Murray's terrorist question valid.

Bellingham Herald | 01/03/03 | Bellingham Herald, editors

[Eva]

Murray's terrorist question valid

Diplomacy: There's great value in discussing the U.S. role in an often unstable world and our obligation to provide foreign aid.

The attack on U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., for asking high school students to consider why Osama bin Laden is so popular in parts of the world strikes us as part of the problem as the United States tries to walk the tightrope of global diplomacy.

The response also is indicative of the popular political game nowadays of twisting what was actually said for purposes of political attack. Both Democrats and Republicans play this game, but the result makes dialogue almost impossible at a time when we could use more thoughtful discussio9n about the world we live in.

In case you missed it, Murray spoke to a high school honors class in Vancouver, Wash., in mid-December and posed an intentionally provocative challenge about bin Laden who she called an "evil terrorist." She said, "We've got to ask why is this man so popular around the world? Why are people so supportive of him in many countries that are riddled with poverty?

Murray went on to provide answers to her questions. Bin Laden, she said, has been building schools, roads, health-care facilities and other infrastructure, while the United States has don comparatively little.

The response was swift from the state Republican party and the talk radio circuit. GOP state Chairman Chris Vance said Murray's comments were offensive and called for her to retract them. He went on to say that the senator said the United States brought the Sept 11 attack on itself or deserved it.

In fact, that is not at all what she said and twisting her words does a great disservice to an attempt to raise an important, though controversial, issue. Murray did not praise bin Laden in any way.

Instead the senator was merely raising the question of what the United States must be about to win some of the hearts and minds of people around the world who9 otherwise are prone to follow charismatic terrorists or their ideas. Would the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon have been prevented with more foreign aid? Almost certainly not. The idea is preposterous. As the last remaining superpower, a beacon of freedom and opportunity and a super-sized advocate of capitalism, there will always be people looking to build themselves up by kicking us in the shins. It's also true that we get less credit for the good we do in the world than we have coming to us. It all comes with the territory.

But there's still great value in discussing what is the U.S. role in the world and our obligation to provide foreign aid. The issues are difficult and complex in a world in which friends and enemies can switch in an instant. But there's no denying that we looked the other way when the Taliban suited our needs. There's also little doubt that the world is a better place now that Afghanistan is free and the United States is helping to rebuild the country. Vance may even want to consult the Republican playbook because, while his party once scoffed at nation building, many in his party are now advocating it with missionary zeal.

It's easy to lose perspective in this holiday time when our homes are filled with toys, sweaters and kitten(sic) gadgets, that much of the world's workers earn barely a pittance and live primitive lives. That reality leaves us and them vulnerable to those who promise a better life by attacking the No. 1 target.

Working to change that equation not only helps people's lives around the world but also greatly benefits us by creating more stable societies and ultimately trading partners. The fact that Murray's question is viewed as provocative at all merely demonstrates how badly we need to have the discussion.

[Eva]

The Herald has already printed a letter from me on this subject and their rule is one letter a month, so this is up to the rest of you to respond. Please mention that the young woman who was killed in the clinic in Lebanon was a former resident of Whatcom County and that her family still lives in the area.

Letters to the editor may be e-mailed to letters@bellinghamherald.com, please include your name, town and telephone number so that the hearald can confirm your letter or they won't print it. They do not print the phone numbers.

[billorites]

Somebody slap me, but...

Doesn't this all point to a Republican sweep in 2004?

[07055]

Murray went on to provide answers to her questions. Bin Laden, she said, has been building schools, roads, health-care facilities and other infrastructure, while the United States has don comparatively little.

Notice the way they spin what Murray actually said. "Day care centers" didn't make it into Bin Laden's good works in this formulation.

"Comparatively little" wasn't in her actual quote either.

[Sally II]

"Both Democrats and Republicans play this game, but the result makes dialogue almost impossible at a time when we could use more thoughtful discussio9n about the world we live in."

Oh my God, this reminds me of an on-going argument I've been having with my leftist brother. Lefties have a strange sense of what "thoughtful discussion" means. Giving consideration to rediculous ideas is not, in my view, conducive to thoughtful discussion. How can you have a thoughful discussion with people who believe that the only truely open-minded person is someone who does not contradict their messed up world-view? I don't see these same people taking non-judgmental, open-minded stances on Bush's tax cut plan. At some point people become so "open-minded" that they are incapable of seeing the most obvious facts in front of their noses.

