Who to blame for this war? (commentary)

uknown | 4/8/2003 | Michael D. Grant

[Mclute]

Who is to blame?

Who is to blame for this war with Iraq? Everyone has their own targets for the blame, and there is a lot of blame to go around. Bush, Blair, Saddam, the list goes on, yada yada yada. Most of the blame people place has little to do with facts of the matters at hand and has more to do with racial, political and religious hatred. It is important to realize this war really has little to do with Saddam. Saddam made it very easy for the US to make him a target, but the core issue has more to do with the hatred many middle-easterners have for anything not middle-eastern.

We here in America have, for over 20 years, seen the pictures of the people marching in the streets of middle-eastern countries carrying banners and signs with the slogan, “DEATH TO AMERICA”, It was always the same, they wanted us dead and were not afraid to parade in the streets to tell the world. Where are those signs now? I have not seen one in all the pictures of protests from any middle-eastern countries. They asked for war because the believed the US did not have the stomach for war. They called us cowards. They said we were weak. They said we could not stand to see people killed. They took our financial aid, and then supported groups that wanted to kill us. They said they loved America, and then exported the teachings of Osama to other countries. They attacked us and killed hundreds of Africans in the process. They attacked us and killed hundreds of Muslims. On 9/11 they danced in the streets of Jordan and the Gaza Strip, we saw the pictures. They said we were not sensitive to the needs of the Arab street. Well someone forgot to tell them about the sensitivities on the American people.

We are sick and tired of being a target because we are free. We do not like for people to die, but we are willing to pledge our lives to confront the truth of middle-eastern hatred.

Why exactly is it that now is the time? The answer is Osama bin Laden. He showed us the true face of the Arab Street. He showed us that we are not safe and likely never will be safe. He showed us that him and his ilk must be removed as a threat to our way of life. Yes, Osama is to blame for this war, and very likely more to come.

[Mclute]

Kinda speaks for its self.

[princess leah]

Well, why not look at the glass as half=full: Who should be THANKED for this war? I imagine that is the view of the average IRAQI citizen who is finally looking at a better world than they've had under SH...

[Nagilum]

Kinda speaks for its self. Definitely...

[DannyTN]

Thanked is the wrong word, but Osama was the causative agent for change. Not the kind of change Osama wanted but change none-the-less. Osama will go down in history not as the Arab hero he wanted to be, but as an infamous terrorist, the perpetrator of 9/11. Likewise Saddam will go down not as an Arab hero, but as a cruel evil despot, who gassed his own people and jailed children.

Osama's Accomplishments

Afghanistan

• Overthrow of the Taliban (the most perfect Muslim government)
• Introduction of Democracy into Afghanistan.
• Relative peace in Afghanistan for the first time in 20+ years.
• Massive casualties of Taliban and Muslim Jihad fighters.
• Destruction of terrorist camps
• Destruction of cave networks used by terrorists
• Loss of major ammunition stockpiles

  Pakistan

• Government crack down on extreme teachings in Masdras
• Government crack down on Al Qaeda groups operating out of Pakistan
• General denunciation of Terrorist activity
• Democratic elections held in Pakistan (may or may not be related, but I think it speeded up the timetable)

  Iraq

• Overthrow of Saddam
• Introduction of Democracy in Iraq
• American increasingly seen as good in Middle East.
• Disruption of Iraqi financial and logistical support for AlQaeda and Palestinian terrorists.

  Iran

• Now surrounded by democracies on either side.
• Government stability already questionable.

  Saudi Arabia

• Identification of dirty dozen financial supporters of AlQaeda
• US now critical of Saudi Arabia Human Rights record.

  Israel

• Palestinian suicide bombers no longer viewed as sympathically in the world
• Israel has freer hand in crushing Terrorist organizations
• Bush more committed to establishment of a Palestinian state.
• Bush also committed to democracy without Arafat governing a palestinian state.

  The West

• UN has been shown to be a debating society.
• Increased tensions between US and France, Germany, & Russia
• US completely over vietnam complex. Willing to use force when justified.
• US still leading massive coalition of nations.
• Negative effect on stock markets, but not the crash and financial collapse that Osama had hoped for.

[Steven W.]

Add to your list for Iraq the capture & shutdown of at least 3 terrorist training camps including AlAnswr, PLF & Salman Pak