Replies

"But when did reforming the entire middle east become America's priority?"

On September 11th, 2001

"We are told routinely that there are only a handfull of terrorist there. Why would we need to reform that region of the planet?"

The repressive nature of their societies is such that they do not have access to the freedom of thought and opportunity offered to those in this country. Islam can be a seductive alternative to the life they are accumtomed to. It is a vehicle of Hope, strange as that may sound.

There may be a relative few that sacrifice their own lives to destroy ours but far more sympathetic to the cause that fund these actions. Eventually they are going to access WMD. We cannot stop it from occuring. We can diffuse the desire to use these weapons by fostering a culture of freedom. At the moment they have nothing to lose if they detonate a WMD. We are trying to give them a reason to live, rather than die.

"And in attempting to do so, do you not think that will only create more enemies over there? "

No, their hatred is as high as it can be. It is taught from cradle to grave. We are speaking about entire cultures that are brainwashed from the moment they let out a cry at birth, to their places of worship, to their time spent in schools. They were provoked to take action agianst us long before 9-11 as a result of the culture of hate they are a part of.

It is likely our successful operations against them may drive these extremists to a heightened desperation. It could become more dangerous in the short term as a result. This is why I'm less inclined to state we are safer as a result of our operations in Iraq. Rather, my contention is that we will be safer as a result of this new strategy towards the Middle East if it is continued.

Bush is the only one I am confident will continue this path. He has placed his future on the line. There are few politicians willing to take a stance that they aren't sure will benefit them.

"But when did reforming the entire middle east become America's priority?"

On September 11th, 2001

That's incorrect. We were told multiple times by this administration that is was Al Qaeda that was the enemy. Not the entire Mid East. Do you actually think you can reform the entire Mid East? You'd probably have a better chance of selling Israili flags at an Ali Baba rally in Downtown Falluja and surviving.