[07055]

In fact, that is not at all what she said and twisting her words does a great disservice to an attempt to raise an important, though controversial, issue. Murray did not praise bin Laden in any way.

But, Trent Lott called for the reinstitution of slavery, right?

[NativeNewYorker]

Here's their edit page editor:

Nielsen, Carolyn
cnielsen@bellinghamherald.com

[muawiyah]

The editors of the Bellingham Herald show their true allegiance - AlQaida knew what it was doing in setting up so terribly many "sleeper cells" in the PAC NW.

I think the Constitution provides that the US government can guarantee a republican form of government to any state. Obviously it is long overdue for the federales to move into Washington state in force and do whatever it is that needs to be done to bring those people back into line.

[Eva]

Let the Herald readers know what you think.

[11B3]

Living amongst these people is trying (at best) quite often. If it weren't for the scenery, the lack of state income tax, and the moderate weather, I'd live elsewhere.

Should some dire event bring about total anarchy here, at least I know that I live in an obscenely target rich environment. Hunting will be good.

[Eva]

I did notice that they left out all mention of the day care centers. They spun Murray's words to make them more coherent and slightly more resonable. The problem with liberals is that they think that the rest of us are all so stupid that we need them to take care of us.

The pompous arrogance of their condescension is is always aggravating.

[Eva]

A liberal's idea of being open-minded is to accept any other religion other than Christianity, any economic system other than capitalism and any form of gov't other than the US constitution (as written).

The left won't listen to any other point of view because they think that we are all too stupid know any better and that we need them to take care of us.

[07055]

Apart from anything else she said, the day care center comment is as stupid as anything Dan Quayle was ever accused of saying. But, of course, the media will never report it.

[Eva]

I think that you have pretty accurate picture of the politics of Washington State. They recently approved a gerrymander of districts which removes the strongest conservative district in the state from Whatcom Co. and forms a long narrow district which extends to King Co., nullifying any vote from Eastern Whatcom county.

[LiberalBuster]

>>"Both Democrats and Republicans play this game, but the
>>result makes dialogue almost impossible at a time when
>>we could use more thoughtful discussio9n about the world
>>we live in."

I don't recall the media complaining about the RATs during the debates on welfare reform. They accused Republicans of wanting to kill children and starve the poor. And, these were their more mild comments. So, I get a certain amount of satisfaction that Republicans are using war and patriotism to smear RATs. However, with that said, I must confess I don't like it. I cringe every time Hannity labels someone "un-American" or "un-patriotic" for voicing even an ounce of reflection on the war with Iraq.

[Eva]

Opinion Journal reported that a poll among legislative aides in DC listed Patty Murray as the top candidate in the category, Not exactly a rocket scientist. Tell the Bellingham Herald.

[billhilly]

"In case you missed it, Murray spoke to a high school honors class in Vancouver, Wash., in mid-December and posed an intentionally provocative challenge about bin Laden who she called an "evil terrorist." She said, "We've got to ask why is this man so popular around the world? Why are people so supportive of him in many countries that are riddled with poverty?"

Why, pray God, would a United States Senator, in a room full of her intellectual superiors (They were high school honors students) make such assanine remarks?

[Eva]

The disingenuous comments with which the left criticizes the war in Iraq makes their comments unpatriotic. If they could raise legitimate concerns, it would be different. But, you can't be concerned about the welfare of the people of Iraq and support letting Saddam Hussein terrorize his own people. It doesn't make sense.

[Eva]

I think that claiming that bin Laden built, day cares, healthcare centers and roads praise. Lies and exaggerations, but still praise.

[Eva]

The herald editor admits that this is a complex subject, it's obviously much too complex for Patty Murray to understand.

Chris Vance has asked Patty Murray to take part in a public discussion on the issue, but she never responded.

[msgt]

Diplomacy: There's great value in discussing the U.S. role in an often unstable world and our obligation to provide foreign aid.

Where the heck in the Constitution does it say we have an "obligation to provide foreign aid."?