Posted on 07/24/2005 3:10:02 PM PDT by 4.1O dana super trac pak
By now, many people in America - and likely around the world - are familiar with my statements regarding a possible response to a nuclear attack on U.S. cities by fundamentalist Islamic terrorists.
Without question, my comments have prompted strong reactions from many quarters, but they have also served to start a national dialogue about what options we have to deter al-Qaeda and other would-be Islamic terrorists.
Many critics of my statements have characterized them as "offensive," and indeed they may have offended some. But in this battle against fundamentalist Islam, I am hardly preoccupied with political correctness, or who may or may not be offended. Indeed, al-Qaeda cares little if the Western world is "offended" by televised images of hostages beheaded in Iraq, subway bombings in London, train attacks in Madrid, or Americans jumping to their death from the Twin Towers as they collapsed.
Few can argue that our current approach to this war has deterred fundamentalists from killing Westerners - nor has it prompted "moderate" Muslims and leaders of Muslim countries to do what is necessary to crack down on the extremists in their midst who perpetuate these grisly crimes.
That being the case, perhaps the civilized world must intensify its approach.
Does that mean the United States should be re-targeting its entire missile arsenal on Mecca today? Does it mean we ought to be sending Stealth bombers on runs over Medina? Clearly not.
But should we take any option or target off the table, regardless of the circumstances? Absolutely not, particularly if the mere discussion of an option or target may dissuade a fundamentalist Muslim extremist from strapping on a bomb-filled backpack, or if it might encourage "moderate" Muslims to do a better job cracking down on extremism in their ranks.
People have accused me of creating more terrorism by making these statements. Indeed, we often hear that Western governments bring these attacks on themselves. Just days after the London subway attacks two weeks ago, for example, Tariq Ali, a prominent British Muslim activist, was quick to suggest that London residents "paid the price" for British support in the Iraq campaign.
A professor in Lebanon, Dr. George Hajjar, went even further, proclaiming, "I hope that every patriotic and Islamic Arab will participate in this war, and will shift the war not only to America, but to ... wherever America may be." Hajjar went on to say that "there are no innocent people," and referred to the victims of the attack as "collateral casualties."
These are fairly "offensive" statements, to be sure, but the sentiments expressed by Ali and Hajjar are sadly commonplace in the "mainstream" Muslim world, where justification for terrorist attacks like the ones that rocked London, New York and Washington is never in short supply.
Fundamentalist Muslims have advocated the destruction of the West since long before the attacks of Sept. 11, long before the Madrid, London and Bali attacks, long before the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, long before the attack on the USS Cole and the 1993 WTC bombing.
In many respects, the decision of "moderate" Muslims to acquiesce to these actions and even provide tacit justification for them is just as damaging to global safety and security as the attacks themselves.
Until "mainstream" Islam can bring itself to stop rationalizing terrorist attacks and start repudiating and purging people like Ali and Hajjar from its ranks who do, this war will continue. As long as this war goes on, being "offended" should be the least of anyone's worries.
Republican Tom Tancredo represents Colorado's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Already posted.
And pulled
What happened?
It's started dialogs alright...concerning tancredo.
Bravo!
YES! Thank you Rep. Tancredo. We need more like you in Congress, willing to tell our enemy's supporters, foreign and domestic, to sit down and STFU. I will be sending this editorial on and sending Mr. Tancredo a letter of support.
They are also not in short supply in the "mainstream" media of the USA.
The hubris of this guy knows no bounds.
It's all about him.
You have to admit, bay's doing a pretty good job at pulling his strings.
Clearly Rep. Tom Tancredo is standing upt foe what's best for America, not bowing to political correctness and the "one world" lobby. I only wish my Representative had as much courage. Thank you Rep. Tancredo!
"Congressman Tancredo has no understanding of the true nature of Islam and the peaceful Muslims living in the Arab world."
---Rep. John Dingell (D).
We shall find out sooner or later if Abdul will pray to a smoking crater.
L
The problem isn't just "moderate Muslims." Much of the problem is moderate Americans who think that Mr. Tancredo's statements justify the Muslims in killing Americans. As long as there are politically correct apologists who think that we are wrong for advocating hard responses to jihadist terrorism, the jihadists will be even bolder to attack the United States.
"it's all about Tancredo! He's so arrogant! Yeah, it spurred discussions... about Tancredo!"
well, now... could it be that some find it easier to talk about the man than to talk about any possible shred of accuracy in his assessment of Islam, or the possible utility of hanging a Sword of Damocles over the Ummah in its entirety as a means to spur them to rein in their idiots?
ping
So, you would nuke Saudi Arabia now, ignoring our troops stationed there (not many left, but there are some), ignoring our 30,000 plus citizens there, and ignoring both the Mutual Defense Assistance Act of 1949, and the Mutual Security Act of 1951 between the US and Saudi government?
You would nuke an ally, ignore bin Ladin and Al Qaida, and call it a victory.
Correct?
Beauseant!
Or the possible utility of eradicating that barbaric code of evil from the face of the earth?
Yep. Too many simply don't want to face the unpleasant truth about Islam. So they attack anyone who tries to do so.
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