Round One for Terrorism
Yesterday I distributed a blog entitled, "Small Still Voice," in which I had cited passages from NY Times articles noting that the deaths of U.S. soldiers are now running at about one a day in Iraq and that the real objection to the Times and other papers having broken the story of our covert tracing of monies possibly going to terrorists was "less in tipping off terrorists than in putting publicity-shy bankers in an uncomfortable spotlight."
Subsequently I have heard dire reports to the effect that our incursions into Iraq and Afghanistan have mainly encouraged wider recruitment of terrorists. A poll of 100 leading U.S. security experts reported on npr -- a balanced group running across the political spectrum -- that the Bush wars and clumsy follow-ups had enhanced rather than diminished the recruitment of potential terrorists. One ex-general being interviewed suggested that our attack on Iraq most likely had been the best possible news for bin Laden.
Certainly the reports from Afghanistan and Iraq are depressing so far as American interests are concerned -- both are falling into sectarian violence. Both are disenchanted by the American occupation, which has delivered only grief to their respective populations.
Adding to the above the discrediting of American democracy in the eyes of the world by Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and our failure to assist Israel and Palestine in resolving their conflict, this turns out to be a pretty bad week . Whatever the distracting events featured by the Republicans and our-home-front-violence-hungry media, peace there is not.
As one who had been conscious of foreign affairs since my childhood afternoon radio program was disrupted by the announcement of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, I am at once appalled and despairing that America has sunk so low. But that's where things have gone since 9/11 when we for a year or so we had won heartfelt support for what we had suffered and still retained the world's admiration and respect for American democracy.
Needless to say the terrorists -- a dim foggy cloud of disparate individuals and groups -- seem well on the way to defeating us in the real war -- the claim upon the hearts and minds of those hoping for better things in their lives.
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts
http://BlogByEdKent.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloggernews.net
Subsequently I have heard dire reports to the effect that our incursions into Iraq and Afghanistan have mainly encouraged wider recruitment of terrorists. A poll of 100 leading U.S. security experts reported on npr -- a balanced group running across the political spectrum -- that the Bush wars and clumsy follow-ups had enhanced rather than diminished the recruitment of potential terrorists. One ex-general being interviewed suggested that our attack on Iraq most likely had been the best possible news for bin Laden.
Certainly the reports from Afghanistan and Iraq are depressing so far as American interests are concerned -- both are falling into sectarian violence. Both are disenchanted by the American occupation, which has delivered only grief to their respective populations.
Adding to the above the discrediting of American democracy in the eyes of the world by Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and our failure to assist Israel and Palestine in resolving their conflict, this turns out to be a pretty bad week . Whatever the distracting events featured by the Republicans and our-home-front-violence-hungry media, peace there is not.
As one who had been conscious of foreign affairs since my childhood afternoon radio program was disrupted by the announcement of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, I am at once appalled and despairing that America has sunk so low. But that's where things have gone since 9/11 when we for a year or so we had won heartfelt support for what we had suffered and still retained the world's admiration and respect for American democracy.
Needless to say the terrorists -- a dim foggy cloud of disparate individuals and groups -- seem well on the way to defeating us in the real war -- the claim upon the hearts and minds of those hoping for better things in their lives.
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts
http://BlogByEdKent.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloggernews.net
posted by Ed Kent at 8:14 AM
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