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Are We Safer in Long Run?

Reader comment on item: Is the Middle East "Freer, More Hopeful, and More Promising"?

Submitted by Zentrist (United States), Dec 17, 2008 at 21:05

Today, apparently, Bush said that there "can be no debate" but that we are safer. (I did not see the speech at the Army War College.)

Does it not remain to be seen? al-Qaida is not concerned about this battle or that, this tactic or that. Its strategy is long range and involves the PR thing, the "hearts and minds" issue of one point five billion or so Muslims. Four or even eight years? That is nothing to bin Laden and his deputies. These Islamic terrorists have been at it for a long time and they will keep going. I have the sense that we are just smashing them down here and there only to have them pop up over yonder in greater numbers. The efficiency of a small number of determined jihadists to cause chaos and doubt--well, look at Mumbai and the potential there for more exponentially evolving calamity.

And what if the Islamists strike us soon, here, spectacularly? Will this cruelty have been Bush's fault, or Obama's?

Professor Eidelberg of Jerusalem makes a strong argument, if i read him correctly: our humanistic liberal democracy is no match for the ruthless cruelty of the likes of bin Laden and Company. The question is, What do we do about this ongoing threat, obviously still alive in strategic link-points, especially Iraq in recent days (several fresh suicide bombings). The incident in Baghdad of the shameful shoe-throwing only underscores the violent hearts of the people. Millions and millions of Arabs and Muslims are dancing for joy over this violent assault on our President ("those who live by the sword indeed could die by the sword--or the shoe"). Bush could easily have lost an eye (and eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth). The Vengeance-Society that is the Mideast is alive and well, although the recent release of Palestinian prisoners is to be noted.

Mr. President-elect: my non-expert advice is that you listen--and I've noticed what an exceptional listener you are--to Dennis Ross and Company. There must be a way of finding a win-win solution to the difficulties, a win-win deal in which both sides feel relatively comfortable, if that is not too bourgouis an expession.

