[laureldrive]

Sobran sniffs that Bush's response is "predictable" -- and therefore, Sobran implies, ineffectual. Sobran, of course, doesn't offer his own brilliant alternative. There's a certain undertone of smugness in this column that hints of satisfaction at what has befallen America - - - and I for one consider it sick.

[Gordian Blade]

I used to respect Sobran's opinions. I don't think OBL expected this response, I think he expected a little bombing and then the USA would roll over and go back to sleep. In any event, if defending ourselves causes more people to come at us, then bring it. A billion people are easier to defend against than 19.

[js1138]

Interesting how the peaceniks and Bush haters have condemned America before any action has taken place.

Odd, how in reality, we have been building allies and obtaining permissions.

I suspect that with winter coming and millions of Afghans facing starvation, tha Taliban will fold without a shot fired by us. The Muslims have a thing about killing their own, and Ben Laden is shaping up to be a mass murderer of Muslims.

[ArcLight]

I agree. This is defeatist drivel. It's one thing to say that a hard road lies ahead; quite another to sit on your bloated behind, sneering idly at the brave men and women who've set out on the journey. Besides, there's not an original fact or thought in the whole essay. In short...go away, Joe. Just go away.

[Kush]

Okay, no offense, but who the hell is Sobran, and just why the f*%# should I care about his opinion? Hand-wringing, over analized, with the emphasis on anal, this is drek of the highest order. I say, first we get the Osama's over there, then we get these homegrown ones here. Will somebody in this country please Butch up?!?!?

[arkfreepdom]

Sorban better hope he is wrong. If we take another hit or hits this country will increasingly want more blood. The world has had fun the last few decades at our expense, knowing we would not behave the way they always accused us of behaving. They may just get a pissed off US. The world has not seen that before.

Be careful what you wish for world.

[Republicus2001]

I despise America-haters and evil-doers...and we're not the only freedom lovers under seige... RANCHI, India (Reuters) - A policeman was burned alive and five of his colleagues wounded by leftist extremists who attacked a police post in India's eastern state of Jharkand, police said on Sunday.

[independentmind]

BTW, I think it's against the rule of the forum to change the title of an article as it was published.

[jimt]

What is the use of threatening fanatics with violence? What is it about the word “suicide” we don’t understand?

There is absolutely no use in threatening fanatics with violence. There's a great deal of use in killing them.

They're welcome to commit suicide if they like. But those who want to take others with them need vigorous and merciless assistance.

[JeffMill]

Sobran's an anglophile and an artistocrat-wanna-be who seems to wish the revolution never occured at that we were all still living under the good graces of the English King.

He writes well, but many of his opinions are pretty kooky.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I respected Sobran for 20 years before the WTC attack. No longer.

[fporretto]

I'm an immense fan of Joseph Sobran's, but I can see the flaws in his analysis.

Okay, al-Qaeda isn't a nation-state. However, it requires the protection of a nation-state. It has been embraced by a nation-state, Afghanistan, which is therefore complicit in its actions. We'll deal with Afghanistan now, and with any others al-Qaeda has seduced as we find them. This is morally necessary. That it's to be expected doesn't make it impossible.

To speak of eliminating terrorism as a phenomenon might be a trifle ambitious, and perhaps it's not achievable as a permanent state, but for rhetorical and nation-galvanizing purposes it surely beats "Let's bring terrorism down to tolerable levels." Sensible people know that we'll never be perfectly safe. Still, safety won't come from cowering before the threat of further terrorist strikes, but rather from exacting a terrible price for each and every one.

In one area, Sobran has a good point: While our attention is on the campaign against terrorism, power-seekers will have great latitude to pursue their objectives. We could well surrender rights that it will prove hard to regain. Among conservatives' traditional strong points are distrust of government and skepticism about the motives of those who seek power over us. These virtues must not wane. If anything, we should pump them up as high as possible in such a dangerous time.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[Moby Grape]

Sobran...a man of thousands of concerns, thousands of questions, and not one damn solid answer to anything...Sobran is a dipstick.

[paul51]

Remember that old Agnew adj. 'effete snobs'? Comes to mind as I read (as much as I can) this. No matter what Bush did up until now, some would have sqeeled "predictable". Tell me, what will happen tommorrow.

[RJL]

World War II began with the invasion of Poland; fifty million deaths later, it ended with Poland in the firm possession of one of the aggressors.

Obviously it wasn't right that Russia "kept" Poland after WWII, but did I miss something?

I thought that Germany, Italy, and Japan were the aggressors in WWII, not Russia.

[1rudeboy]

Sobran fails to realize that, if the US fails to retaliate, OBM's plan will merely be delayed. If OBM wants war, let it begin now.