Re: On the News, The Stuff hit the fan
Not inflamed Kiwi, and think we should talk frankly about these things. My post does not link 911 to Iraq directly though I think Iraq more likely than not was aiding, abetting and encouraging alqaeda and other terrorists to attack us, but that is beside the point."Them" refers to the middle Eastern terrorsits and alqaeda whom we are fighting there now. As Bush said you're with us or against us and "them" are those that are against us. I agree thet the Shiite battles of today are for control of Iraq but of course comingled are the efforts and aims of Alqaeda etc. The point of Iraq is that it is an opportunity for us to solve the middle eastern problem by providing a means for middle eartern people to escape dictatorial control. If we can pull that off we are working toward a real solution to the root cause of the middle eastern threat. We are now in a horrific fight and it bothers me greatly that our boys are dying. So. Do we pull out? From my perspective the choices of appeasment , weakness, fear will result in the greatest loss of life here and around the world. I am glad I am not calling the shots and sure as heck wouldn't do or say anything to comfort the enemy. Did you catch the appeal of this 30 yr old Shiite Cleric??? He appealed directly to the left of this country...even said this would be a Viet Nam. I listened to Condi's entire testimony today. You will find a lot of answers right there. Iraq is phase 2 of our fight against trerrorism. The general cauldron of the middle east is what produced 911, and that cauldron is what we must quench if we are to have peace. Iraq is part of that cauldron, one where action was due and where the diplomatic string had been exhausted. THis is not a police action, and that is what your argument calls for. It is an attack against terrorism because anything else would be ineffective. We are witnessing a clash of civilization. We can hunker down and hold up our shields as the enemy gains confidence and strength and surrounds us, or we can take it to them while there is a chance of avoiding an all out Nuclear war. Lest you scoff at that, what do you think we will do when they start blowing up nukes in our country. We will release the hounds in that case. <br />Good points Rabbit wrt our morality vs theirs.