Hi Hawkmoon; Re: "Doesn't it make sense, if undeterrable, that US forces being launched into a proactive strategy of reshaping the balance of power in the middle east would at least deflect Al-Qaeda's attention to THEIR OWN HOMELAND, and not ours?"
Of course. In the post 9/11 environment, the easiest place in the world to kill Americans is now Iraq. Why wouldn't Al Qaeda go there? Your argument is like the guy who thinks that sticking his pecker in a hornet's nest will somehow save him from being stung as much.
While the WTC attack was mostly perpetrated by Saudis, the majority of suicide bombers come from places that are economically devastated by violence such as Palestine, Lebanon or Sri Lanka. All Bush did was put Iraq, a country far larger and more populous than Palestine or Lebanon, into the sewer. The result will be more rats, not fewer.
Re: "The demographic trends I've previously laid out on this and other threads are clear and powerful. Yet, they play no part in Mr. Record's analysis."
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! LOL!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Re: "And wasn't Saddam supporting Islamic terrorism by guaranteeing the paying of $25,000 to Palestinian suicide bombers, thus further encouraging the dehumanization of an entire generation of Arab youth and turning them into terror weapons?"
Okay. Saddam's captured now. Care to give us the date when the Palestinian attacks stop? They're still going strong. Here's today's news:
Israeli killed, 3 wounded, in West Bank shooting attack
...
The IDF arrested six Palestinians in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday near the West Bank city of Tul Karm, including one man the military said was about to carry out a suicide bombing inside Israel. Another of the detained men is a senior member of an armed Fatah faction.
...
haaretz.com
haaretz.com
Re: "And what were 150,000 US combat troops supposed to do in defending the homeland that hasn't already been done? March through the streets? Park their tanks in Times Square? Drop JDAMS on anyone attempting to cross the Rio Grande?"
This is silly. Our homeland defense against terrorism is by our police and other security personnel here in the US. All that 150,000 US combat troops are doing is stirring up more passions against us, and getting shot up to boot.
Re: "But no terrorist organization exists without the support of a nation state providing training, logistical support, and political/religious inspiration."
Okay, name me the nation state that provided training, logistical support and political / religious inspiration to the collection of nuts who blew up the building in Oklahoma.
-- Carl |
