What struck me as moronic about Jane Galt's comments
Where was this? Sorry for asking but the search isn't working yet.
but her implication that it therefore wouldn't be so bad to elect Kerry even if he did decide to cut and run from the Iraq war.
I am long on record here as opposed to cutting and running. (I think he's on record as opposing that, too, although I understand if you're sceptical about his record. <g>)
The idea that if a war isn't per se existential, therefore it won't have very high costs down the road if you lose - that was the moronic idea.
I won't give you an argument over that. Just because invading Iraq wasn't existential, that doesn't mean that there isn't a growing threat. Nor does it mean that there are no consequences of losing in Iraq. There is a big difference between taking a pass on a war and losing it once you're in it.
They are men, fanatics, who have devoted their lives to our destruction. Sept 11th was one-trial learning about their seriousness, as far as I was concerned.
I will repeat once again my standard reply to that. Yes, they are serious about causing our demise. But intention alone does not carry the day. You need means and opportunity, as they say on L&O, the holy trinity. Right now their means and opportunity are limited. Over time they may grow if we don't play our cards right. They may grow even if we do play our cards right, but right now we have room to be thoughtful and comprehensive and strategic.
I think I take them more seriously than you do.
I don't know that you take them more seriously than I do. Maybe. I suppose I'm more willing to risk minor hits than you are in the context of long war and an overall win for us. It's unlikely you can go through a whole war without losing a battle or two and I can be philosophical about that. And I think you overestimate their immediate capability, not their motivation but their capability. Long term I think I see the risk much as you do. I'm just not frantic about taking action immediately. Some aspects of this, the cultural aspects and the political change in the ME, have a pace of their own and we just have to wait out.
You realize, of course, that "winning" in Iraq could turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory. It's a long war. |
