Gregg, I also respectfully disagree. OT***
The President's decision, upon the recommendation of his top national security advisors, was to treat this network of terrorists as an enemy group that has not only openly and repeatedly declared a type of war against the United States; it has also committed multiple acts of terror. THEREFORE THE GROUP should be targeted, and to the extent possible (consistent with other national security considerations) DESTROYED. Unless and until it surrenders.
Evidence? The Palestinian captured at Pakistan's border with Afganistan admitted to Pakistani "questioners" a personal role in the Embassy bombings, and stated that bin Laden's group had planned the attack. Reportedly, we also had spy satellite communications intercepts which indicated the same thing. And also indicated imminent plans to blow up other Embassies and American facilities.
I am sure there is also lots of other evidence, perhaps less absolute. (e.g., bombing methods, etc.)
In addition to that, this same bin Lauden had openly and unambiguously declared a holy war of terror against Americans, whether or not even connected with the government, in a Fatmah published in London one or two days before our counterattack. This was only the most wide ranging declaration of war against America; it followed several others.
That's plenty for me. More than enough.
I hope that if our satellites show people scurring around that camp in Afganistan, that we hit them again. Let's not be ambiguous about it. We have declared war on that group. Let's kill as many as possible.
As for collateral damage to Afgani's .... well, maybe they should think twice about harboring sworn outlaw terrorist enemies of the US.
Offense against terrorists works a whole lot better than defense. We were already maximally targeted, without restraint.
The important thing is to try hard to continue to build bridges to moderate Islam, and work harder at that. (More pressure on Netanyahu wouldn't hurt one bit.)
This cannot of course be total war, and we need to continue to work very hard to minimize so called collateral damage. But it isn't a civilian police and criminal court matter either. Its a form of limited war, seems to me.
Doug |
