Posted on 04/21/2003 6:24:31 AM PDT by knighthawk
THE US was attacked a little more than 1½ years ago.
This assault was the product of two decades of US weakness in the face of terror and three decades of US fecklessness in the Middle East.
From the barely-responded-to bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983 to the host of subsequent, little-noticed or quickly forgotten attacks in the later '80s and in the '90s, the US came to be seen as a "weak horse". That characterisation was Osama bin Laden's, and he made it with reason.
Similarly, from the oil embargo of 1973 through to the destruction of a free and democratic Lebanon in the mid '70s by the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Syrians, to the Khomeini revolution in Iran, the accelerated Saudi export of violent Wahhabi Islam to the US and the world, and Saddam Hussein's brutalities in the '80s and '90s, the US rolled with the punches.
Hussein, to cite an egregious example, was allowed to stay in power after being routed in the Gulf War, then held accountable only on rare occasions for continually violating the ceasefire he signed.
Along the way, the US decided its proper response to Middle East tyranny and brutality should be not to punish our enemies and stand up for our principles, but rather to focus on a "peace process" between democratic Israel and the master terrorist Yasser Arafat.
But that era – in which the US stance was one of doubt, weakness and retreat, in which the US failed to affirm its most cherished principles or even stand up for itself – came to an end on September 11, 2001.
The US committed itself to defeating terror around the world. It committed itself to reshaping the Middle East so the region would no longer be a hotbed of terrorism, extremism, anti-Americanism and weapons of mass destruction.
The first two battles of this new era are now over. The battles of Afghanistan and Iraq have been won decisively and honourably.
But these are only two battles. We are only at the end of the beginning in the war on terror and terrorist states.
The Taliban regime that provided safe haven and support for al-Qa'ida has been removed, and up to 2 million Afghan refugees have gone home. One of the two dangerous rogue regimes that have dominated the Persian Gulf – the political heart of the volatile and crucial Middle East – has been overthrown. About 50 million Muslims, liberated from brutal governments, now have a chance to live decent and normal lives.
THE war on terror, meanwhile, has gone extraordinarily well. Though the threat of another serious terrorist strike on the US has not vanished, there has been none since the attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon on September 11.
Law enforcement authorities have uprooted al-Qa'ida sleeper cells at home and friendly governments have cracked down on anti-American terrorists abroad.
The US is a strong nation. But a successful response to the challenges that culminated in September 11 was by no means inevitable. Let's be honest, and let's even run the risk of being denounced for partisanship: If Bill Clinton had still been president on September 11, and were still president now, the Taliban might be gone, but Hussein would still be in power, and we would still be considering PC-acceptable ways to fight the war on terror at home and UN-acceptable ways to do so abroad.
Leadership matters. President George W. Bush, above all, but also Vice-President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Attorney-General John Ashcroft, among others, have risen to the challenge of September 11.
The US military has risen to the challenge with two brilliant and innovative campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The American people, too, have risen to the challenge.
Many battles remain to be fought, both military and political, many tests of America's resolve.
But the war on terror and terrorist states – the defining challenge of this moment – is well-begun.
William Kristol is editor of The Weekly Standard in Washington, from which this article is reprinted.
Perhaps, but I think in the end the Republicans will come to regret their slide into the neocon's liberalism.
J
The United States has never been afraid to smit her enemies. It has nothing to do with fear; but everything to do with restraint and reason. The USA acts with caution and with resolve.
I believe I speak for the vast silent majority of Americans who has always known that militarily, the USA is superior to any force on the planet. We are slow to act militarily because it is not the American nature to want to destroy and kill. But when forced to face the truth about the never-ending threat of terrorists attacks on our soil, be assured, there is no fear. We will take care of business.
The rest of the world sometimes gets a warped impression of the American resolve; they pay too much attention to the vocal minority who gives the wrong impression of our country.
To the countries of the world who might think they will be allowed to continue to terrorize America, be it know that the USA is not afraid; has never been afraid. She is steadfast in her resolve. Don't tread on her unless you are willing to feel her rath.
Kristol feels safe taking a shot at Reagan in Australia, I see.
William Kristol is editor of The Weekly Standard in Washington, from which this article is reprinted.
I don't like most of the neo-cons, nor am I big Bill Kristol fan, but give the devil his due. This was not an overseas shot - this was a shot in Washington that got picked up and reprinted in a foreign publication.
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