[bdeaner]

A Hanson slam dunk. This is one of the best editorials on foreign policy in the Mideast that I've read in a loooong time. Appeasement will get us nothing but more trouble. Period.

[an amused spectator]

Victor Davis Hanson (hero of the Free Republic) bump

[Mel Gibson]

We had also better reexamine entirely the way we use force in the Middle East. We did not drive on to Baghdad in 1991 out of concern for the "coalition" — and got 350,000 sorties in the no-fly zones in return. We chose to worry about rebuilding before the current war ended, and let thousands of Baathist killers fade away, and in the aftermath allowed mass looting and continual killing before our most recent get-tough policy.

In fact, anytime we have showed restraint — using battleship salvos and cruise missiles when our Marines were killed, our embassies blown up, and our diplomats murdered; allowing the killers on the Highway of Death to reach Basra in 1991; letting Saddam use his helicopters to gun down innocents — we have earned disdain, not admiration. In contrast, the hijackers chose not to take the top off the World Trade Center, but to incinerate the entire building — proof that they wished not to send us a message but to kill us all, and to kill us to the applause of millions, if the recent popularity of Osama bin Laden and his henchmen in the Arab street is any indication.

No discussion concerning the survival of Saddam Hussein without mentioning the role of former General Colin Powell's poor advice to President Bush and Bush's ill-advised decision to end the original Gulf War on February 28, 1991--before the surviving core of the defeated Iraqi army (mainly two divisions of the Republican Guard with most of their equipment) could be cut off and destroyed, or captured and disarmed.

Bush made his decision at the forceful behest of General Colin Powell, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell reportedly told Bush and the rest of the White House "High Command" that the remaining Iraqi army was totally defeated and in full retreat and that further attack would be a slaughter, both "UN-AMERICAN and UN-CHIVALROUS".

General Norman Schwarzkopf and his generals were collectively against the premature cease-fire, estimating one to three days more would be needed to cut off and finally trap the Republican Guard survivors (keep in mind we're not talking about going to Baghdad, but only blocking the road from Basra to Baghdad, which the U.S. 24th Mechanized Division and 101st Airborne were poised to do). But unfortunately, Schwarzkopt did not push this view to Bush, to whom he reported directly, a serious error of omission. No more Iraqis needed to have been killed. They had only to hoist a white flag or simply abandon their vehicles and equipment, and walk away. Powell knew all of this.

The Brits were furious about the cease-fire. So were the Saudis, Qataris and other Arab Gulf countries. In fact, Newsweek reported British Gulf commander Gen. Sir Peter de la Billiere went "ballistic" and British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd--who happened to be in Washington--jumped Bush about it immediately, unfortunately to no avail. Had the Guard and it's equipment been finally captured or destroyed, the Shiite rebellion in the South would probably have succeeded. Combined with the simultaneous Kurdish insurrection in the north, it was highly likely that Saddam would have chosen to take a hike and would not be a problem today. Had that happened, thousands of civilian lives would have been spared.

Saddam's survival led to the continued UN sanctions on Iraq. These have grievously persecuted a population that was powerless to overthrow a tyrant that the U.S. allowed to stay in power. Pre-Gulf War, this population greatly admired America and Americans.

[Gritty]

Hanson is a Democrat and gets it.

Why don't the others?

[an amused spectator]

In contrast, the hijackers chose not to take the top off the World Trade Center, but to incinerate the entire building — proof that they wished not to send us a message but to kill us all, and to kill us to the applause of millions, if the recent popularity of Osama bin Laden and his henchmen in the Arab street is any indication.

We've got a choice: Do we want flush toilets, or do we want to crap behind a rock?

The Dixie Chicks, Eminem and their like, apparently enjoy the prospect of using the nearest handy rock.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I have an idea of what fascism is but could someone give me a small summary of it is? I was recently at a rally to support the troops where I live and one of the few idiots who drive by and yell slurs at us patriots called us: Fascists! I was just wondering how supporting our troops makes me a fascist. Thanks.

[Rummyfan]

Bump for later.

[DCPatriot]

I keep thinking WMDs. Our lives and livlihoods would be changed in an instant.

We are certainly in a global struggle for Western Civilization.

[Britton J Wingfield]

ping. awesome essay.

[ladyinred]

Hanson is brilliant.

[VOA]

Hanson bump!

[primeval patriot]

bookmark

[sauropod]

read later

[Fishrrman]

Islam _is_ the culmination and combination of religion+facism. Nothing less.

It is antithetical to the concept of a loving, peaceful religion.

It is antithetical to the concept of democracy.

It is antithetical to the notion of "religious freedom".

It is diametrically opposed to EVERYTHING the Judeo-Christian West represents.

Islam and the Western World cannot co-exist in peace. One _must_ triumph over the other.

I prefer that it be OUR side that wins.

Am I implying that the inhabitants of today's Islamic nations can never adopt self-government, religious freedom, social tolerance, and reach peace with the rest of the world? No.

What I _am_ implying is that they can never truly accomplish such achievements so long as Islam lives within them and around them. Remove Islam from the equation, and anything might become possible.

If that means the complete and utter destruction of Islam as cult and religion is required in order to achieve such victory.... well, I won't go further....

In my backyard I have two apple trees. Each and every year, the apples fall to the ground, and each and every year, I have to pick them up and pitch them into the bushes to get rid of them.

If I truly want to rid myself of the problem of falling apples once and for all, what must I do?

Cheers!
- John