An interesting piece, Jill. It is well thought-out. A few things I question:
As we plan our actions to neutralize the enemy in response to the World Trace Center attack, we need to assess and prepare for new ways in which overenthusiasm for a counter-attack could be part of the enemy's plan for a much greater slaughter. Because our long-term strategy depends on their long-term strategy, gaining intelligence information about their long-term goals may be as important as gaining information about their locations and plans for attacks.
Our defensive strategy may rely on threats of terrorism but it would be folly to base our offensive strategy directly upon Al Quaeda objectives. Now that war has been declared, our objectives must be far broader than simply eliminating terrorist power to fulfill certain objectives.
One way to get control of Saudi wealth would be to push the situation in Saudi Arabia toward a revolution like the one that toppled the Shah of Iran.
I would not be surprised if the United States and its allies learn more about Saudi involvement in these attacks, that a covert operation is launched to actually help Al Quaeda topple the House of Saud, and then, using the radical and illegitimate new government of Arabia as the reason, that the region is invaded and occupied for an extended period of time.
I stated earlier and some of you have stated likewise, we must stem the transfer of such an enormous amount of industrialized wealth into such a small, unstable region. There is not time enough now to cut back on oil use before terrorists continue to strike. Therefore, the only other option is to seize control of the oil reserves of the Middle East. At this point, the Middle Eastern nations have proven that they cannot handle these problems internally - if ever they wanted to. That has been made abundantly clear by the refusal of these Islamic states to provide military support against what are after all criminals who developed in their own lands. Because of this, they cannot be trusted. These terrorist groups could not have possibly grown to be as powerful as they are without the support of the wealthy, powerful and influential in all of these lands. They have targeted the U.S. and its Allies. Now we should in turn target them. Unless we do this, the world will become an even more dangerous place.
President Bush has now laid the groundwork for just such an action. He has equated states who do not prevent terrorism with the terrorists. It is now known as the Bush Doctrine. That represents a major policy shift, and also the foundation of future major action to secure the region and, thus, the rest of the world.
I find it curious that so few pundits and leaders have openly discussed a conventional invasion of the Middle East. When Imperial Japan attacked the United States in 1941, the message sent out was quite clear: war was declared immediately on that nation - and on Germany as well because that country had behaved in similar fashion, as we know should do with "friends" and "cousins" of the terrorists - and nothing less than unconditional surrender was demanded and ultimately achieved. This, against the two greatest military forces then extant on earth.
Too many people are forgetting that after these attacks it would be helpful if world opinion were in our favor in the event we undertake a large-scale war in the Gulf; however, it is not a requirement. These nations have weak militaries. An invasion of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Lebanon, along with our NATO, Israeli, Russian Indian and Australian Allies, could be achieved in a matter of months. It is a serious option that after attacks on a scale not seen since the Second World War should now be on the table, and seriously considered. Nations that cannot contain the mass violence they engender forfeit their independence. As many have said, we need moral clarity. I hope we find it soon. |
