Posted on 09/12/2001 12:31:51 AM PDT by ouroboros
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
By Harry Browne
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com
The terrorist attacks against America comprise a horrible tragedy. But they shouldn't be a surprise.
It is well known that in war, the first casualty is truth – that during any war truth is forsaken for propaganda. But sanity was a prior casualty: it was the loss of sanity that led to war in the first place.
Our foreign policy has been insane for decades. It was only a matter of time until Americans would have to suffer personally for it. It is a terrible tragedy of life that the innocent so often have to suffer for the sins of the guilty.
When will we learn that we can't allow our politicians to bully the world without someone bullying back eventually?
President Bush has authorized continued bombing of innocent people in Iraq. President Clinton bombed innocent people in the Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Serbia. President Bush, senior, invaded Iraq and Panama. President Reagan bombed innocent people in Libya and invaded Grenada. And on and on it goes.
Did we think the people who lost their families and friends and property in all that destruction would love America for what happened?
When will we learn that violence always begets violence?
Teaching lessons
Supposedly, Reagan bombed Libya to teach Muammar al-Qaddafi a lesson about terrorism. But shortly thereafter a TWA plane was destroyed over Scotland, and our government is convinced it was Libyans who did it.
When will we learn that "teaching someone a lesson" never teaches anything but resentment – that it only inspires the recipient to greater acts of defiance.
How many times on Tuesday did we hear someone describe the terrorist attacks as "cowardly acts"? But as misguided and despicable as they were, they were anything but cowardly. The people who committed them knowingly gave their lives for whatever stupid beliefs they held.
But what about the American presidents who order bombings of innocent people – while the presidents remain completely insulated from any danger? What would you call their acts?
When will we learn that forsaking truth and reason in the heat of battle almost always assures that we will lose the battle?
Losing our last freedoms
And now, as sure as night follows day, we will be told we must give up more of our freedoms to avenge what never should have happened in the first place.
When will we learn that it makes no sense to give up our freedoms in the name of freedom?
What to do?
What should be done?
First of all, stop the hysteria. Stand back and ask how this could have happened. Ask how a prosperous country isolated by two oceans could have so embroiled itself in other people's business that someone would want to do us harm. Even sitting in the middle of Europe, Switzerland isn't beset by terrorist attacks, because the Swiss mind their own business.
Second, resolve that we won't let our leaders use this occasion to commit their own terrorist acts upon more innocent people, foreign and domestic, that will inspire more terrorist attacks in the future.
Third, find a way, with enforceable constitutional limits, to prevent our leaders from ever again provoking this kind of anger against America.
Patriotism?
There are those who will say this article is unpatriotic and un-American – that this is not a time to question our country or our leaders.
When will we learn that without freedom and sanity, there is no reason to be patriotic?
Harry Browne was the 2000 Libertarian presidential candidate. More of his articles can be read at HarryBrowne.org, and his books are available at HBBooks.com.
You are absolutely right, terrorism is usually a response to some past action. That does not make terrorism or revenge right, it is wrong, but it most certainly is a cause and effect relationship. Only an idiot would not see the terrorism in Britain, the middle east, and elsewhere in the world and not know that there was a reason the crazies thought they had a reason for those terrible terrorist acts.
The sanctimonious grave-dancing of you "principled" jerks is mind-numbing. Is there any tragedy that can keep you from beating your chests and clucking?
You guys just can't see the truth. Unless we change our foreign policy, there'll be more and more of this... and ultimately, we'll destroy our Republic and our freedoms as a result. We already have calls for limiting our freedoms.
While we, on the other hand, are the world's arms merchants.
Oh so this was OUR fault. We were asking for it. Are you sure you guys aren't working for Bin Laden?. He's looking for some talented lackey's like yourself. Can you fly an airplane?
Well, so much for freedom of expression.... Sounds almost like Nazi Germany.
Aw, com'om, Pappy. As has been stated above, it's cause and effect. The failed foreign policy of our government has created an atmosphere ripe for this sort of thing. Just take your head out or the sand and look at the total picture in the mirror.
Browne speaks truth and I have come to the same conlcusion. You cannot bomb the cr@p out other countries and people and expect them to take it. You cannot arm and support one group of people and not expect their enemies to remain peacefull towards you.
For some strange reason some Americans do not see the people of other nations as "real". But the same has happened in this country; Civil War, Indian wars. The government kills civilians on the "enemy side" and then cannot understand why the "enemy" does the same in return.
This said we as a Nation must kill those responsible- all of them.
I am not willing to give up any Freedom or Liberty over this attack. My Freedom and Liberty is worth much more...
You people are disgraceful and cowardly.
So what's Harry's answer? Something DIFFERENT that won't work! Yeah, that's the ticket!
In another thread I extended an olive branch to a few folks with whom I rarely see eye to eye. I make the same offer again, even though it will be spurned again.
Is this not a time to ask questons? I certianly do believe we, as Americans, should rally. However, civil discussion of foreign policy is appropriate, since this was a foreign attack. To me, this is an act of war and should be treated as such. Acts of war, such as this or the bombing of Pearl Harbor, do not occur in a vacuum.
Did we need to send the Air Force into Kosovo? Did we need to send the Army into Somalia? What about the Marines into Haiti?
Do these examples differ in any significant way from the Gulf War? What about the Gulf War, should we have finished it?
My position is this. Something worth doing, is worth doing one hundred percent. Something on which you want to risk little, is probably not worth the expense and the risk. When you make war on another country, do not do so by halves! If politicians are worried that casualties are going to damage public opinion regarding the endeavor, then it is probably not a worthy thing to be doing. If the American people feel that something is important, then they will expect, they will demand that our young men put their lives at risk. They will be saddened by casualties, but it will strengthen our resolve, and we will carry on. I supported the Gulf War, as our allies were directly threatened. We had a clear goals and methods, which we used to the fullest. We did not nickel and dime Iraq, but I wish we would have either finished it or packed up and left, rather than instituting a ten year blockade.
The containment policy of Iraq has increased animosity towards the United States, the carpet bombing of Kosovo has increased animosity towards the United States. The Gulf War did not, because we had clearly defined goal, and we carried them out to the fullest extent.
So you can say that I should be "run out of town on a rail" without bothering to respond. Go ahead.
I am as patriotic as you folks. I don't appreciate the insinuation that I am a traitor, for not wanting our young men to the squandered! Please remember from Ecclesiastes: To everything there is a season... A time for war, a time for peace.
They are dead, Sir.
YOU KNOW WHAT HARRY, YOU CAN KISS MY BIG "HARRY"@$$, YOU #$@#$ING MORON. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BULLY YOUR @$$.
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