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 : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: American Spirit who wrote (458683)	9/14/2003 5:36:13 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 769670

Threats real and imagined _________________________________________ ANTHONY B. ROBINSON SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER COLUMNIST Thursday, September 11, 2003 seattlepi.nwsource.com It's now two years since the terrible events of Sept. 11, 2001. Having focused almost entirely on external threats -- wars against Afghanistan, Iraq and terrorism for these two years -- has an opportunity been missed? Have we avoided deeper questions? Remember the first days and weeks after 9/11? There was a time amid the shock and grief of profound reflection and self-examination. Our foundations had been shaken. We asked about our values and questioned the central concerns of our lives and of our society. Some reported awakening to a new sense of priorities, realizing that relationships are more important than profits or possessions. Many spoke of turning back to faith, to prayer and to their families. There was a sense of vulnerability that, spiritually speaking, is often the beginning of wisdom. Moreover, there was a born-again search to understand the world beyond our borders. Bookstore and library shelves were swept clean of books on Islam, U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East. Searching discussions took place not only in the media but also on street corners, in churches and at town meetings. Too soon such attempts at self-examination came to an end. Or as Robert Bellah put it in "The Christian Century," "The discussion got short-circuited." "I have my own memory," writes Bellah, "of when the discussion shifted: the Fox network began an incessant campaign against those seeking to 'understand' those who had attacked us. According to the Fox commentators, pure evil is beyond understanding -- it can only be opposed. 'Moral clarity' became the watchword: any effort to understand the enemy, above all any attempt to show that the U.S. might bear some responsibility for conditions leading up to the attacks, was denounced as showing a lack of moral clarity, as moral relativism, postmodernism or worse." Partly, it was the predictable return to normality that happens in the wake of any great loss or shocking event. You cannot live in the mode of "fruit-basket-upset" indefinitely. Life must go on and inevitably returns to some sort of normality. But it was not only that. Within a short time our focus shifted almost entirely to external threats. To ask questions about our own society was unpatriotic. Our job was to shop. But in focusing entirely only "out there" we missed an opportunity for deeper understanding "in here." This is not to say there is no genuine external threat or challenge. My summer reading included the latest work of Bernard Lewis, the foremost scholar of Islam and of the history of the Middle East. In his book, "The Crisis of Islam, Holy War and Unholy Terror," Lewis does what any good scholar does -- he deprives his readers of the answers that are altogether too simple. In particular, he challenges two too-simple answers to the question of the meaning and implications of 9/11. One of these is the notion that with the Soviet Union and communism over, Islam and Islamic fundamentalism now constitute the major threat to the West and to the Western way of life. "Islam," Lewis writes, "is not an enemy of the West. There are growing numbers of Muslims who desire nothing better than a closer and more friendly relationship with the West and the development of democratic institutions in their own countries." An equally misleading, too-simple answer, however, is one that says, "Muslims, including radical fundamentalists, are basically decent, peace-loving, pious people, some of whom have been driven beyond endurance by all the dreadful things that we of the West have done to them." "No," says Lewis, "there are a significant number of Muslims who are hostile and dangerous, not because we need an enemy, but because they do." The crisis of Islam requires us, in some of Jesus' most challenging words, "To be wise as serpents and gentle as doves," a subtlety that seems to have eluded our nation's present leaders. Since 9/11 our focus has fallen almost entirely on external threats, both real, as indicated above, and imagined, as in Iraq's links to al-Qaida or its imminent threat to our national security. In many ways, we have projected our fears outward and onto others. Sept. 11 revealed not only genuine external threats and challenges, but also inner threats and challenges we must seek to name and to address. One we might ask about is our own democracy, where fewer than half the registered voters took part in the last presidential election. Ask too about what really is a good life when the good life is so often materially defined. Inquire about our understanding of the world and in particular our historic role in Iraq and the Middle East. Ask about the hidden despair that darkens lives in a society where too many feel superfluous, where lives lack meaning. As we, today, remember those who died on 9/11, remember too the questions we asked then. May we find the courage to let those questions live on to disturb us. __________________________________________ Anthony B. Robinson is senior minister at Plymouth Congregational Church: United Church of Christ in Seattle. E-mail: trobinson@plymouthchurchseattle.org