Let us push (first, get some rest!) and push hard (let Hillary do the heavy-lifting--she's a pro). Let us focus, bigtime, on the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. The "much too Promised Land" needs to be apportioned with Justice, Wisdom, History, Fairness, Smarts, Toughness--and NO LOOSE ENDS, as in the Camp David Loose Ends Accords. President Bush advocated, and Hillary agreed: The World Needs a Palestinian State. This is long overdue. May God Bless Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Dennis Ross and Condi Ross, Rice I mean, among other very noble and incredibly patient and hard-working souls...they have made a difference, and they will yet make a difference with their thoughts, work and prayers. An especial thanks to Daniel Pipes for his unique contribution to the issue of Awareness and the limits of an overly soft "dialogue." Soft power, smart power, hard power: all of it, and them some, will no doubt be required. God bless NATO and its brave soldiers. God bless the Israeli Air Force. And God bless the non-suicide-inclined Palestinians. To hell with fanatics of violence and blood, whoever and wherever they are. Let the Lord forgive them if he will--some of us cannot.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (57) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Israel or Palestine? [549 words]Bill CunninghamJan 6, 2009 21:18147212
Bush's Fantastical Policy Making Re The Middle East -Dangerously Clueless [74 words]Adina KutnickiDec 23, 2008 12:58145743
Libya: Bush's legacy? [128 words]Sergio RubinsteinDec 19, 2008 18:25145453
Who is GW Bush? [2417 words]der AlleswisserDec 22, 2008 09:51145453
Are We Safer in Long Run? [560 words]ZentristDec 17, 2008 21:05145327
These Are Your Heros? [1479 words]der AlleswisserDec 26, 2008 05:58145327
Look and see Islam, it's at your Doorstep! [98 words]Wendy HillDec 16, 2008 03:40145210
Turkey [60 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Bruce GodfreyDec 14, 2008 09:54145074
Seek the Truth on Islam, Not Just Turkey, Mr. Godfrey [2675 words]der AlleswisserDec 30, 2008 09:49145074
To J street "lovers" and Sarah Palin "haters" [582 words]Gary JosephsonDec 11, 2008 18:36144936
Forecasting the Next Middle East Crisis to be Faced - Isolation of Israel in the Next American Administration [720 words]M. ToveyDec 10, 2008 18:48144852
Islam calls for peace [93 words]mohammed ahmedJan 2, 2009 15:58144852
Then a Better Explanation from Muslims Who Cry Out For Israeli Blood Needs to Answer The Hamas Mandate [122 words]M. ToveyJan 4, 2009 00:26144852
In response to your belief, Islam is the true religion???? [198 words]Wendy HillMar 30, 2009 05:11144852
Saudi's Sanction Genocide [31 words]orange yonasonDec 10, 2008 17:58144844
The crux of the matter! [359 words]Carl Dennett Blyth, SrDec 10, 2008 08:49144799
Politely... I strongly disagree [282 words]Raul Alvaro FraserDec 10, 2008 18:15144799
There's truth in what you state [56 words]jennifer solisDec 12, 2008 15:32144799
Self-Hatred will doom you, you must know who the enemy is or you will perish [2008 words]der AlleswisserDec 31, 2008 07:30144799
Exposure of terrorist support [74 words]Joe Six-PackDec 8, 2008 20:55144681
What about Afghanistan? [131 words]saraDec 8, 2008 17:42144665
I agree with you, Sara [119 words]jennifer solisDec 12, 2008 16:06144665
Daniel being too generous -- Saddam's fall is not a positive legacy for Bush [61 words]Charles MartelDec 8, 2008 15:17144653
Sorry to say... [131 words]DONVANDec 8, 2008 10:52144642
I count more. [215 words]LynnDec 8, 2008 08:00144635
The only point in favour of Bush´s legacy [26 words]Raul Alvaro FraserDec 10, 2008 17:54144635
Legacy [76 words]LynnDec 12, 2008 09:07144635
"Our legacy is over" [362 words]Raul Alvaro FraserDec 13, 2008 05:39144635
Ownership [214 words]LynnDec 14, 2008 14:11144635
Few more points [57 words]GitanjaliDec 8, 2008 06:12144632
Pipes or Krauthammer? [302 words]ZentristDec 7, 2008 21:03144613
Depressing scenario [120 words]Rebecca MouldsDec 7, 2008 02:44144547
Good point Rebecca [48 words]Raul Alvaro FraserDec 10, 2008 18:22144547
So True! [14 words]wendy HillDec 10, 2008 22:58144547
The Fetish of Sharia Law [74 words]DavodDec 6, 2008 22:26144540
We should fear ALL MUSLIMS! [250 words]WendyDec 6, 2008 19:26144531
The mythology.. [158 words]donvanDec 8, 2008 22:07144531
With Deep Regret, Wendy, Your Assessment is Correct. Sad for all of us. [1049 words]der AlleswisserDec 9, 2008 08:59144531
God bless you, Wendy - [143 words]Charles MartelDec 9, 2008 10:34144531
Scary words [161 words]Raul Alvaro FraserDec 10, 2008 18:44144531
God Bless you 'Der Alleswisser', for replying to my sad experience in the Middle-East [708 words]Wendy HillDec 10, 2008 22:39144531
Response to Dear Charles Martel, following my comments! Thank you and God Bless you too. [178 words]WENDY HILLDec 10, 2008 22:45144531
Thanks Donvan for your kind Response! [41 words]WENDY HILLDec 10, 2008 22:50144531
Yes, I will research what you kindly offered, with appreciation [362 words]Wendy HillDec 10, 2008 23:08144531
Look! They, are telling Us what to do! Please tell me - What's wrong here??? [2635 words]Wendy HillDec 11, 2008 02:49144531
Yes, you are correct, Raul! [23 words]wendy hillDec 11, 2008 22:08144531
Today, There are 57 Islamic States. [34 words]KristaDec 14, 2008 10:14144531
Have not forgotten you, and a gift for you and others. [359 words]der AlleswisserDec 17, 2008 12:53144531
Will certainly see the film: "Immortal Beloved" [185 words]Wendy HillDec 18, 2008 02:02144531
The WHY? of Terrorism in Islam [1726 words]Dane DahlDec 18, 2008 04:38144531
Truth and the Holy Bible - It is the Composition and Verse of Heavenly Things to be Found on Earth [572 words]M. ToveyDec 18, 2008 18:06144531
There is a BoogeyMan- A Vital Message and Thank You Mr. Dahl for it [1050 words]der AlleswisserDec 20, 2008 11:24144531
Oops, Wendy I replied to you earlier but somehow sent it to Krista instead [866 words]der AlleswisserDec 26, 2008 14:53144531
Enough of this [610 words]der AlleswisserDec 27, 2008 15:42144531
Free women of Islam [744 words]HebatJan 11, 2009 20:33144531
no they cannot be trusted [32 words]Dan ZinkeJan 9, 2010 12:11144531
Thanks for your Agreeableness! [14 words]Wendy HillJan 11, 2010 00:40144531

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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