bush

Parent Cafe
21

<p>

</p>

<p>First, “terrorism” isn’t an enemy or opponent, it’s a tactic and tool.</p>

<p>Second, evaluate the radical Islamist enemy in terms of realities on the ground, not neo-con fantasies that tie together 9/11 & Al Qaeda, Saddam Hussein, Iraq, and Iran into one blustering stick-figure cartoon.</p>

<p>Third, in fighting the enemy, stop needlessly creating more of them, whether by “oopsies” accidental bombings and jittery shoot-at-everything responses when our forces come under fire or even when a vehicle approaches “too close” to a convoy, stop keeping 90 percent of those in custody who are innocent (e.g., those in custody at Abu Gharib) in custody, stop acting as the occupier in an Arab land and thus playing directly into Osama bin Laden’s narratives about Americans and the West, and in general trying to find needles (terrorists) by burning down the haystacks.</p>

<p>Fourth, understand that we’re being played six sides against the middle in Iraq and get the hell out. We’re not fighting an AQ insurgency in Iraq…we’re the effing targets of virtually every faction except the Kurds and if we keep giving covert support to the Turks against the PKK even that might become unanimous.</p>

<p>Fifth, understand, that apropos of Iraq, even though it’s a side show, the effect of American military power is negligible versus the incompetent and/or adversarial Iraqi political power and that peace, or even stability, can’t be gained by our actions…it’s like shoveling sand against an incoming tide. At <em>best</em>, Iraq is a case of pro-American, stable, and democratic…choose two. I think our illustrious leaders have so misplayed matters that it might be down to choose one.</p>

<p>Sixth, understand that crushing radical Islamists inclined towards terrorism is a dubious proposition as long as there are safe havens in places like Pakistan that they can retreat to. (Hey, as a side question, any guess when the last time American intelligence questioned A.Q. Khan about his black market nuclear proliferation operation?) Or places like Saudi Arabia that they can come from unhindered and get financed by with little interference (what country has been the most destabilizing to our interests in Iraq: Syria? Iran? Saudi Arabia?)</p>

<p>Seventh, understand that killing bad guys takes you only so far in the real world outside of a Rambo movie and that drying up the sources of Islamist recruiting by doing the non-glamorous work of nation building that includes everything from economic development to providing an atmosphere where education for women and concomitant economic and political opportunities are to be had.</p>

<p>Eighth, re-affirm and act upon the knowledge that the neo-con premise that the road to peace in Israel ran through Baghdad was fatally in error and that the road to peace in the Middle East runs through Jerusalem.</p>

<p>Ninth, keep the arrogant imbeciles who got us into this mess far from power. “Never again” is a good motto. They’re lucky that we live in a country where they’re allowed to peacefully retire…in Old Country, we did things differently.</p>

<p>That’s five minutes off the top of my head…you can flesh it out, color in the details, etc., with a few hours thoughtful work. I’ve probably missed a few things. This is such a godawful mess that it’s going to take a couple of decades to clean up.</p>

22

<p>fundingfather: Although what you say may be true, the madrases where terrorist ideas are propgated do target the young. The populace of societies in Mideast skew very young in most cases, and suicidal terrorist attacks reflect a society with ideas nurtued by ignorance, poverty and indoctrination. We can’t kill our way to a safe and secure world.</p>

23

<br>

<br>

<p>Absolutely correct interpretation!</p>

24

<br>

<br>

<p>I think the government was hoping that it would be like our little excursion into Panama to kick out Noriega’s government and bring him to the US. Panama didn’t go down the toilet and stick to us like a tar baby.</p>

<p>(Looks like Noriega is back in the news…)</p>

25

<p>1.Because of him we have the Daly Show and Colbert and much additional humor.</p>

<p>2.He is a daily reminder of what and how not to be. Great example for our children and readily available.</p>

<p>3.I do love competition, and you have to admit he is a competitive guy.</p>

26

<p>The bottom line to TD’s “solution” to terrorism/jihad is that when 9/11s or follow-on attacks that are far more horrific happen: just suck it up.</p>

27

<p>edvest: So, how are YOU doing “fighting them over there?” When do you ship out?</p>

28

<p>Weenie - Don’t forget that ALL military communication is monitored. ALL.</p>

29

<p>edvest may be fighting them over there interactively. He may have a Wii.</p>

30

<p>“Look at the number of doctors, engineers and millionaire heirs who have adopted the ways of the terror. Look at the middle class American kids who have joined their ranks” </p>

<p>What the heck are you talking about?</p>

31

<p>I agree with The Dad----4 years ago I would not have agreed with you. However I think you hit the nail on the head when you simply called it a board game- to me that is what it is- One big chess game. Selling arms to the Saudi’s? What a joke… please in the end I believe they are preparing all of us for world war III. The skirmishes and wars are tools of the wealthy elite. The wealthy elite (as quoted in the movie “network”-1976) they know no political bounds or parties or religions or forms of democracy or communism, etc they know only trade and money!!!</p>

