Posted on 09/22/2006 9:25:45 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Radnor - Rudy Giuliani spoke at Radnor High School in Delaware County on Wednesday. Sponsored by the World Affairs Council, the former mayor of New York City outlined his understanding of how the War on Terror began, how it will continue and what's at stake if America gives up.
"Somewhere, someplace, people are planning to do it again," he said in regards to the Sept. 11th tragedy, "This is a lot more of a psychological war."
One of the biggest mistakes, Giuliani insists, that Americans can make is believing that the War on Terror began after the tragedy. The mayor stated that the conflict with Islamic terrorism goes further back than 9/11 or even the bombing of embassies and the USS Cole in the 1990s or the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It goes back to the 1960s.
Giuliani described world reaction to terrorist attacks such as the 1972 Olympic hostages in Munich, Germany and the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in 1985 as "defensive." The terrorists involved in the Achille Lauro specifically were arrested by Italian authorities, but released two hours later in order "to save Italy from [future] terrorist attacks."
Because there was "no real reaction or reaction out of fear," it legitimized terrorism, Giuliani argued and sent the message that "if they do terrorism, they'll succeed, and gain access to the bargaining table."
People also made the mistake that terrorism was the product of Western injustice. Giuliani said that this was "an analysis of us rather than an analysis of them ... a projection of our thinking." How else would Yassir Arafat, a renowned terrorist, win a Nobel Peace Prize. "Was anything more absurd?" Giuliani asked the audience.
While America and the world treated terrorism as a criminal matter and reacted defensively to Islamic terrorists, "President Bush realized the fact that they had declared war on us." If America was to seize the offensive, "We would be more secure, [but] not perfectly secure, if we go on the offensive ... It's the only way we're going to stay safe."
Giuliani urged the audience that America is up against more than just Osama bin Laden or al-Qaida.
"It's not one organization or one person... They're all separate groups, there are many of them, they don't always work together... but there's a unity of purpose - they hate us. They hate what we stand for."
Specifically, they hate our freedom of religion: "Everyone has to be Muslim." They hate our freedom for women: "Women were killed in Afghanistan for showing too much skin."
Giuliani compared the position that some politicians and partisans make by emphasizing that America should focus only on Osama bin Laden or al-Qaida to how the Department of Justice would fight organized crime by focusing on only one family. He said that while authorities took out one crime family, rival crime families prospered, and the cycle of organized crime continued.
The solution, Giuliani said, is to focus on all terrorist groups and support states simultaneously.
Giuliani did not downplay the threat of Saddam Hussein and his regime.
"...the threats we would be facing is even greater... He would have been more powerful if he was still in power," he said.
For those who didn't think Iraq is a central front on the war on terror, Giuliani said the terrorists disagree. "Why are so many terrorist groups pouring so many resources into Iraq?" he said.
Coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq help deter other state sponsors in terror, Giuliani said. He pointed to how Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi decided to give up his nuclear ambitions. "Why did Gaddafi do that? It wasn't like it was a conversion of St. Paul," Giuliani joked, "I think he said to himself, 'I'll make a deal.'"
Giuliani discussed how military power is the only true bargaining chip in the War on Terror. "Whenever America is reluctant or unwilling to use power, you got nothing. Ronald Reagan ended communism because they were afraid of him," he said. "He use to get criticized so much by the New York Times and liberal media," especially for labeling the Soviet Union as the "evil empire."
The increased military spending during the 1980s, Giuliani reflected, was necessary in order to defeat the Soviet Union by bankrupting the power. The Soviets "realized that he wasn't going to stop until he spent them into oblivion," he said.
Peace is achieved, "through strength, not weakness That is how we have to deal with terrorism," Giuliani said.
Giuliani outlined the long term strategy for the War on Terror, which involves understanding the real root causes of terrorism. Terrorists come "out of regions in the world where there are repressive governments and repressive people."
"The reason they have miserable lives has nothing to do with you or me or Israel. The people of these countries are taught to blame their problems" by projecting them onto Israel and the United States, Giuliani said.
In the long run the United States must, whenever feasible, replace repressive governments in the world with accountable, democratically-elected ones. It won't happen everywhere but America must do it where we can, he said.
Giuliani contended that the present condition of violence in Iraq was worse under Saddam Hussein, the only difference is that the Iraqis voted in their elections in high turnout when the New York Times predicted low turnout.
While there are still sectarian violence, Sunnis and Shiites gathered together and formed a new constitution in hopes of protecting majority rule while respecting minority rights. "That is how you create a peaceful world," Giuliani said.
Giuliani ended his speech by asking the audience why there hasn't been a terrorist attack on America since September 11th. He also said that we ought to "prepare ourselves for the fact that we will have another terrorist attack" at some future juncture. Every municipality in America should have an emergency plan in place, because the terrorists will try something new - something American authorities have not contemplated.
Giuliani believes that terrorists will try to attack remote places in America next instead of just big cities.
Welcome to Free Republic.
LOL From your other posts it shows it will be a verrry interesting race if Rudy runs. I'm looking forward to it.
"We’ve yet to get definitive statements from Rudy regarding abortion or the Second Amendment in the last few years".
No thank you.
Please do not add me to your ping list.
Proud to say it is my former HS. Class of 78.
NO2
No problem - I wouldn't do it unless you wanted me to. :-)
Well if he runs I'm sure he'll be asked about all those issues. I don't think he will get away with anything - especially when it comes to those issues.
It's about time that men (and women) in leadership positions speak to highschool students like this. Instead of the touchy-feely crap, the truth needs to be told. Rudy's social positions in some cases concern me but so far he's the only viable candidate I see for the GOP. What good are social positions going to be if we're having to fight in the streets to keep our heads?
Why? So you can bespoil every Rudy-related thread with anti-Rudy spam???
"Well if he runs I'm sure he'll be asked about all those issues. I don't think he will get away with anything - especially when it comes to those issues".
Actually Jla was very kind and reposted my pro-Giuliani post today for me. I really appreciated that considering he's not a Rudy fan like we are. Liz asked that I don't include her and I respect her wishes so I doubt the others will want to be on it either. But they always manage to find the threads anyway so I'm sure they will be posting on them. I think they have Rudy Radar! LOL
I understand how you feel but who would that be?
"I understand how you feel but who would that be"?
Today's political reality is that a candidate has to already have name recognition in order to get large financial banking...without which, a successful campaign is impossible.
Rudy is one of the few who fits the bill and will FIGHT the WOT...esp. since McLame has again come out of his "closet" and Allen has "makaka"d himself...
"Today's political reality is that a candidate has to already have name recognition in order to get large financial banking".
Indeed it is. I suppose their recap is a bit more thorough than mine, though...
You had an excellent post. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks...another article I read put the attendence figure at around 500. Not a chance. Our auditorim seats 1000+/- and it was FULL.
I'm pleasantly suprised to see that he has so much backing on here. I know a lot of people don't like him, and some never will, but when he gets out on the campaign trail and starts talking about terrorism, people will know that he "gets it".
Are you the one with the Rudy ping list?
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