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

To: Bilow who wrote (16776)	1/18/2002 7:27:34 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

You're really going to have to explain how we wound up in Saudi Arabia to protect Israel. Did Saddam Hussein invade Kuwait because of Israel? Here I thought we were protecting our oil supplies. If we pull out from Saudi Arabia it will be a huge win for Osama Bin Laden. That was his real, first demand, that infidel troops not remain on the holy soil of Saudi Arabia. It will be a triumph for Al Quaeda and will be proclaimed as such. I can hear it now: "You see, my brothers? America may be able to strike back, but they are soft and easily discouraged. They have no stomach for casualties or extended battles, unlike us holy mujahadeen, who have dedicated our lives to the struggle for the sake of Allah, according the word of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Osama bin Laden survives! Mullah Omar survives! for all the blundering superpower could do, for all their bombs, they could not kill us and they have not conquered us. Al Quaeda survives, and now we have won our second great victory! The accursed infidels are leaving the holy soil of Saudi Arabia, the land of Mecca and Medina. We told you they were easily cowed! Let us redouble our efforts, my brothers, and soon the accursed infidels will be driven out of the Umma altogether, and we will revenge the insults of the last eighty years. Onward to victory!" This speech may not be deeply connected to reality, but sure as G-d made little green apples, variations of it will be heard through every corner of the Muslim world. You think this will make us safer. I couldn't disagree more.

To: Bilow who wrote (16776)	1/20/2002 5:23:50 AM
From: SirRealist	Respond to of 281500

Israel has nothing that the US needs. Need is not the only basis for foreign policy decisions. Israel has demonstrated its willingness and ability to fight against those we now view with suspicion, anger, or opposition. On left or right, I hear little to suggest Israel is in any danger of being abandoned. One can argue that there's no need to utilize Israel. But there's much to be lost in abandoning Israel. Not only would it send a message to allies of hypocristy under fire, but it would send a message to our enemies that they've lost Afghanistan but gained every other goal. We'd deserve to be hated then.