What America Has Lost, It’s clear we overreacted to 9/11

Newsweek ^ | September 4, 2010 | Fareed Zakaria

[DakotaRed]

by Fareed Zakaria September 04, 2010 Nine years after 9/11, can anyone doubt that Al Qaeda is simply not that deadly a threat? Since that gruesome day in 2001, once governments everywhere began serious countermeasures, Osama bin Laden’s terror network has been unable to launch a single major attack on high-value targets in the United States and Europe. While it has inspired a few much smaller attacks by local jihadis, it has been unable to execute a single one itself. Today, Al Qaeda’s best hope is to find a troubled young man who has been radicalized over the Internet, and teach him to stuff his underwear with explosives. I do not minimize Al Qaeda’s intentions, which are barbaric. I question its capabilities. In every recent conflict, the United States has been right about the evil intentions of its adversaries but massively exaggerated their strength. In the 1980s, we thought the Soviet Union was expanding its power and influence when it was on the verge of economic and political bankruptcy. In the 1990s, we were certain that Saddam Hussein had a nuclear arsenal. In fact, his factories could barely make soap.

[DakotaRed]

In 2003, Zakaria supported the Iraq invasion and within a short period of time, began opposing it.

With articles as this coming out, is it any wonder the country is going back to sleep?

No doubt if the Dems retain congressional power, we will see another Case-Church Amendment barring any further help to Iraq and Afghanistan, just as they did with Viet Nam

[Dallas59]

Over-reacted? How about UNDER reacted.

[Cincinna]

Zakaria has shown his true colors since 2003. He is now shilling for the enemy.

In fact, we under-reacted to 9-11, IMHO.

The wake up call really didn’t begin to sink in until Obama was elected, and we saw the reality of what it means to have an administration naive or willfully oblivious yo the threat of Islamo-fascism, that is pro-Islam, anti Israel and anti Western culture.

[dixiechick2000]

“In the 1980s, we thought the Soviet Union was expanding its power and influence when it was on the verge of economic and political bankruptcy”

IIRC, communism was on the march in the late ‘70s under Carter. Reagan was the one who bankrupted the Soviets, and seriously got thier attention in the 80s...with his “nyet” in Reykjavik...and Star Wars.

I know that this post is a little simplisitic, but so is my memory right now. It’s late. ;o)

Goooo Reagan!!!

[Cindy]

Fareed Zakaria, you are today’s STUCK ON STUPID award winner.

[Silentgypsy]

I’m w/Dallas69. The gene pool requires chlorination.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

NEVER FORGET.

[counterpunch]

I think we over reacted.
There never should have been a DHS.
We’ve lost more of those ‘freedoms’ the terrorists hate to our own government than the terrorists could have ever taken.

[Silentgypsy]

OOPS! Dallas59. Getting that person mixed up w/Daisyjane69.

[dixiechick2000]

“Fareed Zakaria, you are today’s STUCK ON STUPID award winner.”

I totally agree, Cindy...and he has very stiff competiton for this award!

[meadsjn]

Over-reacted? How about UNDER reacted.

Starting with that gut-wrenching exclamation by GWB that, "Islam is a peaceful religion", our elitists of both parties have done nothing but surrender and capitulate and appease.

[DakotaRed]

I should have also included, he also advocates the ground zero mosque.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/06/the-real-ground-zero.html

In my estimation, he has returned to his own Muslim roots.

[Cindy]

Bump.

[dixiechick2000]

In GWB’s defense, he did start out stating that bin Laden was wanted dead or alive.

Those are some pretty tough cookies.

However, you are right...the much less than pro-active among the elites managed to change that tune real quick...including hs wife.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Wow, how simplistic.

I guess we overreacted to Pearl Harbor as well, because look at the threat the Japanese posed after the war ...

[okie01]

Osama bin Laden’s terror network has been unable to launch a single major attack on high-value targets in the United States and Europe.

Fareed, ol' buddy, ol' pal, Madrid, London, Bali.

Not thousands dead. But hundreds.

[WesternPacific]

No doubt if the Dems and RINOS retain congressional power, we will see another Case-Church Amendment barring any further help to Iraq and Afghanistan, just as they did with Viet Nam

Fixed it.

[Fresh Wind]

I actually saw a recent copy of Propagandaweek in a waiting room a few days ago. What a joke it has become. There was page after page of left-wing editorials, and virtually no news. I get more substantial publications as junk mail every week.

