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."

[PhilDragoo]

The president said the terrorists have declared war on every free nation.

Add to the Jerusalem and Baghdad bombings, the two in Bombay and the apparently thwarted attempt to hijack a commercial aircraft in England.

This is a worldwide war on terror--Howard Dean and the French have surrendered.

Four more years of Bush-Cheney leadership and the magnificent performance of our men and women in the military will continue changing history.

Not just a regime--history.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...in order to kill all the terrorists, we would have to nuke Medina and/or Mecca, and destroy Islam..."

You can't destroy Islam, any more than Islam can destroy Christianity.

What Usama bin Laden and the Wahhabis are trying to do, is to get the West to do something like striking at Mecca, or Medina...it will in effect unite all of Islam under their banner, creating what Islam has lacked since the times of the Prophet.

Usama and the Wahhabis want to create a Caliphate, a Wahhabi Caliphate, and a united Islam.

[Cacophonous]

Hmm...I didn't even realize I'd had a post removed, and I've forgotten what was written in it. Are you sure it was mine? Why was it pulled?

[Cultural Jihad]

Hmm...I didn't even realize I'd had a post removed, and I've forgotten what was written in it. Are you sure it was mine? Why was it pulled?

Someone seems a little bit ... lost.

[Cultural Jihad]

For whatever reason, people like Caca-phony are busy carrying water for Osama bin Laden.

[Cacophonous]

But can you destroy terrorism?

[Poohbah]

But can you destroy terrorism?

Only if you can travel back in time and destroy the Nazi party before they could take power.

Modern terrorism, as a politco-military technique, is descended from the Brownshirts.

[Cacophonous]

For whatever reason, people like Caca-phony are busy carrying water for Osama bin Laden.

Is this post going to be pulled too? Or do they only pull unpopular ideas, and leave the lies and slander?

[Cacophonous]

I would argue its roots go back farther than that. But I agree with you on that.

[Cultural Jihad]

Advocacy of mass murder: "Unpopular ideas."

[Cacophonous]

Was it mass murder in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? How about when we outlawed the emperor and his religion? No, those were justified because of the American lives that were saved. I would make the same argument here: I would rather destroy Islam than lose one American.

Or has the Arab world justified itself in your eyes?

[Cultural Jihad]

I would rather destroy Islam than lose one American.

Osama bin Laden thanks you for your support.

[Cacophonous]

How is the destruction of Islam support for bin Laden?

[Cacophonous]

Oh I get it. You would rather sacrifice Americans in a long, drawn out guerilla war that saps US resources and resolve. I guess the lives of all those lovable Arabs mean more to you than those of the US soldiers.

[Cultural Jihad]

How is the destruction of Islam support for bin Laden?

Where have you destroyed Islam? All I see is your impotent bluster calling for the destruction of Islam.

[Cacophonous]

OK, we've reached the point where you are being intentionally obtuse.

Yes, I am calling for the destruction of Islam (whether through nuking cities or some other means). You would consider it mass murder.

I place the value of Americans over that of Islam. You appear to be calling for the deaths of American soldiers through a war against an enemy that fights with guerilla tactics and does not need to win in order to win.

You undoubtedly would have led the charge against Japan in WWII, and would have opposed President Truman's use of the bombs. It would have been mass murder.

[Poohbah]

How is the destruction of Islam support for bin Laden?

Can you kill all Muslims around the world at very close to the same time?

[Cultural Jihad]

I place the value of Americans over that of Islam.

So you wrongly think, since there are millions of patriotic Americans who are devout Muslims.

As I said, us conservatives are big on justice, and you can count on being called to task anytime you advocate an injustice, especially a violent one.

[Cacophonous]

So we're fighting terrorism, then, and not Islam. OK. Do you agree with Poohbah that terrorism can not be wiped out? Are conservatives of your variety big on common sense?