<p>They feel China cannot be trusted in the long run with trade, so they will exploit the Middle East for cheap educated labor. Just as they are exploiting Mexico and Central America right now. It is a gamble for them but then exploiting the USA 250 years ago was a gamble for the brits and the Euro crowd. These people: governments and the wealthy of the world, do not think short term instead they develop markets long term and move in a tandem manner to accomplish their goals. Iraq was just a stepping-stone same as Afghanistan so that we will have bases located in the Middle East when the big war comes. Just like the Vietnam War benefited the oil and gas industry just as the hippies predicted yet they were called radicals and nuts. Israel will fight with the brits and us and the Euro gang- Russia will be neutral and China will support the terrorists. This will all happen in less than ten years.</p>

<p>Think I am crazy? No more crazy then Bush’s explanation as to why we went to Iraq back in 2003. And all you left libs and rightie neo- cons that think that your political party will bail you out -good luck. Both parties figured out a long time ago not to fight the political wealthy elite I mentioned earlier. Therefore the democrats and republicans spend their time bickering over indictments, sex scandals, Supreme Court nonsense meanwhile they never improve the quality of life or standard of living for the working citizens of the country. Dream on everyone I would rather explain all of Bush’s illogical behavior with a good old-fashioned conspiracy theory. It the best I can come up with and it helps me sleep at night.</p>

32

<p>I was wondering that to IB. Obviously they want the 70 some Virgins when they go to heaven, also.</p>

33

<p>“Ever heard of “if we dont fight’em over there, we will have to fight them here”?”</p>

<p>Who? A bunch of old Baathists? For that we have to keep our “suicide death squads” in Iraq?</p>

34

<p>Hallo mini…I was wondering your absence.</p>

35

<p>

</p>

<p>Nowhere in my outline is any notion of passive acceptance. I believe in fighting Islamist terrorists and taking the fight to them. I do not believe in the policy of the arrogant fools and liars and their enablers that the best way to do this is to destabilize countries, destabilize the entire region, and have our actions serve as a recruiting poster for the radicals as we alienate vast swaths of population by burning down haystacks to eliminate needles. </p>

<p>I firmly believe in counter-insurgency operations (COIN), not the fatally flawed empire building we’ve attempted. </p>

<p>However:

MythMom nails it. Even in Afghanistan, our focus is very narrow: killing bad guys. But the way we do it undermines the very civil government and the growth of institutions that would inhibit the Taliban and their AQ fellow travelers. By any reasonable metrics–percent of budget from foreign aid, size of opium [terrorist & Taliban funding] crop, control of the central government over forces under arms–Afghanistan is a tepid not-quite-a-failure-yet. </p>

<p>Was Iraq under Saddam Hussein a wonderful place? No. Was it a worse threat to our interests than the current conditions we’ve created in Iraq? No. Was invading Iraq a massive commitment of resources to a non-essential goal in going after Islamic radicals? Yes. </p>

<p>And all because our cowboy so-called president wanted to waive his genitals around the Middle East to one-up Dad. Bring 'em on. Mission accomplished.</p>

36

<p>From Lyndon Johnson, March 31, 1968 (just plug in Iraq and Mid-east for South Vietnam and Southeast asia. Then simplify the language, stammer and stutter alot and you got the same b.s. coming out of W’s mouth):</p>

<p>But the heart of our involvement in South Vietnam under three different presidents, three separate Administrations, has always been America’s own security. And the larger purpose of our involvement has always been to help the nations of Southeast Asia become independent, and stand alone, self-sustaining as members of a great world community, at peace with themselves, at peace with all others. And with such a nation our country – and the world – will be far more secure than it is tonight.</p>

37

<p>Re 9/11: I couldn’t help but notice that PA, DC, and NY, the only localities affected by 9/11, all went for Kerry. That day I was in Garden City with my students 15 miles from Ground Zero. There was hysteria; cell phones wouldn’t work, and each class had kids whose parents were either in the Towers, were fire fighters or NYC police. My town was occupied by The National Guard because our ferry was the ONLY way off LI. The line for the ferry was miles long, and wrapped around and strangled the town. And I know this experience was mild compared to those actually in the city. When I returned to school it was difficult to teach; every class had casualties. My next door neighbor died. My brother-in-law was in the Towers that day, but TG survived.</p>

<p>This is exactly why all NYers I know are opposed to US foreign policy. We feel each new baby terrorist we create aims right at us. We also have compassion for suffering civilians. We get no satisfaction from using 9/11 as an excuse to flex machismo muscles, nor do we blame Afghani civilians or Iraqis for Al Quaeda’s actions. Please don’t use the 9/11 card.</p>