[Oztrich Boy]

The “overreation” demonstrated that nations could not offer an operational haven to extranational terrorist groups with no repercussions to themselves.

[Netz]

Zakaria is a mole. He's now in the depths of Newsweek and on the air. Note his shift from supporting US counter-terror policy now shifting to an “overreaction”????
This is part of a worrisome overall trend of infiltration by Islamicist and I am not trying to create a “Red Scare” all over again. We just have to open our eyes, record what we are seeing and VOTE accordingly folks...

[marron]

To launch 911 he had the help of Iraqi intelligence. We hanged Saddam and wiped out that intelligence service.

He has other contacts, but we’ve sat on enough of those that he is left hiding in a cave. Or in an Iranian compound, one or the other. Or dead, there’s that possibility. That would make it tough for him to launch any new attacks too.

Prior to 911 he was building a network of insurgencies in Central Asia with an eye toward creating a Central Asian caliphate too. In doing that, he had a Texas sized territory to use for his training camps, and he had the Saudis and the Americans turning a blind eye to what he was doing. After 911 all that changed.

Fareed thinks he’s being clever in pointing out that Bin Ladin hasn’t managed to launch any new attacks. But it is because we went after him and everyone who supported him that he can’t mount any new operations directly. He was always a bit of a false flag, anyway. Hanging Saddam did a lot more to snuff out all that stuff than probably most people give credit for.

[F15Eagle]

Son-of-a-muslim, post-America book writing (read by Obama) Fareed Zakaria?

Yes, he’s really got it all figured out /s

[American Constitutionalist]

Yes, how about using up all the daisy cutters, big blue, or the MOABS in Afghanistan and Iraq until the warehouse of them is empty.

[nathanbedford]

The author has made superficially persuasive points. His points would have much more substance if we lived in a world before Hiroshima, but we do not. We live in a world in which a handful of suicidal, Islamist zealots could very well smuggle an atomic weapon across our unguarded Mexican border and detonate it virtually anywhere in America.

We live in a world in which those same Islamists could smuggle a mason jar containing a virus and release it virtually anywhere in America.

The Maxim: we must get it right 100% of the time and the terrorists need only get it right one time is absolutely true in our world of weapons of mass destruction. This changes the whole game and renders this article utterly irrelevant.

The relevant discussion can only be how to we wage war against terrorism more efficiently, less expensively, and less intrusively?

But wage it we must

[gthog61]

What an idiot! Maybe Al Quada isn’t as much of a threat precisely because we reacted.

[Lancey Howard]

LOL!
I clicked the thread title, saw “Newsweak” was the source, and had to post this on my way back to the forum.
I can hardly believe there are still enough barbers and orthodontists getting this crap magazine to keep it alive.

[sheik yerbouty]

The butt lifting little weasel ought to be deported..Mecca should have been a smoldering crater on 9/12/01..

[onona]

That sums it up perfectly. Sadly, the list of corrective actions is painfully long.

[DB]

He says since Al Qaeda has failed to stage another major attack over nine years it is proof we over reacted...

The moron can’t connect the fact that our reaction is what prevented another major attack. Some people are too stupid to live.

[tet68]

I’d settle for 9-11-10.
The only way to reform Islam is to call it’s beliefs
into question. That would do it.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Where do you get this “we” crap Fareed? What did you do after 3000 Americans were brutally murdered by a bunch of murdering Islamists?

[doc maverick]

Fartweed can take his “Post American World” and his allegations of 9/11 “over-reaction” and shove ‘em where the sun don’t shine.
He’s living in the wrong country.

[rickb308]

Overreacted? Nah. If mecca was a green glowing, glass slag heap, we wouldn’t have overreacted.

[rickb308]

The good thing about those bombs? They’re like Doritos. We’ll make more.

[tet68]

Overreacted? Nah. If mecca was a green glowing,
glass slag heap...

Well, maybe over reacted a little.
We could make it up to them by building
a cathedral on the site.(once the radioactivity
goes down.)

[Little Pig]

No doubt Zakaria also decries the surge in prison populations across the US, since the crime rate is now far lower.

As with most non-conservatives, cause and effect have only passing acquaintance.

[Vaduz]

Zakaria wants to be the first to rewrite history.

