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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

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To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (75412)2/19/2003 12:27:51 AM
From: paul_philp  Read Replies (2) of 281500
 
Nadine,

I did see a review of the senior Bush administration travel records a while back. Friedman has a point, but it is a small one. He is wrong on a couple of points as well (containment and AQ/Iraq evidence). However, the thrust is that Bush hasn't drawn the proper context and connections to justify the War on Iraq in people's hearts. It's like the Japanese planning Pearl Harbor solely because the US was a security problem without ever mentioning that gutting the US fleet was a strategic win.

It is crazymaking because it is a Bateson-like double bind. People don't understand and they are understanably frightened. The French and the war protestors don't have a coherent argument but many, many people think they do. This is a communications failure. The 35% who wouldn't follow Bush out of a house fire need to be contained. The fact that Carter is acting the way he is demonstrates the failure to contain the opposing argument.

I do know that it is tricky to announce to Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria that there's a new sherrif in town but the President needs to sort out tricky problems.

Iraq is the beachhead in the War on Radical Islam's terror factories and the world needs to understand that Bush understands. I suggest he use a map, my father found it very helpful.

Don't underestimate how hard the ongoing battles will be if Bush doesn't win the hearts of most Americans and a good chunk of Europeans.

Paul
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