And then we go after the leader of Pakistan, then the Ukraine, then N. Korea, then Libya etc. Where do you stop this crusade of trying to rid the world of terrorism
You seem to be saying that we should not be trying to rid the world of terrorism. Is that correct? Should we just allow the September 11 attack to go unretaliated for?
First, there has been a response to the 9/11 attack.......it was Afghanistan. Secondly, the problem of terrorists is not unlike trying to rid the world of cockroaches. You can spray and spray but the better approach and the less expensive one is to eliminate the conditions that allow them to thrive. You will never be free of cockroaches but by doing it this way, you will keep their growth in check. Spraying is easier but often times, the result ends up simply pushing the cockroaches/terrorists from one area to another and never resolving anything. We are seeing that effect in Afghanistan.
IMO, containment and reducing the conditions that cause terrorism to breed is a much more effective way to go at it. And the important thing to remember is that as long as their is an earth, there will be cockroaches, and as long as there are people, there will be terrorists.
I don't believe it is possible at this stage to say, "this event would signify the end of terrorism". But certainly you don't suggest that because the problem is a difficult one we shouldn't at least TRY to deal with it, right?
I never said not to deal with it. For me, the best way to do that has not been determined but I know bombing the hell out of every suspected terrorist hangout is not the answer.
Another aspect of this is that once we have deposed Saddam Hussein, the rest of the Middle East will view us in a more positive light. These are but a few of the reasons we must continue to work for the elimination of Saddam.
I am unclear how you come to that conclusion. The signals we are getting from the Middle East with the sole exception of Israel indicate that the US will be viewed in a negative light should it attack. Do you think these rumors of the Saudis pulling their money out of the stock market are by chance? While we are tied together by oil, it suggests, at least to me, that the Saudis will look at every means to thwart us without hurting themselves.
And making things worse, what was believed to be the great neutralizer, Russia and its oil, has turned out to be a major setback for US foreign diplomacy........or did you not recognize the major diplomatic defeat Russia handed us a few days back?
and why are you unwilling to really look at what the alternatives are?
I've stated what alternatives I think there are and why I think they have failed or will. What other alternatives are YOU thinking of?
Pushing all non aggressive means to the 11th hour before launching an attack. Bush may be doing that, but if he is, he has not made that clear to the rest of us. |
