Zinni seems to have forgotten that they didn't like us long before Iraq. They disliked us enough to hijack planes and crash into tall office buildings murdering thousands, and then to cheer such activities. And if people misjudge and irrationally misrepresent our motives, that is more their fault than ours. And in any event, democratization of Iraq and hopefully of the Middle East was a long term proposition, not a short term fix, and was never advertised as the latter. It is addressing the "root causes", something that liberals usually call for, but when Republicans do it, decry.
Yes, some people have short memories. Not only the attacks on 9/11, but the attack in NY in '93, and all the hijackings, bombings and assassinations between 1968 and 1993 that took place in Europe and Africa. And that's just against the 'western' targets. Let us not forget the attacks in Kenya, in Bali, in Saudi Arabia and Iraq and Turkey. The Arab extremist terrorists must not be placated and must not be appeased. We must kill them, arrest them, and destroy them and their ideology.
One thing I will say is that I think we have not done enough on the latter front. We must embark on a full scale propaganda war. Bush's speech on Monday is a start, but we must make certain to explain our motives and to explain how the extremists are to blame. Just like they issue their silly 'demands' that the USA must do XYZ to end terrorism, we must issue our call that the extremists must end their activities in order that the world be a better, more productive place.