[NTHockey]

All I can say is WOW. I guess we overreacted after Pearl Harbor, too. These Mohammedans are so consistently illogical that you would think they are LIBs.

[livius]

Well, the Communists actually were a threat, and they had infiltrated our government, so I wouldn’t say the “Red Scare” was irrational - or that the fear of Muslims infiltrating is irrational. They are doing it and in fact they have already installed themselves in high positions in virtually every part of the US government and, increasingly, the media.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

He's also publicly stated, repeatedly, that Hezbollah is unfailingly kind and tolerant towards Jews.

Just another lying anti-Semitic douchebag, in other words. Two for a penny, any time, day or night.

[Netz]

When I mentioned “Red Scare” I was referring to a more controlled, less hysterical approach to the 1950’s.

We must stop using “soft” language and tactics out of a fear to offend someone but not go as far a J. Edgar Hoover's absolute power approach.

Yes, Muslims are everywhere but we need to seriously look at what they are doing and saying and latch onto those who expouse views incongruent with our values. Got to be careful here but also be vigilant.

[Psalm 144]

I think we over reacted.
There never should have been a DHS.
We’ve lost more of those ‘freedoms’ the terrorists hate to our own government than the terrorists could have ever taken.

************

You are not supposed to notice that detail.

Bush Mk.I - Ruby Ridge

Clinton - Waco

Bush Mk.II - DHS

Obama - pending

[Psalm 144]

The butt lifting little weasel ought to be deported..Mecca should have been a smoldering crater on 9/12/01..

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Agreed, but we were instructed than Islam is a religion of peace.

[chemicalman]

Under reacted is right. They should fight this war like a doctor treating cancer.

Not pick and choose.

[oprahstheantichrist]

"I can hardly believe there are still enough barbers and orthodontists getting this crap magazine to keep it alive."

I posted something similar a few months ago when a similarly outrageous piece was posted here.

Another Freeper who worked in a doctor's office replied that they don't subscribe or pay for them, but that Newsweak and Time just "arrives" in their junk mail.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Starting with that gut-wrenching exclamation by GWB that, "Islam is a peaceful religion", our elitists of both parties have done nothing but surrender and capitulate and appease.

Yeah, and the person most responsible, is Islamo-Fascist (and Muslim Brotherhood/Jihadist supporting) bottom-feeding, scumbag, (who how he remains such an influential and "respected" member of the Conservative Movement is beyond me) Grover Norquist.

Not only did he bamboozle W, but was instrumental in getting CAIR and other Terrorist supporting groups/individuals access to the WH, State Dept, DOD and even the DOJ where they have done tremendous damage.

[omniscient]

This lantern-jawed freak would like nothing better than a complete scrubbing of 911 from history, in order to further enable the slow-motion shariazation of the US. He should be thanking Allah every day that Mecca wasn’t nuked instantly once the perps were identified as Islamic scum, rather than whining at the measured, limited response that GWB was finally able to slip past the Democrat pacifist hand-wringers.

[Waco]

BEFORE the radioactivity goes down, employ only arabs during it’s building.

[Former Proud Canadian]

The US response to 9/11 was definitely an undereaction. More people died in the mainland attack on New York than died at Pearl Harbor.

The result of Pearl Harbor was the complete destruction of most of Japan's cities, the Imperial Japanese Navy, and the army.

After 9/11 the US conquered two countries who had a hand in the attack. It left standing the government of Pakistan, whose spy service founded the taliban. It left standing the government of Iran who has aided the taliban and bin Landen. It left standing the government of Saudi Arabia, whose nationals carried out the attack. It left standing the government of Syria which sees al queda and the taliban as allies.

Don't tell me "we don't want to bring down the Pakistani government because we don't know what will replace it". Who cares? Was that a problem in WW II? Pakistan is a failed state. It will have to be dealt with as such at some point in the future. Iran is a rouge, terror state that has been at war with the US since 1979. If there is no regime change, it will have to be dealt with, probably very soon. Saudi Arabia is a cesspool of radical islam. I wonder if a threat to turn Mecca and Medina into smooth glass would clarify some thinking among the Saudi leadership. Syria can be brushed aside on any given weekend before the football games.

The US has the power. It simply lacks the political will to use it.

[Erik Latranyi]

I guess we should have reacted “just enough” to allow a few attacks to take place.....to hell with fellow citizens dying.