W ducks real nature of the war U.S. is in

NY Daily News ^ | October 29 2003 | zev Chafets

[knighthawk]

At yesterday's White House press conference, President Bush was asked about the chilly reception he received from Islamic leaders at an Asian summit last week in Indonesia. These leaders asked Bush why Americans think all Muslims are terrorists. Bush replied that the leaders were mistaken - Americans know perfectly well that terrorism is restricted to "the acts of a few."

The President has been saying this since 9/11. It's possible that many people here believe him. But quite obviously, the Islamic world doesn't.

Why not? The answer isn't complicated. Muslim leaders know better. And they think Bush does, too.

Part of the problem derives from what Bush would call fuzzy language. He insists on talking about "the war on terror." But terrorism is a technique, not an enemy, and you don't make war on a technique. You make war on enemies.

For reasons of domestic political correctness and international diplomacy, the Bush administration refuses to name its enemies, even in a general way.

The President talks about terrorism as if it existed in a vacuum. He never uses the terms "Islamic terrorism" or "Arab terrorism." At his press conference, he blamed the recent spate of bombings in Baghdad on "foreign terrorists" - as though these fighters could easily be Belgian Catholics, Chinese Buddhists or Indian Hindus.

The administration also dissembles by using surrogate demons. Osama Bin Laden is the enemy, but not Saudi Arabia, the source of Bin Laden's anti-American doctrines. Saddam Hussein and his band of followers are the enemy, but they are merely a small and unrepresentative band of outlaws who can be rounded up and rooted out. Yasser Arafat is an enemy, but he is the false leader of a people yearning for compromise and peace. The ayatollahs are the enemy, but the Iranian masses love America and yearn for democracy.

This is sheer nonsense, and nobody knows it better than the Arab and Iranian dictators of the Middle East and their Islamic allies. They know perfectly well that America is hated and feared by the clerical and political classes - the only ones that matter - from North Africa to Southeast Asia.

This hatred is so widespread and powerful that it unites ancient rivals. Sunnis and Shiites, Persians and Arabs, Baathists and royalists, tribal leaders and urban intellectuals, theologians and supposedly secular military officers - all gather under the banner of jihad.

Bush can insist all day long that America isn't at war with Islam. But that misses the point. In varying degrees, the Islamic world is at war with the U.S., its interests and purposes.

Muslim leaders know that, obviously, and they think Bush must know it, too.

Last night, Bush hosted his annual dinner marking the Muslim holiday of iftar. The guest list included many dignitaries from Islamic countries and organizations now engaged in undermining U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Mideast and elsewhere. Or, in Bush's own terms, actively aiding and abetting terrorists.

In past years, the President has used this dinner to proclaim that the U.S. isn't at war with the Islamic world, only individual bad guys who happen to be Muslims, that Islam is a religion of peace and there is no inherent conflict between American and Islamic ideologies or interests.

This message always wins Bush a round of polite applause. But not a single one of his guests believes it. They all know better.

We can only hope that the President does, too.

[knighthawk]

The President talks about terrorism as if it existed in a vacuum. He never uses the terms "Islamic terrorism" or "Arab terrorism." At his press conference, he blamed the recent spate of bombings in Baghdad on "foreign terrorists" - as though these fighters could easily be Belgian Catholics, Chinese Buddhists or Indian Hindus.

Islam-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[Bikers4Bush]

"why Americans think all Muslims are terrorists."

Probably because 95% of the terrorist acts in the world are committed by muslims.

Physician heal thy self.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I'd love to play poker with the author. He would wonder why I keep winning as his cards lay face up on the table.

[RonHolzwarth]

Someone should write a book, and call it:

"Protocols of the Elders of Islam".

Except, make it FACT instead of FICTION!!!

And be sure to put in an entire chapter about the "prophet" Mohammed's SIX! year old "bride", and explain in GRAPHIC DETAIL how he consummated the marriage later -

When she was NINE YEARS OLD!

And be sure to point out that Islamists everywhere are waiting,,, waiting,,, for YOUR DAUGHTER (or son!) to reach that "magic age",,,

So they can be uhhh,,,,,

[spodefly]

In past years, the President has used this dinner to proclaim that the U.S. isn't at war with the Islamic world, only individual bad guys who happen to be Muslims, that Islam is a religion of peace and there is no inherent conflict between American and Islamic ideologies or interests. This message always wins Bush a round of polite applause. But not a single one of his guests believes it. They all know better. We can only hope that the President does, too.

The future of free societies depends on it. He better know better.

[Travis McGee]

That book already exists, it's called "Mein Koran."

[SuziQ]

I'd love to play poker with the author. He would wonder why I keep winning as his cards lay face up on the table.

LOL!! My thoughts exactly. I'm always amused at the media folks who act as though what is put out there for public consumption is the only thing believed by the President and his advisors. Have they never heard of REAL, behind the scenes, diplomacy, as opposed to the idea of diplomacy promulgated in the last administration which had our folks hand wringing and moaning publicly about everything!

[Brian Allen]

The mad mass-murdering pedophile pirate, Muhummad, despoiled scores of children, not only those he "married."

But then, so does every tyrant, starting with history's most prolific mass murderer AND child rapist, the predatory Peking Gang's mass-murdering founder, Mao Tze Tung.

Even Muhummad admirer and fellow death-worshipping pagan-heathen panthiest, Herr Hitler, was almost certainly a sexual muderer and at the very least a serial sexual criminal.

As were/are our very own KKKling Tongs.

[Porterville]

The president is trying to hold us back, the Islamic Radical nations should feel lucky that the American public is at bay... but if they want to get us flying..

[Conspiracy Guy]

Shhhhh. We have already said too much. The doofus's of the world may catch on.

[SuziQ]

Shhhhh. We have already said too much. The doofus's of the world may catch on

Mum's the word!

[Conspiracy Guy]

My lips are sealed til the super glue wears out.

[RightWhale]

He insists on talking about "the war on terror."

It was originally "war on terrorists of global reach and those who support them." War on terrorism is kind of fuzzy.

[PoorMuttly]

Oh...I thought this was about Ducks.

Sorry.

[knighthawk]

The mad mass-murdering pedophile pirate, Muhummad, despoiled scores of children, not only those he "married."

Don't hold back!

[lainde]

bttt

[Celtic Conservative]

I am suprised that so many people think Pres. Bush really believes the things He has been saying and doing since 9/11, i.e. the "religion of peace " quote and the recent ramadan dinner. I don't think they understand the nature of statecraft that is going on in the white house. the way I look at it is influenced by an old quote that I heard once. I believe it is by Teddy Roosevelt, but I may be wrong. Anyway,The quote is "diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggy' while you are reaching for a rock". I think Bush et. al. understand that their actions are playing on a world stage and a certain amount of diplomatic wrangling is how this game is played.

Slainte,

CC

[FreedomPoster]

"Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock."

-- Will Rogers

[FreedomPoster]

See my previous post; I put that up before I saw yours, after only looking at the main article.