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'Somthing Terribly Wrong' About Aiding Enemies In Time Of War
The World Tribune ^ | September 1, 2006 | Ed Koch

Posted on 09/03/2006 6:39:06 AM PDT by mcg2000

Why do so many Americans refuse to face the fact that our country is at war with international terrorism?

The leading terrorist group, Al Qaida, is fighting us on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Both Iran and North Korea are threatening nuclear war. And yet many Americans, including some Congressional Democrats, denounce President Bush, and in so doing, weaken our country’s ability to resist Islamic fascism. One Congressional Democrat, John Conyers of Michigan, announced his intention to impeach the President when Republicans lose control of both Houses of Congress.

There is something terribly wrong with people seeking to demean and weaken the president in war time, thereby strengthening our country’s enemies. As a result of the language and tactics of those opposed to our presence in Iraq, our enemies have been emboldened, believing the American public to be sharply divided on the war, and in fact at war with itself. To other countries, Americans appear pitted against one another not in an election, but in a verbal bloodbath, convincing the world we are impotent — a paper tiger.

The tyrannical forces in Iran led by its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, make clear that if they can destroy us, they will. Ahmadinejad has said about the U.S., “…Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism?...you had best know that this slogan and this goal are attainable, and surely can be achieved…” Ahmadinejad has also stated his goal of destroying the state of Israel several times, saying, “…Israel must be wiped off the map.” If a sovereign nation makes such threats, do those who are threatened have to wait until the missiles are in the air before taking action? Or may threatened states defend themselves with preemptive action?

The U.N. Security Council has demanded that Iran stop developing nuclear technology leading to the creation of a nuclear bomb. Iran has refused, notwithstanding threatened sanctions. Iran’s conventional missiles can already reach Europe and Israel. Must Israel wait until the world knows exactly when Iran’s bomb has been built? Experts estimate that it may take years or as little as six months. No one knows with certainty when the cobra will be able to strike. Iran has lied to the U.N. about its nuclear development efforts before. Is there anyone who believes it is not prepared to lie in the future or is currently lying?

Many of those who attack the president, hoping to make him ineffective and bring him down, are opposed to our alliance with Israel. You can verify that and the signs of anti-Semitism by looking at the banners and listening to the anti-Israel invective in the speeches in the street demonstrations and marches against the war in Iraq and President Bush. Regrettably, many of those marchers are blind to the terrorism that faces the Western civilization, sympathize with it, or fear it less than they despise the governmental leaders of the U.S.

Recently, Scotland Yard arrested 25 British-born Muslims in the midst of plotting to blow up over the Atlantic Ocean ten U.S.-bound airplanes filled with approximately 4,000 people. The British authorities have indicted 14 and continue with its investigation of 11 more, having released several suspects. In a recent poll of British Muslims by NOP Research, broadcast by British Channel 4-TV on August 7, “Forty-five percent say 9/11 was a conspiracy by the American and Israeli governments. This figure is more than twice as high as those who say it was not a conspiracy. Tragically, almost one in four British Muslims believe that last year's 7/7 attacks on London were justified because of British support for the U.S.-led war on terror.”

I know of no comparable poll taken in the American Muslim community, which numbers 2 to 6 million. There are certainly enough Muslims here to poll. Are we afraid to learn the results?

When the government engages in racial and ethnic profiling at our airports, there is an outcry among those who call themselves civil libertarians. They seek to shame us, citing the actions taken in World War II against Japanese-American citizens. The difference is that no Japanese-American engaged in a single hostile act against the U.S. in World War II.

We know today that the 19 terrorists who brought the World Trade Center towers down were Muslims. We know that Muslims planned and implemented the attacks on our embassies in Africa, the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen and the army barracks in Saudi Arabia. So when our counter intelligence investigates alleged terrorist groups, shouldn’t suspected Muslim groups be first on the list?

At airports, shouldn’t those who speak Arabic or are identified by trained inspectors by clothing, actions, appearance or information as Muslims receive special attention? Most will undoubtedly be innocent, and understandably affronted and inconvenienced. Nevertheless, it is the rational measure to take when we are at war.

Protecting the nation does not mean silence in the face of criminality on the part of the U.S. military forces or improper government action. It means exercising restraint, responsibility, good faith and respect for other people. It means not seeking political gain at the expense of the nation’s security in war time. Knowing what to do can be likened to Mr. Justice Potter Stewart’s statement in a pornography case. Said he, “I know it when I see it.” We should not say “My country right or wrong,” as Commander Stephen Decatur did, but we should preserve our country’s values while not jeopardizing its very existence.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Canada; Front Page News; Germany; Israel; Japan; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Russia; US: District of Columbia; US: New York; US: Oklahoma; US: Pennsylvania; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aidandcomfort; alqaida; edkoch; iran; iraq; islam; islamic; israel; koch; middleeast; muslim; terrorism
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Edward I. Koch, who served as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, is a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave.
1 posted on 09/03/2006 6:39:08 AM PDT by mcg2000
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To: mcg2000

At least he's one Deomcrat that get's it!


2 posted on 09/03/2006 6:41:28 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (NY Slimes the paper of record for OBL!)
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To: mcg2000
I know of no comparable poll taken in the American Muslim community, which numbers 2 to 6 million. There are certainly enough Muslims here to poll. Are we afraid to learn the results?

I think the larger concern is that they'd be afraid to say what they really think. I doubt the poll numbers, as stated, are nearly as high as true public opinion.

3 posted on 09/03/2006 6:42:23 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (- Islam will never survive being laughed at. -)
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To: Steel Wolf
...no Japanese-American engaged in a single hostile act against the U.S. in World War II.

