Dear Bull,
The bottom line is that our gargantuan military and intelligence establishment failed miserably to do its duty to protect the American Homeland! Why? Because we are focused on killing foreigners and building a global empire to protect our corporate profits, or on promoting boondoggles such as Star Wars to pad the profits of US military contractors. Our brave men and women of the armed forces stand ready to act to protect our Homeland, but they are being sent to other countries to kill people. The cost of Star Wars alone would have funded all the protection we needed at airports, determined after Lockerbie, but not implemented because too expensive.
"Do you seriously believe that the FBI and the then precursors of the CIA would have stopped Japanese expansion in the Pacific? "
US corporations were too busy profiting from selling Japan the means to expand to worry about protecting Americans from attack. We had plenty of warning but ignored it.
"What may be forgotten here is that when these "terrorists" or "criminals" obtain the resources of a nation state they tend to use all the apparatus of that state to further their aims."
I agree completely. CIA agents bin Laden and Saddam should be eliminated. But lets stop creating more of these monsters.
" Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait is merely the latest incarnation."
Well, Kuwait was always part of Iraq until Britain drew a line around their oil wells and put some crowns on their favorite nomads. Later Bush's Harken Eenergy moved in. Got to protect our oil interests. Right?
" Do you expect that if the mullahs of Iran got control of Saudi Arabia, that they would stop at Tel Aviv?"
I don't like the mullahs of Iran and neither do most Iranians. Our military muscle in the ME does not help sensible people in Iran, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia get control. Quite the opposite we are making matters worse by our shortsighted policy of force. You are probably well aware of the many moderate/progressive Arab people and governments that CIA has overthrown to protect US oil company domination. Now that we have sown that wind we and the people of the ME are reaping the whirlwind.
" Those guys want to dictate more than whether or not JQP drives an SUV."
They at least want control of their own national resources. I haven't seen any indication that the mullahs of Iran are unwilling to sell us their oil at market prices.
"The naivete of Americans never ceases to astound me."
Americans are eager to conform, and the saber rattling and calls for blood easily distract us in our time of grief, mourning, anger, and resolve. But this is a time to look for solutions to prevent the cycle of violence from escalating.
Regards,
RWS |
