Will the West Stumble?

Real Clear Politics ^ | 20 Nov 2006 | Victor D. Hanson

[spkpls4]

Well beyond us now is any overarching Churchillian vision of our enemies. We lack the practical understanding of an FDR that all of these Islamists loathe us far more than they despise each other. Their infighting, after all, is like the transitory bickering of thieves over the division of loot that always pales before their shared hatred of the targeted bank owner.

So we are at a crossroads of all places in Iraq. The war there has metamorphosized from a successful effort to remove a mass-murdering dictator into the frontlines of the entire struggle between Islamic radicalism and Western liberality. If we withdraw before the elected government stabilizes, the consequences won't just be the loss of the perceptions of power, but perhaps the loss of real power. What follows won't be the impression that we are weak, but the fact that we are--as we convince ourselves we cannot win against such horrific enemies, and so should never again try.

That stumble will send a shudder throughout the so-called West that will be felt worldwide. It will insidiously show that the premodern world proved the master of the postmodern, as al Qaeda's Alfred Rosenberg, the pudgy Dr. Zawahiri, boasted all along--whose followers will not be happy with a successful defense when they think they can go back on an even more successful offense.

In the end, the Islamicists' best way to blow up the world's Starbucks or to turn off freewheeling American television is ultimately with a whimper, not a bang. They need not plant a hundred thousand bombs across the Westernized globe, but simply to cauterize its very spinal cord in the United States--the willingness of the American public, as in the past, to confront only the latest challenge to their freedom and all the ripples from it.

[sageb1]

"That stumble will send a shudder throughout the so-called West that will be felt worldwide. "

Ah, Victor, but fully half of America thinks the world shudders at the thought of America and that America is wrong and needs to come into line with the rest of the world.

[beyond the sea]

"How odd that Iranians cannot design a car or computer, but can with the proper instruction manual spend millions of hours putting together Western-designed centrifuges, like the stamped lettered-parts of a build-it-your-self intricate model toy." ---

****

Odd indeed. These people appear genetically weak...... not to say that they are.

[beyond the sea]

This is a great article.

[Octar]

"That stumble will send a shudder throughout the so-called West that will be felt worldwide "

We are in mid stumble as I write this. Not only will we continue to stumble, we will fall flat on our stupid faces. And we will have earned it. Many thanks to the real enemies of America: Liberal democrats and their cohorts; the self-absorbed ignorant clowns who support them.

[ellery]

It's definitely worth reading the whole thing. So who will be our Churchill?

[dr_lew]

Odd indeed. These people appear genetically weak...... not to say that they are.

What about "Pelosi Galore"? ... Is she "genetically weak" ? Are you ?

Put this thought out of your head, if you please! The Persians genetically weak!

[backtothestreets]

"So who will be our Churchill?"

I believe a Churchill we would find. Unfortunately, I haven't the same hope of an FDR to rally the liberal half of our nation to the conservative Churchill side. A foreign war cannot be fought with half engaged and half opposed.

[EEDUDE]

The Iranians, contrary to popular notions, are an extremely well educated and resourceful people.

Their education system, both primary and secondary, put ours to shame. Their Universities are not as good as ours.

The reason Iran has failed to become an industrialized, profitable country has much more to do with an Islamic theocracy than it does with the abilities of the people.

JMHO

[.30Carbine]

God Almighty Sovereign Omnipotent Just and Merciful bless Victor Davis Hanson and enable us to stand, amen.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Americans do not have the stomach for backing what needs to be done. We are the land of the Attention Deficit Disorder in all things. If it can't be solved in a couple of weeks, Americans do not have patience to continue.

What is really suicidal about all of this is we are in a war against barbarism whether we like it or not. We will fight it at home if not abroad. We will have to fight or die.

It is not the wacko liberal Democrats who are to blame. The voters are to blame.

People do not vote the tough but necessary path unless their world is literally falling apart.

[quesney]

*Will* the West *stumble*? Mr. Hanson, it has *already* *fallen*.

[beyond the sea]

Put this thought out of your head, if you please! The Persians genetically weak!

When you learn how to read you will see the word I wrote, "appear".

And, save your silly advice for someone else.

[beyond the sea]

The Iranians, contrary to popular notions, are an extremely well educated and resourceful people. Their education system, both primary and secondary, put ours to shame. Their Universities are not as good as ours. The reason Iran has failed to become an industrialized, profitable country has much more to do with an Islamic theocracy than it does with the abilities of the people.

Then why have these people continued for so long to be subjugated by "leaders"?

[The_Media_never_lie]

These people appear genetically weak...... not to say that they are.

There's nothing wrong with their genes, it's their religion.

[mjolnir]

It seems to me that whether a country is democratic hardly has anything to do with the native intelligence of its people... Historically, democracy is the exception, not the rule. Anyone who has contact with students of Iranian heritage knows EEDUDE is correct-- they find American primary and secondary schools easy compared to their own. Their culture prizes learning; Persia was a center of such before centuries Islam rolled though it.

Besides, if President Carter hadn't undermined the Shah, it's not unimaginable, if not likely, that Iran would have been a democratic republic by now.

Thanks, Jimmy!

[EEDUDE]

See post #15.

[listenhillary]

Ping

[capitalist229]

The public 'stock' of the US is the dollar.

As a reserve currency its relative value is a gauge of US dominance.

Its exchange value ($USDX) has dropped by one-third since 2000.

This trend can only be reversed by raising interest rates or reducing debt.

I doubt if we have the public fortitude to do either.

BUMP

[kalee]

I think the election was our stumble. The jihadis have been sent a message that they will gleefully receive.I just hope we haven't "fallen and can't get up"