The Issue of Responsibility
Reader comment on item: 9/10 vs. 9/12 on 11/2

Submitted by John (United States), Oct 31, 2004 at 20:05

It would be irresponsible after a decade long cold/hot war with Saddam Hussein (which ultimately led to 9/11) to hand over the problems of this generation to the next.

Many will argue that 9/11 had nothing to do with the Iraqi crisis. That would be correct if you didn't consider the fact that Al-Qaeda was formed to support Iraq, despite the fact they didn't like the regime's secular outlook. Bin Laden was kicked out of Saudi Arabia because of his bombing campaign conducted in the "defense of the people of Iraq". The rallying cry was a combination of bigotry against "infidels on Muslim ground" and the Iraqi civilians starving under UN sanctions.

With Saddam's unrepetent defiance of the international community and his hostility towards his neighbors - the endless stalemate endured indefinitely. Not to mention that Saddam's son, Qusay, had been groomed to succeed his father and to lead Iraq into a new era of brutality.

The most important battles in this war are not fought on the front. The Bush administration realizes this and that is why US troops backed off from Fallujah earlier this year. It shows an unappreciated willingness to compromise with the critics of US policy. It is ironic that those same critics are now calling for a military solution to the Fallujah crisis.

In order to win this war, we must expose the hatred that has consumed this world. The Culture of Terrorism legitimizes so much brutality. When Bush is portrayed by critics as the worst terrorist of all, then we are all betrayed.

How can you tell someone that the terrorism they support is wrong when you agree with them that Bush is a terrorist and a criminal? The Culture of Terrorism is strong because some fear to oppose it and some westerners use it for their own advantage. "We love death, like you love life" is a famous bin Laden quote that gives us only one option to this crisis.

But capitulation is not our only saviour that is why America has stood by its troops in Iraq. Saddam Hussein needed to be brought to justice. He would never surrender himself willingly, without bloodshed.

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