I have no problem taking on Al Qaeda anywhere and everywhere.
Somewhere we got off track. All of a sudden Hussein became public enemy #1 after we failed to capture Bin Laden. Well in my book Bin Laden is STILL enemy #1, Al Qaeda #2 and everything else a distant distant 3rd.
Here we are committing enormous resources to something way way down the list by all reasonable measures. I still can not figure out where or how the shift (other than oil).
Paying $30B to turkey is madness IMO. We are sloshing around $ like we have them to burn (and we do not). The way to reduce terrorism is twofold:
1) recognize their gripes
2) strike back extremely hard when attacked
1) their gripe was US troops on arab soil and backing of Israel over Palestinians
On that basis, I actually agree.
We have no business with troops in Saudia Arabia
We are extremely uneven in support of Israel vs Palestinain issues. Note: that does not justify an attack on the US or Isreal, but BUT.... understanding the concern is the key to the solution.
I would NOT have had troops in Saudia Arabia in the first place, I would not have trained Bin Laden in the first place, and I would stop military aid to Isareal who is powerful enough to defend itself at this juncture.
2) When attacked or when invited to a war (like Iraq the first time), you Finish the FN job
Going to a strike first policy against nations that have nothging to do with Al Qaeda is wery very dangerous precident and IMO should allow anyone else to do the same. That is the can of worms we are opening. If we can strike first, why cant India strike Pakistan first or vice versa, or why isnt N Korea entitled to strike us first? Very very dangerous stuff if one thinks that ONLY the US is entitled to strike first.
I thinkwe should concentrate on finding Al Qaeda and kicking their ever loving asses up down and sideways. But we also NEED to show the Muslem world that we are even handed in our approach to the palestinian issue and Arab problems. So far we have antagonized EVERYONE, including our friends, paid bribes for support, called the leader of Nort Korea a scum sucking dog.
This is pathetic diplomacy IMO, as well as just plain bad politics.
As a side note, I read an article that we had Al Qaeda surrounded but that included Pakistanis as well and in an attempte to let the pakistanis out, Al Qaeda esacped as well. I do not know whether or not to beleive this report but that was about as bad a decision that could possibly be made.
Pakistan openly support Al Qaeda terrorists as does Saudi Arabia. What do we do, try and appease Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia. Those countries as well as Iran are far far bigger threats than Iraq IMO.
We are just plain out and out utilizing our resources as well as capital in a piss poor fashion, unless of course the reason is OIL.
M |
