I agree in general, they're against US policies.
Many of these people oppose all US policies, however, even the policies that ensure their own freedom and security.
In 1988, just before Christmas, Pan Am flight 103 was blown out of the sky over Scotland by Lybian terrorists. A friend of mine whom I grew up with was on that flight.
Most of the protesters i see are too young to remember that. Many of them are too young to remember the 1993 bombing of the World trade center by al qaeda.
The protesters dont have much historical fact on their side. This isn't about bush. But it is for the protesters.
When reagan bombed kaddafi's compound in Lybia, many hysterical people on the left claimed it would cause an uprising in terror. In fact the opposite occured. Kaddafi has been behaving himself, relativley speaking, ever since, becuase he knows that we'll strike at him if he tries anything. In fact, he's even offered $10 milion to each of the pan am 103 victims' families.
Conversely, during the Carter administration, our touchy-feely foreign policy weakness gave the Soviets the gumption and confidence to invade afghanistan without fear of US response.
Our weakness under Carter also led to the taking of hostages in Iran and a failed effort to free them, an effort that was tightly constrained by Carter's unwillingness to take the significant action really needed to support the rescue attempt.
It's wise to learn the lessons history makes available to us. I try to. |