To: American Spirit who wrote (458683)	9/14/2003 7:04:15 PM
From: PROLIFE	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Problem there, pinhead. Kerry cannot promise Americans that they will be safer under him. All he can promise is that he will slash the defense budget, as he has done in the past. Proof is in his votes: SEN. KERRY'S DEFENSE STRATEGY: CUT CRITICAL WEAPONS SYSTEMS In 1996, Introduced Bill To Slash Defense Department Funding By $6.5 Billion.Kerry's bill had no co-sponsors and never came to a floor vote. (S. 1580, Introduced 2/29/96; frwebgate.access.gpo.gov In 1995, Voted To Freeze Defense Spending For 7 Years, Slashing Over $34 Billion From Defense.Only 27 other Senators voted with Kerry. ü Fiscal 1996 Budget Resolution - Defense Freeze. "Harkin, D-Iowa, amendment to freeze defense spending for the next seven years and transfer the $34.8 billion in savings to education and job training." (S. Con. Res. 13, CQ Vote #181: Rejected 28-71: R 2-51; D 26-20, 5/24/95, Kerry Voted Yea) In 1993, Introduced Plan To Cut Numerous Defense Programs, Including: ü Cut the number of Navy submarines and their crews ü Reduce the number of light infantry units in the Army down to one ü Reduce tactical fighter wings in the Air Force ü Terminate the Navy's coastal mine-hunting ship program ü Force the retirement of no less than 60,000 members of the Armed Forces in one year. (S.1163, Introduced 6/24/93, frwebgate.access.gpo.gov Has Voted Repeatedly To Cut Defense Spending, Including: ü In 1993, Voted Against Increased Defense Spending For Military Pay Raise.Kerry voted to kill an increase in military pay over five years. (S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #73: Motion Agreed To 55-42: R 2-39; D 53-3, 3/24/93, Kerry Voted Yea) ü In 1992, Voted To Cut $6 Billion From Defense. Republicans and Democrats successfully blocked the attempt to cut defense spending. (S. Con. Res. 106, CQ Vote #73: Motion Agreed To 53-40: R 38-1; D 15-39, 4/9/92, Kerry Voted Nay) ü In 1991, Voted To Slash Over $3 Billion From Defense, Shift Money To Social Programs.Only 27 Senators joined Kerry in voting for the defense cut. (H.R. 2707, CQ Vote #182: Motion Rejected 28-69: R 3-39; D 25-30, 9/10/91, Kerry Voted Yea) ü In 1991, Voted To Cut Defense Spending By 2%.Only 21 other Senators voted with Kerry, and the defense cut was defeated. (S. Con. Res. 29, CQ Vote #49: Motion Rejected 22-73: R 1-39; D 21-34, 4/25/91, Kerry Voted Yea) Has Voted Repeatedly To Cut Or Eliminate Funding For B-2 Stealth Bomber.(H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #203: Rejected 29-71: R 2-43; D 27-28, 9/26/89, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #310: Rejected 29-68: R 3-41; D 26-27, 11/18/89, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 2884, CQ Vote #208: Rejected 43-56: R 8-36; D 35-20, 8/2/90, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 2884, CQ Vote #209: Rejected 45-53: R 9-34; D 36-19, 8/2/90, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1507, CQ Vote #174: Rejected 42-57: R 7-36; D 35-21, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #206: Motion Agreed To 51-48: R 36-7; D 15-41, 9/25/91, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 2403, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 61-38: R 7-36; D 54-2, 5/6/92, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 3114, CQ Vote #216: Rejected 45-53: R 8-35; D 37-18, 9/18/92, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 2182, CQ Vote #179: Rejected 45-55: R 8-36; D 37-19, 7/1/94, Kerry Voted Yea) Has Voted Repeatedly Against Missile Defense. (S. 1507, CQ Vote #171: Motion Agreed To 60-38: R 40-3; D 20-35, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1507, CQ Vote #173: Rejected 46-52: R 5-38; D 41-14, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Yea; H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #207: Motion Agreed To 50-49: R 38-5; D 12-44, 9/25/91, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 2403, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 61-38: R 7-36; D 54-2, 5/6/92, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 3114, CQ Vote #182: Rejected 43-49: R 34-5; D 9-44, 8/7/92, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 3114, CQ Vote #214: Rejected 48-50: R 5-38; D 43-12, 9/17/92, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 3114, CQ Vote #215: Adopted 52-46: R 39-4; D 13-42, 9/17/92, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1298, CQ Vote #251: Adopted 50-48: R 6-36; D 44-12, 10/9/93, Kerry Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 63, CQ Vote #64: Rejected 40-59: R 2-42; D 38-17, 3/22/94, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1026, CQ Vote #354: Motion Agreed To 51-48: R 47-6; D 4-42, 8/3/95, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1087, CQ Vote #384: Rejected 45-54: R 5-49; D 40-5, 8/10/95, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1745, CQ Vote #160: Rejected 44-53: R 4-49; D 40-4, 6/19/96, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1507, CQ Vote #168: Rejected 