Posted on 06/13/2002 3:28:02 PM PDT by knighthawk
When terrorists attacked U.S. soldiers in Lebanon two decades ago, Uncle Sam hurriedly packed up and left. In 1998, when al-Qaeda blew up U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Bill Clinton fired missiles into Sudan and Pakistan, and turned to other matters. Only in the wake of Sept. 11 did Washington come around to the view that the best way to respond to terrorists it to track them down and kill them before they attack you again.
It is a lesson the Bush administration is now proselytizing openly. Earlier this month, George W. Bush, the U.S. President, told graduates at the West Point military academy that, "If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long," and "We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans and confront the worst threats before they emerge." This week, U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney picked up on the theme, telling an audience that the United States "will not wait until it is too late" before taking action against threats. These words signal that Washington has settled on a "first strike" policy against terrorists and the states that sponsor them.
This is welcome news. For too long, the United States and other Western nations have dealt with terrorism as if it were either (a) a brand of criminal behaviour -- witness the sheaf of indictments that followed every '90s-era terrorist attack against U.S. targets; or (b) an anguished reaction to desperation or colonialism. The example of al-Qaeda, whose leadership has neither been colonized nor impoverished, shows both models are wrong. Like the Islamist groups that attack Israel and India, al-Qaeda is motivated by pure hatred of Jews, Americans and other "infidels." As Mr. Cheney properly declared, "a group like al-Qaeda cannot be deterred or placated or reasoned with at a conference table. For that reason, this struggle will not end with a treaty or accommodation of terrorists. It can only end in their complete and utter destruction."
To the other people, help me convince her to stay! She helped to convince me to stay, so she deserves our support too!
You don't bring an enemy to 'justice'. You defeat them.
The complete statement was "bring them to justice, or bring justice to them..."
I think what he meant was quite clear.
This Party Is Over!!! This is a crisis!!! These matters demand immediate actions! The Regional Marine Commanders will now have control over these Islamic Territories.Fear will keep the local Jihadists in line.Fear of the Expeditonary Force reprisals...
Everything will proceed as planned...
Imal
Member, Citizens for a Free Palpatine
I'm not arguing about clarity. It his context I had a problem with. Either we're in a war or we're not.
FDR never spoke of bringing the Japanese to 'justice'.
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