Attacks Reveal the Nature of Terrorism, Bush says ["terrorism violates every religion]

DoD - American Forces Press Service ^ | Aug. 25, 2003 | Jim Garamone

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Attacks Reveal the Nature of Terrorism, Bush says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2003 - The terrorist attacks in Baghdad and Jerusalem will serve as an added spur in the war on terror, President Bush said during his radio address Saturday.

In both cases, the terrorists struck innocents in an effort to impose Taliban- like regimes on the world.

On Aug. 19, a truck bomb exploded outside the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. The blast killed at least 20 people. "The U.N. personnel and Iraqi citizens killed in the bombings were engaged in a purely humanitarian mission," Bush said. "Men and women in the building were working on reconstruction, medical care for Iraqis and the distribution of food."

The U.N. representative for Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello was among the dead. U.S. officials said the bombing was likely the work of former members of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Also on Aug. 19, a suicide terrorist in Jerusalem murdered 20 innocent people riding a bus, including five Americans. "The killer had concealed under his clothing a bomb filled with metal fragments, designed to kill and injure the greatest number of people possible," Bush said. "Among the 110 people hurt were 40 children." The Israeli police said the bomber was from Hamas.

Bush said the two bombings reveal, once again, the nature of the terrorists, and why they must be defeated. "In their malicious view of the world, no one is innocent," he noted. "Relief workers and infants alike are targeted for murder. Terrorism may use religion as a disguise, but terrorism violates every religion and every standard of decency and morality."

The president said the terrorists have declared war on every free nation. "Their goals are clear: They want more governments to resemble the oppressive Taliban that once ruled Afghanistan," he said. "Terrorists commit atrocities because they want the civilized world to flinch and retreat so they can impose their totalitarian vision."

Bush said the United States will not flinch in this war on terror, and there will not be a retreat. "From Afghanistan to Iraq, to the Philippines and elsewhere, we are waging a campaign against the terrorists and their allies, wherever they gather, wherever they plan, and wherever they act," he said.

"This campaign requires sacrifice, determination and resolve, and we will see it through," he continued. "Iraq is an essential front in this war. Now we're fighting terrorists and remnants of that regime who have everything to lose from the advance of freedom in the heart of the Middle East."

The president said that most of Iraq is making steady progress toward reconstruction and a stable, self-governing society. "This progress makes the remaining terrorists even more desperate and willing to lash out against symbols of order and hope, like coalition forces and U.N. personnel," he said. "The world will not be intimidated. A violent few will not determine the future of Iraq, and there will be no return to the days of Saddam Hussein's torture chambers and mass graves."

Bush said Iraqis are working with coalition forces to stop these assassins. Coalition forces acting on tips from ordinary Iraqis are increasing raids, seizing weapons and capturing enemy leaders. "The United States, the United Nations and the civilized world will continue to stand with the people of Iraq as they reclaim their nation and their future," he said.

The president said that all nations face a challenge and a choice. He said "terrorists are testing our will, hoping we will weaken and withdraw. Yet across the world, they are finding that our will cannot be shaken. Whatever the hardships, we will persevere. We will continue this war on terror until all the killers are brought to justice. And we will prevail."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you, freekitty.

[McGavin999]

Don't be silly, you win absolutely nothing that way. We're going about it exactly right. If you bothered to read the Iranian thread you'd know the affect Iraq is having on that country. I also read today that some of the terrorist organizations are bouncing checks (including the checks they issued to turn out those massive "arab street" protests.

Iraq is pretty much like building a building. A couple of months go by and you don't really see much happening and then suddenly, the walls go up, the roof goes on, the building is fleshed out and people think these things happened overnight. They didn't.

There is a LOT going on in this war on terrorism that people don't see unless they look hard, but there is a firm foundation being layed that will support the next phase very well.

[Terp]

"Terrorism may use religion as a disguise, but terrorism violates every religion and every standard of decency and morality."

Sorry, I don't think the President get's it yet. Terrorism doesn't violate every religion. Those who take Islam seriously wouldn't and don't agree with the above quote Mr. President.

[templar]

... but terrorism violates every religion and every standard of decency and morality."

Does terrorism violate Islam and Islamic morlaity?

(I have a Koran, but I find researching it to be tedious at best and it's usually almost incomprehensible for a Christian since I have a different standard of evaluation than an Islamic would)

[windchime]

Bump!

Liberation isn't easy
Mona Charen

[Luis Gonzalez]

"We've already said the major combat operations are done; yet we have 156,000 soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors in the region, and many say that we don't have enough."

May I ask you were your military experience stems from?

You seem to be questioning military strategy in the aftermath of an armed conflict, and I would like to know your level of expertise on the subject.

During World War II, the last formal surrender by Japanese troops occurred on June 30, 1951, five years and 8 months after the conclusion of hostilities. Japan was occupied by U. S. forces until Sept. 8,1951.

You think we should have been out of Iraq in how long?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[Cultural Jihad]

"Terrorism may use religion as a disguise, but terrorism violates every religion and every standard of decency and morality."

[Cultural Jihad]

OK then, we are going about it wrong. We need to outlaw Islam, nuke Mecca and/or Medina and pave the entire area. Are we doing that?

Reason Number 71,321,732 that George W. Bush is President and Cacophonous is not.

[Cacophonous]

Iraq is pretty much like building a building. A couple of months go by and you don't really see much happening and then suddenly, the walls go up, the roof goes on, the building is fleshed out and people think these things happened overnight. They didn't.

That's a pretty good analogy, and you are right; I should be more patient.

[Cacophonous]

I don't think we should have been in there in the first place.

[Cacophonous]

Reason Number 71,321,732 that George W. Bush is President and Cacophonous is not.

Please list the others.

[Cultural Jihad]

Go play with your toys and leave the adults to deal with adult issues.

[Poohbah]

I also read today that some of the terrorist organizations are bouncing checks (including the checks they issued to turn out those massive "arab street" protests.

Do tell. Some of the banks these folks use aren't known for their "kinder, gentler" overdraft policies.

[Cacophonous]

I don't understand your objections to what I said, which was in order to kill all the terrorists, we would have to nuke Medina and/or Mecca, and destroy Islam. Are you, like so many liberals, under the illusion that Islam is a religion of peace, and that Islamic nations can be "reformed" into democracies?

[Cacophonous]

Hehe...serves the "protestors" right for not insisting on cash.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I do, I think it made a whole lot of sense to do so.

We were attacked on 9/11, we know a few concrete things about those who attacked us.

They despise us, they seek to destroy us, and they hide in that shadow world where no one country owns up to them.

We have to destroy those people, or they will destroy us...those people are Islamofascists.

Saddam Hussein "had" the strongest and largest Armed Forces in that region of the world, so you take him out first, and use his country as a staging center for taking out the rest of the scumbag governments sponsoring all these terrorist activities...one by one.

Too harsh?

Look at the pictures of the people hoding babies out the windows at the Twin Towers, and remember the choice they had to make, drop them to their death, or hold them until they burnt to death.

Sophies choice was easier.

Next, we take out Iran, and keep the Saudis in the crosshairs.

And we ravage THEIR soil with war...not ours.

[Poohbah]

They DID insist on cash...so the Islamists wrote ("kited") checks.

Vinnie, Luigi, and Rocko are looking for 'em.

The need to beware of people saying "Salaam Aleikim to youse" with a New Jersey accent :o)

[Cultural Jihad]

I don't understand your objections to what I said...

It wasn't me who removed your post which was apparently in violation of posting rules. If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to the owner or his agents.

You will find that conservatives are big on justice, and being a loon calling for nuking the Middle East is pretty high on the injustice scale.