Posted on 01/19/2007 5:46:29 AM PST by IrishMike
Most Americans accept that if the United States cannot stabilize Iraq, and, in frustration and acrimony, withdraws in defeat, crises follow. The only disagreement is over how bad they will be. Some point to the aftermath of Vietnam and, mirabile dictu, think the world eventually went on pretty much the same. In this rosy view, the preordained end of the Cold War made the communist postwar Vietnamese increasingly entrepreneurial, and thus more pro-American than friendly to their erstwhile Chinese patrons.
Others, more soberly I think, recall instead in the interval the million-plus of boat-people, exiles, the executed, and detained and the aftershocks that killed millions more in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Central America, once it was established that the United States would not, or could not, thwart Communist aggression. The Iranian hostage-taking and the rise of radical Islam itself were predicated on the idea that a post-Vietnam America would not intervene against terrorists, whether in Tehran or Lebanon. And Vietnam, of course, today is no South Korea, as millions there without freedom could attest.
The Ripple Effect Be that as it may, we sometimes forget that there are also more insidious ripples that can emanate from Iraq. I can think of three for starters, all with post-Vietnam echoes.
The first will be the effect on the Democratic party itself, now riding high in its antiwar invective. Yet for a quarter century after Vietnam its antiwar hysteria warped its stance on issues such as the military, retaliation abroad for attacks on America, and the use of force in general.
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
No Dafur is Muslim on Muslim violence, only it's ethnic Arab Muslims massacreing black African Muslims.
There was a previous civil war in the Sudan which was Muslim vs. Christian, in the southern Sudan.
Though it had gone on for over twenty years, it was through the efforts of President Bush that it was brought to an end.
That war had included murder, kidnapping and forcible conversion of children and women to Islam, rape, murder including crucifixon, and deliberate starvation and refusal to allow food and medical aid to the southern Sudanese.
The Muslim world was silent, as they are mainly silent about Dafur, even though it is Muslims being masscred by oter Muslims.
The ugly truth is coming out: Muslims are racist.
Look, Muslims who are terrorist or terrorists wannabes are being watched very closely by the FBI. They know their job.
When the Irish and English were dukeing it out, I never felt I had to hunt down my Catholic neighbors - and either should you... Innocent citizens who just happen to be Muslim should be treated with the same respect as all other citizens.
You go after my Muslim neighbors -- people who have never done anything to hurt this country - and you'll find me standing with them.
That said, I feel all immigration from ME countries should be stopped until the war is over - and that includes students. Especially students.
I feel Islam is a death cult and terrorists should be lined up and shot.
That said, I also have no use for homegrown SS wannabes like yourself who think taking on unarmed fellow citizens because of their religion is OK.
It was tried in Germany and I'm sure it'll be tried again - but not with my approval. As for you, if you want to take on real terrorists, join the military. Lots of terrorists out there for you to kill.
Leave my innocent unarmed neighbors alone.
I'm compelled to disagree. Bush encouraged the minority Democrats to formulate and submit their own plans; participate in improving his own initiatives.
Teddy Kennedy was invited to write and originate the No Child Left Behind bill, for goodness sake.
Bush gave every opportunity for bi-partisanship to flourish. But the Democrats were having none of it -- in their lexicon, bi-partisanship happens only when Republicans give up.
Bush is not to blame for our divided polity. Only the Democrats are.
*** You try explaining this to people and they just do not or will not get it.***
Part of the problem is that we and lefties do not speak the same language, or rather use the same parts of our brain. They operate on emotions, on feelings, which cannot be changed by argument and logic. So we talk past each other.
I have resolved to speak "leftie" to my friends who believe that Bush is the reason for all problems.
Example: How do you feel about prayer rooms in public schools?
Someone in my family has fought in every war this country's had -- the American Revolution -- both sides of the Civil War -- an uncle at Normandy for D-Day. None of us have ever had any desire whatsoever to go after our innocent neighbors. Maybe I don't understand your position. It's hard to believe you would think it was OK to go after fellow Americans just because of their religion. Have I misunderstood?
If that religion was Muslim, you had better believe that I would never take my eyes or ears off of that neighbor.
How about if that Musllim was Sgt. Wasim Khan?
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1569784/posts
WIA
or
Staff Sgt. Ayman Taha
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1553478/posts
KIA
"Anyone who judges a man by the group is a peawit". The grizzled old Irish sergeant Kilrain says this in Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels.
Meanwhile back on the real world...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.