A bombing pause -- for 12 months? (by Mark Steyn)

National Post Online ^ | November 22, 2002 | Mark Steyn

[American in Israel]

"Still, this is all taking a very long time. "

If Clintoon had not reduced our military so much we would not be having to rent merchant ships to move supplies. I think Clintoon sunk more ships than Hitler.

[American in Israel]

Love the picture, yes kiddies you too can be a bomb and have the blessing of God on your life...

[dennisw]

It's a real fun photo of Captain Hook Mullah Al-Hamza of the Finsbury Park mosque.

[Thinkin' Gal]

If you're happy and you know it clap your hands.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Great article.

Think about how long and how much we've talked about, and the press has billions of gallons of ink on, the supposed war on Iraq. Last spring, the "imminent" war on Iraq was the reason why we placated and appeased Arafat after the bloody strings of [now forgotten] bombings. Remember the Powell mission?

Since then, the "imminent" war on Iraq has been the stated reason for every action which compromises with Palestinian terror or other so-called "friendly" states in the Islamic world -- from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia to Kuwait to Jordan.

At this point all I can say is: What war on Iraq??? We're less likely to attack now or in the forseeable future than we were a year ago.

The war that is the explanation for everything is the war that never happens. It's weird.

Somehow, I have to think that it's more of a go-along-to-get-along philosophy and a fear over shaking the economy that is driving events, not any supposed war on Iraq.

[jocon307]

'"Our nation is waging a war on a radical network of terrorists, not on a religion and not on a civilization."

Not true.'

Correct, NOT TRUE. The Muslims rioting in Nigeria, over some silly joke about "What would Mohamed do?" are not terrorists. The people who are sentencing women to death by stoning in Nigeria are not terrorists, they're THE GOVERNMENT! The royals of Saudi Arabia, who won't permit any other religion than Islam to be practiced in their countries aren't terrorists, their OUR ALLIES!

We most certainly ARE in a struggle with a civilization, an uncivilized civilization to be sure, but NOT with just a bunch of rogue terrorists. Radical muslims have been killing Christians and other "infidels" around the world for years, with impunity. If we will not fight this battle for what it is, we will lose.

[dennisw]

What's the sound of one hook clapping?

[Gritty]

What war on Iraq??? We're less likely to attack now or in the forseeable future than we were a year ago.

I'm not so sure about that.

I think the delay has more to do with our limited resources and the requirement to get all the pieces on the chessboard before making the final assault on the King.

IMHO, one of the major reasons is the production and availability of the smallpox vaccine. When it's ready, we can launch. Otherwise, Saddam has the capability of a "Checkmate" by using his stocks of this and taking the world down with him. If the civilized West were hit with this, the result would be worse for the more civilized countries. It would be the great world civilization-leveler. America, Europe and Japan would be destroyed economically and organizationally as well as physically. Saddam would win by default, even if he were dead.

I have seen reports his troops have already been vaccinated for the disease. Ours haven't, yet, but will be by year-end, supposedly. I think that is the final piece to watch be put in place before we move on his castle.

[montag813]

you can be equivocal about bin Laden and an apologist for suicide bombers, and still get a photo-op with Dubya; you can be a member of a regime whose state TV stations and government-owned newspapers call for Muslims to kill all Jews and Christians, and you'll still get to kick your shoes off with George and Laura at the Crawford ranch.

It is this aspect which arouses in me the most anger. George W. is breaking bread with the enemy, while they actively plan our extermination. If he does not change course now, he will be forever damned by history.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

We already took a bombing pause - for one day last year - during which time Osama Bin Laden fled Afghanistan.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Har! Har! I am Caliph Hook!" Tic toc, tic toc!.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Har! Har! I am Caliph Hook!" Tic toc, tic toc!.