John,
What a thorough, and correct, IMO, analysis of the methods and goals of al Qaeda. This paragraph in particular, in which you outlined how perfectly the American response fit like a hand in a glove, is of particular importance:
If bin Laden could have chosen one response, it might have been that we invade Iraq. First, it was a secular Arab government, as much his enemy as ours. Second it was a stabilized Arab populace with almost no terrorist presence. Third it could be used as proof of what he has been saying all along; that beyond the support of the illegitimate monarchies, the Christian US has started a crusade against the Arab Muslims. Fourth, it would destabilize and weaken other governments throughout the Arab ME. With our irrational and non-proportional response, we gave him exactly what he wanted. Iraq is a huge win for Al Qaeda.
Why the right can't see this mystifies me. Despite their claim of being "more patriotic than thou", their chest-beating and headlong rush to do precisely what al Qaeda wants is far more dangerous to the US's reputation, and ultimately to our safety as a nation, than the left's wish that there be a rapid end of the grisly business we've gotten into in Iraq.
Here's to your post not falling on deaf ears. |
