Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SirRealist who wrote (1606)	9/27/2001 10:33:10 PM
From: CountofMoneyCristo	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 281500

Yes, Kevin. Sometimes people are flexible and open enough to face new realities, however exacting they may be. The question we face right now is this: have we passed the point of no-return, where evil must be faced down with equal force of good, though that force may be quite violent, as it was during the Second World War. I believe the Arab countries are immature. In the aftermath of this atrocity, they have shown that their words are mild in condemnation, they are not fully prepared to admit the presence of, let alone forcefully combat (no Arab country has agreed to join any military actions as of yet) evil. Perhaps they do not find these acts evil as we do. The public execution of thousands of innocents, men, women and children of all nationalities, and the criminal assault on the peace and well-being of many hundreds of millions more. This is anarchy, and far too few have now raised their voice in righteous outrage against it. I have been very, very disappointed with the response of Islamic countries. It has been half-hearted to say the least, and the rest of the civilized world must not stand for this, whatever the cost. My greatest fear is that, in building a coalition seeking to be just and right, the United States and its friends who lead the world are actually repeating history in the form of a second Munich. We have seen evil. Shall we take half measures in our war against it? I am gravely concerned at the statements coming from various leaders around the world. It strikes me that many leaders are yet even now in disbelief at what has been done, and refuse to face the awful truth borne out September 11, 2001. If this happens, then we shall face a far greater and more costly struggle now, as we did then, when we chose the comfort of isolationist head-in-sand thinking at the expense of our future. I hope and choose to believe that President Bush shall keep his word to the American people, those brave and noble words he has voiced since that fateful day, and that all those who not only aid, abet and either overtly or tacitly support terror, including States who find this perfectly respectable, are our declared enemy, and we shall vanquish them, period. Perhaps not all words spoken by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz were diplomatic or wise, but those concerning "ending States" who sponsor terrorism were timely and appropriate. Secretary Powell, your hesitation may prove the undoing of a major American city, or two - and many millions of lives - down the road. If the United States is to face facts and bear the responsibility of its leadership role, however reluctant, especially in the aftermath of this catastrophic attack on freedom-loving peoples everywhere, then we must be willing to take great risks to secure the peace, and lead the world into a better future. If we fail in this task, then history shall record our failure in this great opportunity, and be most unforgiving in its scorn for those who lacked all vision for mankind. It would not be a worthy passage in our history. In fact, it may prove the undoing of all we have built over the past two centuries, and an enduring shame on us now, who so unworthily refused to face a calling upon which so many proud, courageous and enlightened of our ancestors staked, and lost, their lives.