Runes and Mike- Re: >>Specifically, if we had not been supporting Israel, if we hadn't chased Iraq out of Kuwait,
if we didn't have soldiers on Saudi soil - then the WTC wouldn't have been attacked. <<
At one point I would have said there is some truth in what you claim. Now, after hearing an interview with Bernard Lewis (the Princeton Mideast professor) and rereading Tom Friedman, and considering facts - I reversed my views. Indeed, I am now to the right of Mike.
1) Arafat never gave a counteroffer to Barak's generous offer (and therefore elected Sharon).
2) Assad killed 30,000 in Hama. There were no Israelis or Americans there . However, this defines thje mentality of the enemy. This, along with the WTC, the killing of the Kurds, the massacre of Algerians, Hussain's public execution of political rivals (he arrested them in the chambers of the Iraqi parliament to PROUDLY execute them), etc etc etc etc. If this doesn't tell you something, what will? Let alone the joy in Arab streets when the WTC occurred, as well as the joy in Afghani Streets when US and British troops entered. Indeed, Bernard Lewis claimed that would be nothing compared to the joy if the US entered Iran!
It is abject nonsense that Israeli and US provocations justify the continual slaughter of Muslims by these regimes. Furthermore, the lack of a Western military or economic response tacitly condoned these slaughters.
3) Lewis also stated that Hussain and Arafat were convinced of the cowardice of the West and of Israel after both Somalia and the withdeawal from Lebanon.
4) Assad and Hussain (read Friedman) respect only force. This may be tragic for them, but reason has not worked. When Huey Newton of the Black Panthers said that, "Power comes from the barrel of a gun.", Saul Alinsky, the left-wing social activist pointed out that Newton doesn't realize that the cops have the guns, and not the panthers. Well, we have the guns and if that is necessary to make the point that we will not accept another WTC, unfortunately, so be it...
5) I now accept that Saddam Hussain must be removed. Something that I vascillated about previously.
Having said that, I still believe (along with Friedman and Lewis) that the settlements are a dumb provocation and that there is a clear legitimacy to Palestinian nationalism.
I am now convinced that unless the West shows force there will be more terror than if we show weakness. Terrorism has been here to stay, but it will take force it limit it.
However, Runes, if you could demonstrate where negotiations with them worked (without force), I will reconsider. I also want you to give an example where a country, e.g., Israel, the US, Russia, has been attacked, did not respond and did survive.
fred |
