Hit Them and They’ll Run World’s Perception of U.S. on the line in Iraq

The American Enterprise Online ^ | 4/4/03 | Marni Soupcoff

[moneyrunner]

BTTT

[expatpat]

I guess the anti-war wimps in the US actually hurt the country more than most of us realize.

[vollmond]

It is a chance to show, once and for all, that the Americans are a strong, proud, brave, and unwavering people. And that if you hit them, they will not run. They will fight. Honorably, honestly, and righteously.

In a time and place of our choosing, with overwhelming firepower directed at the correct targets, sparing as much of the innocent as possible, and willing to help rebuild a peaceful and free society when we're done.

[denydenydeny]

Bump. Thanks for posting this.

[Wonder Warthog]

"It is a chance to show, once and for all, that the Americans are a strong, proud, brave, and unwavering people. And that if you hit them, they will not run. They will fight. Honorably, honestly, and righteously."

More accurately stated--Americans are all of the above AND they are VERY slow to anger, but, once aroused, they are terrible adversaries.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This is why the current war in Iraq is so vital, even beyond the important objectives of liberating the Iraqi people and containing a brutal dictator who has been building up weapons of mass destruction (which would of course be reasons enough). It is also an opportunity for the United States to destroy the perception that it is a weak, incapable power that will not fight back if attacked.

And an excellent opportunity to expose Islamists for the sniveling cowards that they are, as they scatter like cockroaches into the Iraqi woodwork.

[LS]

Like the Democrats, I think the third-world tinpots and the terroists need a new playbook. Those wars were conducted under DEMOCRATIC "regimes" (to use Bob Kerry's words).

The wheel has turned.

[Paleo Conservative]

Those wars were conducted under DEMOCRATIC "regimes" (to use Bob Kerry's words).

It was Sen. John Kerry from MA not former Sen. Bob Kerr from NE.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Those wars were conducted under DEMOCRATIC ...regimes

The take-away message for terrorist is, support Democrats inside the US and attack US forces and interests whenever there is a Democrat in the White House.

[Valin]

IMO the difference between the anit-war and the pro-American people is the assumtions.
Anti-war assume Amerca is bad(wrong, misguided, nothing special).
Pro-Americans assume we are good(a force for freedom, right, The guys in the white hats)

[Mr. Mojo]

allowed a perception to develop that the U.S. would not defend itself or fight back against those who attacked it.

Yep....and the author neglected to mention our doing absolutely nothing about the 241 Marines who were killed by a suicide/homicide bomber in Lebanon in '83. Reagan's first instinct was to retaliate harshly against Syria, but Weinberger successfully convinced him that our Saudi "friends" would be none too happy about such an approach. This non-action convinced Islamoterrorists worldwide that we were too weak-minded to fight them, and encouraged them to commit more ambitious atrocities.

I'm a big Gipper fan, but this was undoubtedly his worst moment.

[Publius6961]

but because they allowed a perception to develop that the U.S. would not defend itself or fight back against those who attacked it.

And if Algore had been elected, it is a perfectly reasonable and accurate perception.
Bombs would be exploding around him and he would be out destroying those evil SUVs.

[Valin]

I't been said before but it's still true that "The world is becoming a small place." And we really can't afford to have people like sadam and his ilk running their little games.
freeper Powerhorn said the other day, George Bush really wants to change the world. Weather this is good or bad, possible or not I make no comment on at this time but I do think this is the plan.
Which begs the question does the war in Iraq get in the way of the war on terror, or did 9-11 get in the way of Bush's plan(?) to make major changes in the world?

[Publius6961]

Americans will respond to violence against them with little more than harsh words and a tendency to pack up and head home.

A fatal error.

A couple of things are becoming clear:
There is no advantage in being the superpower if we are too timid to actually excercise that power.
For generations, the bad guys noticed that our desire to be "liked" had brought us exactly to that impasse.

The evil in the world had no problem exploiting that idiocy.

[SlickWillard]

This chick is really hot [and sports some damned fine jugs], but she can't seem to decide on a 'do:

The American Enterprise

Institute for Justice

The Iconoclast

[submarinerswife]

We give lend too much credence to the Anti-War weinies. It is the situation in Vietnam, Somalia and crappy diplomacy panedering that gave that perception to Al-Quieda. THANK YOU BILL CLINTON!!!! I hope that Afganistan and Iraq will make them understand that we won't hesitate...ever again to smash them.

[submarinerswife]

She is prettier as a blonde. No comment on the "jugs".

[Valin]

That was THEN...this is NOW.

[Valin]

I just like her for har mind.

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