39-60: R 4-39; D 35-21, 7/31/91, Kerry Voted Yea; S. 1507, CQ Vote #172: Motion Agreed To 64-34: R 39-4; D 25-30, 8/1/91, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1873, CQ Vote #131: Rejected 59-41: R 55-0; D 4-41; I 0-0, 5/13/98, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 1873, CQ Vote #262: Rejected 59-41: R 55-0; D 4-41, 9/9/98, Kerry Voted Nay; S 1635, CQ Vote #157: Rejected 53-46: R 52-0; D 1-46, 6/4/96, Kerry Voted Nay; S. 2549, CQ Vote #178: Motion Agreed To 52-48: R 52-3; D 0-45, 7/13/00, Kerry Voted Nay) KERRY OPPOSED WEAPONS CRITICAL TO RECENT MILITARY SUCCESSES Running For Senate In 1984, Kerry Promised Massive Defense Cuts."Kerry in 1984 said he would have voted to cancel ... the B-1 bomber, B-2 stealth bomber, AH-64 Apache helicopter, Patriot missile, the F-15, F-14A and F-14D jets, the AV-8B Harrier jet, the Aegis air-defense cruiser, and the Trident missile system. He also advocated reductions in many other systems, such as the M1 Abrams tank, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the Tomahawk cruise missile, and the F-16 jet." (Brian C. Mooney, "Taking One Prize, Then A Bigger One," The Boston Globe, 6/19/03) Weapons Kerry Sought To Phase Out Were Vital In Iraq."[K]erry supported cancellation of a host of weapons systems that have become the basis of US military might -- the high-tech munitions and delivery systems on display to the world as they leveled the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein in a matter of weeks." (Brian C. Mooney, "Taking One Prize, Then A Bigger One," The Boston Globe, 6/19/03) ü F-16 Fighting Falcons."The Air Force would also play an important role in strikes against high-ranking officials of the Ba'ath regime. On April 4, two Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons dropped laser-guided munitions on the house of Ali Hassan al-Majid, a.k.a. 'Chemical Ali,' in Basra." (Abraham Genauer, "Technology And Volume Of Sorties Overwhelmed The Iraqis' Defenses," The Hill, 5/21/03) ü B-1Bs B-2As F-15 And F-16s."On the night of March 21 alone, the first of 'shock and awe,' coalition air forces flew nearly 2,000 missions. ... Involved were Air Force B-1B Lancers, B-2A Spirits, ... F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons..." (Abraham Genauer, "Technology And Volume Of Sorties Overwhelmed The Iraqis' Defenses," The Hill, 5/21/03) ü M1 Abrams."'[M1 Abrams] tanks were the sledgehammer in this war,' added Pat Garrett, an associate analyst with GlobalSecurity.org. 'The tank was the tool that allowed [the ground forces] to progress as fast as they did.'" (Patrick O'Connor, "Revolutionary Tank Tactics Alter Iraqi Conflict, Future Of Urban Warfare," The Hill, 5/21/03) ü Patriot Missile."U.S. Central Command says the Patriots ... have improved to the point where they intercepted nine of the Iraqis' short-range al-Samoud 2 and Ababil-100 missiles in this conflict." (Andrea Stone, "Patriot Missile: Friend Or Foe To Allied Troops?" USA Today, 4/15/03) ü AH-64 Apache Helicopter."Recently, Apaches in Afghanistan achieved success directly supporting ground troops. ... Whether in shaping the battle in a combined arms Warfighter-type fight where intelligence of the enemy is known, or by conducting close combat attacks in direct support of a ground commander, the Longbow Apache provides significantly increased flexibility and firepower for U.S. Army forces ..." (Maj. David J. Rude and Lt. Col. Daniel E. Williams, "The 'Warfighter Mindset' and the War in Iraq," Army Magazine, 7/03) ü Tomahawk Cruise Missile."The first operational use [of Tomahawk cruise missiles] was in Operation Desert Storm, 1991, with immense success. The missile has since been used successfully in several other conflicts ... include[ing] Bosnia ... in 1995 and in Iraq again ... in 1996 ... [and in] strikes against training camps run by Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan in 1998. Cruise missiles were also fired during the air campaign over Kosovo in 1999." (Vivek Rai, "Cruise Missiles, By Air And Sea," MSNBC.com, Accessed 7/17/03) ü Aegis Air-Defense Cruiser. "During Operation Iraqi Freedom, [the Aegis cruiser] Bunker Hill ... was one of the first warships to conduct Tomahawk strikes against leadership targets in Iraq. The ship launched a total of 31 missiles during the war. Its embarked ... helicopter detachment ... supported the rescue of United Nations workers being forcibly removed from oil platforms in the Northern Arabian Gulf and provided medical evacuations from the Iraqi city of Umm Qasr." (S.A. Thornbloom, "USS Bunker Hill Makes Revolutionary Return," NavyDispatch.com, Accessed 7/17/03) During 1980s, Kerry And Michael Dukakis Joined Forces With Liberal Group Dedicated To Slashing Defense. Kerry sat on the board of "Jobs With Peace Campaign," which sought to "develop public support for cutting the defense budget..."("Pentagon Demonstrators Call For Home-Building, Not Bombs," The Associated Press, 6/3/88) Running For Congress In 1972, Kerry Promised To Cut Defense Spending."On what he'll do if he's elected to Congress, Kerry said he would 'bring a different kind of message to the president.' He said he would vote against military appropriations." ("Candidate's For Congress Capture Campus In Andover," Lawrence [MA] Eagle-Tribune, 4/21/72)