Monday
Jun212004
President Bush gives in to terrorists
Monday, June 21, 2004 at 3:00AM
By Ellen Ratner
It's important to pay attention to the actions, not the words when it comes to Bush administration policy. President Bush says we will not give into terrorists. His actions speak much louder.
Osama bin Laden demanded the U.S. military get out of Saudi Arabia. We are mostly out. They demanded that we get out of Iraq. And now this administration cannot drop the Iraqi hot potato quickly enough to satisfy their Campaign 2004 agenda, even if it means turning Iraq over to some nebulous quasi-Iraqi entity with no control of their security or money.
The latest al-Qaida demand came this week when they demanded all Westerners out of Saudi Arabia. The State Department dutifully issued a warning that all 30,000-plus U.S. citizens should leave the Magic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ASAP. Secretary Powell, in an interview with Radio America, then contradicted his own State Department's warning.
The administration insists these moves are not giving into terrorists. What? How can it be otherwise? They make a demand and we comply with it. Oh sure, if we capture one of the suspected terrorists, they will rot in jail until they die of natural causes, or "accidental death." Otherwise, we comply with their demands and cower to their intimidation tactics.
I must admit, however, that I don't know what other course of action would be appropriate given the circumstances. George Bush's policies have included the pre-Sept. 11 abandonment of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, the post-Sept. 11 pre-emptive strike policy, the invasion of Iraq, the continued coddling of a Saudi royal family whose hundreds of members have provided the oxygen for al-Qaida to survive and thrive (ironically, these same terrorists may overthrow the rich royals) and the list goes on.
The net effect of President Bush's leadership is that America is squarely in the backyard of the terrorists with a giant bulls eye on our back. The only way to get out alive is to run. Otherwise, Americans will be the victims of people who would just as well die for Allah as pray to Him. It's hard to beat an enemy that believes death is a reward.
OK, so we've given into the terrorists and we continue to do so – what's my point? My point is that George W. Bush has sacrificed at least 600 young lives and thousands of wounded and innocent civilians ... for what? In the end, he acquiesced. He threw in the towel.
The Marines in Fallujah are a great example – they fought hard and paid an enormous price to root out the insurgency ... for what? Fallujah is now controlled by Saddam's pals who are simply regrouping to fight another day, as the Marines say. What message does this send to our troops and their families? There is no other way to put this: These young Marines died in vain. This defeat is, and will continue to exact a price. How much longer will our military fight for their commander in chief?
Some say: But what about Saddam's plans to perpetrate terrorist attacks against the United States? Surely that was cause to spill American blood. OK, even if you grant this highly suspect claim, the argument can be made that nothing has changed. The Iraqis, under new management, are still planning terrorist attacks against the United States – only it's easier and cheaper now because they don't have to get on a plane to attack Americans. We went to them.
Meanwhile, as we look for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, our own weapons of mass destruction remain unguarded. The TV show "60 minutes" ran a story last week detailing the pathetic state of chemical-plant security in the United States. Sen. John Corzine of New Jersey can't get the president's attention – he's too busy flying around the country addressing the troops. Again, viola! Al-Qaida saves the shipping costs.
I am continually amazed that life goes on in America as though nothing has happened. I suppose it's no wonder that most Americans feel no link to the sacrifice or pain of those who have been the causalities of this president's ignorance and arrogance. After all, Wal-Mart is having a sale, there is plenty of "reality-TV" programs to choose from, fuel dropped six cents a gallon, and the tax breaks may be permanent.
It's time to wake up. We need new leadership. George W. Bush prides himself on being a determined leader who stays the course. Show me where he has stayed the course? What he has done is talk a mighty big talk, but walked a chicken walk. His decisions have been so pathetically bad that he has had no other choice. This isn't leadership, this is arrogance and incompetence and hot air.
The biggest problem is that he's not simply risking his political career, he's risking our lives – and for what? Absolutely nothing!
It's important to pay attention to the actions, not the words when it comes to Bush administration policy. President Bush says we will not give into terrorists. His actions speak much louder.
Osama bin Laden demanded the U.S. military get out of Saudi Arabia. We are mostly out. They demanded that we get out of Iraq. And now this administration cannot drop the Iraqi hot potato quickly enough to satisfy their Campaign 2004 agenda, even if it means turning Iraq over to some nebulous quasi-Iraqi entity with no control of their security or money.
The latest al-Qaida demand came this week when they demanded all Westerners out of Saudi Arabia. The State Department dutifully issued a warning that all 30,000-plus U.S. citizens should leave the Magic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ASAP. Secretary Powell, in an interview with Radio America, then contradicted his own State Department's warning.
The administration insists these moves are not giving into terrorists. What? How can it be otherwise? They make a demand and we comply with it. Oh sure, if we capture one of the suspected terrorists, they will rot in jail until they die of natural causes, or "accidental death." Otherwise, we comply with their demands and cower to their intimidation tactics.
I must admit, however, that I don't know what other course of action would be appropriate given the circumstances. George Bush's policies have included the pre-Sept. 11 abandonment of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, the post-Sept. 11 pre-emptive strike policy, the invasion of Iraq, the continued coddling of a Saudi royal family whose hundreds of members have provided the oxygen for al-Qaida to survive and thrive (ironically, these same terrorists may overthrow the rich royals) and the list goes on.
The net effect of President Bush's leadership is that America is squarely in the backyard of the terrorists with a giant bulls eye on our back. The only way to get out alive is to run. Otherwise, Americans will be the victims of people who would just as well die for Allah as pray to Him. It's hard to beat an enemy that believes death is a reward.
OK, so we've given into the terrorists and we continue to do so – what's my point? My point is that George W. Bush has sacrificed at least 600 young lives and thousands of wounded and innocent civilians ... for what? In the end, he acquiesced. He threw in the towel.
The Marines in Fallujah are a great example – they fought hard and paid an enormous price to root out the insurgency ... for what? Fallujah is now controlled by Saddam's pals who are simply regrouping to fight another day, as the Marines say. What message does this send to our troops and their families? There is no other way to put this: These young Marines died in vain. This defeat is, and will continue to exact a price. How much longer will our military fight for their commander in chief?
Some say: But what about Saddam's plans to perpetrate terrorist attacks against the United States? Surely that was cause to spill American blood. OK, even if you grant this highly suspect claim, the argument can be made that nothing has changed. The Iraqis, under new management, are still planning terrorist attacks against the United States – only it's easier and cheaper now because they don't have to get on a plane to attack Americans. We went to them.
Meanwhile, as we look for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, our own weapons of mass destruction remain unguarded. The TV show "60 minutes" ran a story last week detailing the pathetic state of chemical-plant security in the United States. Sen. John Corzine of New Jersey can't get the president's attention – he's too busy flying around the country addressing the troops. Again, viola! Al-Qaida saves the shipping costs.
I am continually amazed that life goes on in America as though nothing has happened. I suppose it's no wonder that most Americans feel no link to the sacrifice or pain of those who have been the causalities of this president's ignorance and arrogance. After all, Wal-Mart is having a sale, there is plenty of "reality-TV" programs to choose from, fuel dropped six cents a gallon, and the tax breaks may be permanent.
It's time to wake up. We need new leadership. George W. Bush prides himself on being a determined leader who stays the course. Show me where he has stayed the course? What he has done is talk a mighty big talk, but walked a chicken walk. His decisions have been so pathetically bad that he has had no other choice. This isn't leadership, this is arrogance and incompetence and hot air.
The biggest problem is that he's not simply risking his political career, he's risking our lives – and for what? Absolutely nothing!
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