[Slapshot68]

From the article:

“We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.
We will have to make sure, despite our rage, that any U.S. military action takes into account the lives of innocent civilians abroad. We will have to be unwavering in opposing bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle Eastern descent. Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globe—children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and within our own shores.”

Ward Churchill is primed to be VP.

[stylin19a]

The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers:inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others.

huh ? we are the attackers ? In context, who else could he be talkin about ?

[kjo]

Barry is a very scary guy.......problem is the MSM is covering and campaiging for him....lots and lots of people may never know how scary until he’s elected.

[LS]

"Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."

This is one of the 48 Liberal Lies About American History that I disprove in my forthcoming book of the same title. Most terrorists are middle-class to well off; they are educated; the British bombers were doctors; they are not full of despair.

They are full of Islam.

[LongTimeMILurker]

Did anyone stop to think that it is the oil rich nations themselves that fail to “redistribute the wealth” so that so many are so desparate there? Isn’t that what the United States was trying to do in Iraq with “nation building”.

I never understood why Chicago has been such as hotbed of Anti-American thinking, stretching back to the 1960s. Was it the schools? The popular print and broadcast Media there? The WFMT/Studs Terkel, etc. crowd?

[pabianice]

Obama writes at the 8th grade level. I guess this is just one more aspect of affirmative action and degreed boobs.

[KarlInOhio]

Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.

Sorry, Obambi, the Saudis (and few others) who committed this act of war were pretty well off. Osama came from a rich family.

[Aquinasfan]

Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globe—

Liberals simply cannot understand religious motivation because they're irreligious themselves.

And then there are, of course, the facts. Bin Laden was an heir to an oil fortune. Most of the other hijackers led privileged existences.

But liberals won't be confused by the facts, should the facts contradict liberal dogma.

[Nathan Zachary]

What a liar Obama is. For a guy who grew up in Muslim culture, he knows damn well that Islam alone is the cause of all the misery and suffering in those parts of the world.

It isn’t because of our ‘ignorance’. Our ignorance of Islam and what it really is, allows that misery and suffering to continue however, and allows it to spread across the world like a cancer.

[gridlock]

"You got into these villages in the Afghanistan and, like a lot of small villages in the Middle East, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Soviet invasion, and the Taliban, and each successive regime has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-American sentiment or anti-Semitic sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." ~ (Not) Barack Obama

[nikos1121]

Is the article fair and balanced, or does it show Obama in a mostly negative or mostly positive light?

[Ouderkirk]

Obama kick a$$....ROFLMAO!!! he couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag. De-balled and hen-pecked.

[Stultis]

The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity.

Oh, Brother! They are anything but "numb" to the suffering of their victims. They have very strong and definite feelings in recognition of and response to that suffering. They feel, alright; they feel JOY.

How utterly clueless does B.H.O. have to be to not get this, when our enemy has repeatedly, explicitly and emphatically explained it to us?! Even were this not the case, one only need look at the jihadist propaganda videos of beheadings, bombings, etc, to witness the unbridled joyous abandon in the faces and voices of our enemy.