Um, Ed, that's not quite accurate.

4 posted on 09/03/2006 6:43:23 AM PDT by Salvey (ancest)
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To: mcg2000
Ed's always good for a patriotic statement or too, as well as a patriotic vision. No problem with Hiz Honor.

Now, that Plame person and her running dog lackeys, my first post on any Plame thread was, as I recall, a complaint that it was very obvious that Plame and Wilson were running an operation involving sabotage and espionage against the United States and we'd all be better off if they were arrested for espionage rather than lionized as heroes.

'twould seem I was correct ~ and everybody else was wrong.

It's not too late to pick them up and start the trials. The can join their little friend McCarthy in the dock, and maybe Fitzgerald.

5 posted on 09/03/2006 6:44:50 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: alice_in_bubbaland

NYC's two best mayors in my lifetime have been Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani ( I wasn't around for LaGuardia.)


6 posted on 09/03/2006 6:47:24 AM PDT by sono (One Party is interested in confronting this threat - the other only in confronting Bush - Mark Steyn)
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To: All

A pity the NY Slimes didn't see fit to print this one.


7 posted on 09/03/2006 6:48:23 AM PDT by sono (One Party is interested in confronting this threat - the other only in confronting Bush - Mark Steyn)
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To: alice_in_bubbaland
Ed is one Democrat that didn't go senile early in life.
8 posted on 09/03/2006 6:48:42 AM PDT by oyez (The way to punish a providence is to allow it to be governed by philosophers. --Frederick the Great)
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To: Steel Wolf
I think the larger concern is that they'd be afraid to say what they really think.

Spot-on dude...

9 posted on 09/03/2006 6:51:56 AM PDT by johnny7 (“And what's Fonzie like? Come on Yolanda... what's Fonzie like?!”)
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To: mcg2000

.....Why do so many Americans refuse to face the fact that our country is at war with international terrorism.....


Before you can acknowledge a war, you must believe that war exists.

The aging hippies who control the Democrat Party still believe they eliminated war and the concept of war in the 70's. To admit that war still exists wuold be to admit their lives stand for nothing.


10 posted on 09/03/2006 6:52:21 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. Slay Pinch)
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To: mcg2000; Just A Nobody; smoothsailing; IPWGOP; JulieRNR21
Protecting the nation does not mean silence in the face of criminality on the part of the U.S. military forces or improper government action. It means exercising restraint, responsibility, good faith and respect for other people. It means not seeking political gain at the expense of the nation’s security in war time. Knowing what to do can be likened to Mr. Justice Potter Stewart’s statement in a pornography case. Said he, “I know it when I see it.” We should not say “My country right or wrong,” as Commander Stephen Decatur did, but we should preserve our country’s values while not jeopardizing its very existence.
11 posted on 09/03/2006 6:53:24 AM PDT by freema (Marine FRiend, 1stCuz2xRemoved, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
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To: mcg2000

Common sense.


12 posted on 09/03/2006 6:54:42 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heros have always been cowboys-Reagan and Bush)
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To: mcg2000
"...our country is at war with international terrorism"

At war with what, Ed? "Terrorism" is a methodology, not an entity. Who is the entity which is using the methodology of terrorism. Come on, Ed, you can say it. It's Islam. We're at war with Islam.

Otherwise, you got it right, Mr. Mayor.

13 posted on 09/03/2006 7:04:48 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck
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To: Paine in the Neck
We're not at war with every member of Islam. So technically, he is correct.
14 posted on 09/03/2006 7:10:15 AM PDT by mcg2000 (New Orleans: The city that declared Jihad against The Red Cross.)
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To: alice_in_bubbaland

and you can probably count the rest on a single hand.


15 posted on 09/03/2006 7:11:27 AM PDT by SCHROLL (Liberalism isn't a political philosophy - it's a mental illness)
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To: Paine in the Neck

Rush frequently plays Hillary screeching that "I am sick and tired of hearing that when we debate we are not patriotic. (vol up) But we are American, and we have a right to debate." Please note that she does not claim to love her country. Hillary, you also have a right to remain silent, and I advise that, as you are always saying you are sick and tired!


16 posted on 09/03/2006 7:12:55 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: mcg2000

Good read. Shame the MSM won't print it but then it doesn't fit their agenda.


17 posted on 09/03/2006 7:16:41 AM PDT by engrpat
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To: mcg2000

I have heard alot of vets say that this doesn't feel like the wars they fought....so I thought, well they are right in a way...the people of today have not put together Pearl Harbor and World Trade Center...

When you can relate those two together, then you understand we are 'at war'....it isn't a war like WWI or WWII, but do our younger generation understand this?

I talked to my kids, who are from 43 to 31 years old, and they said they remember something about Pearl Harbor in their history books, well what about our grandkids???

You can't expect to have them feel they are at war, if they don't know what war is....and is that the education system fault or our faults as parents?? Or maybe both....


18 posted on 09/03/2006 7:20:07 AM PDT by HarleyLady27 (My ? to libs: "Do they ever shut up on your planet?" "Grow your own DOPE: Plant a LIB!")
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To: HarleyLady27

This is such a 'stinkin' war too. The good guys have to fight an enemy that is dressed like and blended in with surrounding civilians.

This enemy is harder to fight, this enemy hides among us.


19 posted on 09/03/2006 7:35:39 AM PDT by alicewonders
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To: Paine in the Neck

I think we should say that Islam IS AT WAR AGAINST America and Western civilization.

I don't trust or like one single muslim (deliberately not capitalized!)


20 posted on 09/03/2006 7:36:17 AM PDT by garyhope (It's World War IV, right here, right now courtesy of Islam.)
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