In another thread I extended an olive branch to a few folks with whom I rarely see eye to eye. I make the same offer again, even though it will be spurned again.
Is this not a time to ask questons? I certianly do believe we, as Americans, should rally. However, civil discussion of foreign policy is appropriate, since this was a foreign attack. To me, this is an act of war and should be treated as such. Acts of war, such as this or the bombing of Pearl Harbor, do not occur in a vacuum.
Did we need to send the Air Force into Kosovo? Did we need to send the Army into Somalia? What about the Marines into Haiti?
Do these examples differ in any significant way from the Gulf War? What about the Gulf War, should we have finished it?
My position is this. Something worth doing, is worth doing one hundred percent. Something on which you want to risk little, is probably not worth the expense and the risk. When you make war on another country, do not do so by halves! If politicians are worried that casualties are going to damage public opinion regarding the endeavor, then it is probably not a worthy thing to be doing. If the American people feel that something is important, then they will expect, they will demand that our young men put their lives at risk. They will be saddened by casualties, but it will strengthen our resolve, and we will carry on. I supported the Gulf War, as our allies were directly threatened. We had a clear goals and methods, which we used to the fullest. We did not nickel and dime Iraq, but I wish we would have either finished it or packed up and left, rather than instituting a ten year blockade.
The containment policy of Iraq has increased animosity towards the United States, the carpet bombing of Kosovo has increased animosity towards the United States. The Gulf War did not, because we had clearly defined goal, and we carried them out to the fullest extent.
So you can say that I should be "run out of town on a rail" without bothering to respond. Go ahead.
I am as patriotic as you folks. I don't appreciate the insinuation that I am a traitor, for not wanting our young men to the squandered! Please remember from Ecclesiastes: To everything there is a season... A time for war, a time for peace.
People say how horrible this was -- and it *was* very horrible. But it was hardly anything to what would've happen, what may *still* happen, if a nuke were set off in any of our major cities. And, personally, I think there is a significant chance that at least one of our enemies has a nuke of some sort (probably a suitcase nuke).
Obviously, we must find and bring to justice all who were part of this attack. If those harboring our enemy refuses to give them up, then they must be made to do so. But only through justice, the rule of law, and under the gaze of God should we proceed.
America is, as it has always been, a far greater danger to itself than any outside force.
Tuor