. I gave you my interpretation of them and asked you to clarify your position.
Thereby distorting my presumed views. Yours were not questions. They were statements.
Usually when I loathe someone or something, I quit supporting the cause they are trying to promote with violence.
Are you inferring that I support OSB nd terror?
And by refusing to condemn and punish the clerics,
What tools does a democracy (ours and the one we wish on everyone else in the world) have to punish Jerry Falwell for saying that Mohammed was a terrorist? Or Billy Graham for saying that Islam is an evil religion? How would you punish clerics for preaching hatred without infringing on their freedom of expression? Hell, we can't stop a KKK march through the streets of Montgomery.
the Muslim religion has condemned itself to the dustbin of history.
REALLY? So, how do you think the fastest growing religion in the world will meet its end?
Chamberlain's appeasment of Hitler.
Hitlerian history is of little value here. Post fact all is clear isn't it? Never mind that history tells us that England was not even close to ready to fight Germany during Chamberlain's tenure. When Churchill came to power, his first proclamations were that he would continue Chamberlain's policies of diplomacy. During the same time the US had stated clearly its intention to stay out of the war in Europe. Chamberlain during his rule had very little choice.
Russia, whom we defeated in the cold war, is on far better terms with us now, than we could have hoped for 10 yrs ago, same with China.
Russia broke up from within due to ethnic strife and economic failure. China is migrating to a western style economy for some of the same reasons.
In fact, I believe Clinton's try at peace failed for that very reason, that the Us and Israel looked too desperate for a deal, which led Arafat and his fellow terrorist organizations to believe they could hold out for a better deal.
How can you fault Clinton for coming so close to a Palestinian/Israeli peace accord. There is peace today between Israel and it's neighbors thanks to Carter's efforts. What has violence, occupation and land settlements backed by US military power produced as an alternative solution? And what signs are there that more violence is in store for years to come?
You don't solve it by begging.
Who advocates begging as a policy?
You solve it by showing the Arabs that the consequences of living with Israel will be far better than the costs of trying to destroy Israel. LIke it or not, Israel is here to stay so live with it. The same goes for Israel, peace is more valuable than more land, so settle with the Arabs.
Agreed.
by defeating Iraq we will stop one of the main supporters of the PLO and Hamas.
And give rise to ten fold the same from other places.
By installing a democracy...
Don't see the contraddiction do you?
in the strongest military dictatorship, the weak dictatorships, Saudi Arabia monarchy and the clerics in Iran will be likely to ban support for terrorism to save their own hides. Without financial support , Hamas and PLO will die, because the governments will find it in their best interests to punish terrorists, not support them, much as Libyia has done with Carlos the Jackel. Without the terrorists, the Palestinian people will elect a gov. to sue for peace and live a peaceful co-existance.
I think you can discourage terror peacefully with nations by emabarking on a policy of equitable solutions. I work with a number of ME professionals. Educated, American Citizens, who live and raise their families in the US. In most aspecst no different that you and I. Ask them what is the single most important action to undertake in the Middle East and their passionate answer will inevitably be administering an equitable, even handed policy towards Israel and Arabs. Until we help broker a solution towards a just peace, there will always be resistance and we will not be able to stop it. Even if we invade all the countries in the region. Particularly if we invade countries in the region.
Al |
