Posted on 06/17/2004 1:46:53 PM PDT by quidnunc
Thank you to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy for sponsoring this important symposium on the future of Iraq and the war on terrorism. Through gatherings such as this one, the Foundation is helping “lead the war of ideas in the battle between freedom and totalitarianism.”
Today I want to discuss the war we are waging against Islamic terrorists in Iraq and around the world, and to argue that it is fundamentally a war of ideas and a war of values, a war of conflicting visions of humans and history, of faith and country. The war on terrorism we are fighting goes to the very heart of America's national purpose and national security. Our core principles of freedom and opportunity are at stake.
In the flurry of news bombarding us each day of the ups and downs from all fronts in the war on terrorism, it is easy to forget the larger ideals that it is all about. Car bombings in Baghdad… pipeline attacks in Riyadh… assassination attempts in Islamabad… foiled terrorist plots in Thailand… victories in Afghanistan… arrests in Columbus, Ohio… may cause people to lose sight of the values we are fighting for in this war — and the values we are fighting against.
We cannot let that happen. A democracy such as ours can only go to war and win with the informed support of the people.
The terrorists can never defeat us militarily. But they can divide us and defeat us politically if the American people become disappointed and disengaged, because they don't appreciate and support the overriding principles that require us to take military action. The same, of course, is true for our allies in Europe, Asia and throughout the Muslim world. They need to better understand and embrace our purpose and what it means for them.
What we are fighting for in Iraq and around the world is freedom. What we are fighting against is an Islamic terrorist totalitarian movement which is as dire a threat to individual liberty as the fascist and communist totalitarian threats we faced and defeated were in the last century.
What we are fighting for is an expanding worldwide community of democracies. What we are fighting against is the prospect of a new evil empire, a radical Islamic caliphate which would suppress the freedom of its people and threaten the security of every other nation's citizens.
The Chinese strategist Sun Tzu said that the keys to victory in any armed struggle are to “know thyself” and to “know thy enemy.” His ancient wisdom should guide our modern conflict.
To win the war on terrorism, we must better understand ourselves and our enemies.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at defenddemocracy.org ...
Lieberman gets it right.
Link leads to "Document not found". Would love to read the whole speach. Heard a little of him on Hannity today.
Joe Lieberman gets it, I wonder when he will start campaigning for Dubya?
"I wonder when he will start campaigning for Dubya?"
He won't. The man is smart, but he is a political coward.
Lieberman is the only Dem who doesn't sicken me. (Damning with faint praise?) LOL
Your probably correct, but there is no doubt that Joe Lieberman is one of the few democrats who still love this thing we call liberty
"...Joe Lieberman is one of the few democrats who still love this thing we call liberty"
I'm sure you're right, but love demands more than lip service - it demands action to bring about the desired result.
Regards, Ivan
He is a coward. Good word. His twisting facts around to suit the DemocRAT lies are very transparent, so much so you can see the internal struggle on his face sometimes. He is disingenuous, fake, and lacking in character, but I still like him a little bit. At least he "gets it." Cheney handed him his lunch during the vp debates - talk about 2 different levels of talent, and brains. Cheney made him look like a ten year old schoolboy!
Lieberman has been pretty consistant, even when he was campaigning. But his actions after accepting Gore's VP offer in 2000 was disgraceful
"But his actions after accepting Gore's VP offer in 2000 was disgraceful"
And that's a prime example which demonstrates his cowardice, or maybe "politcal opportunism" would be more accurate in this case.
Sad if true. But Lieberman is exactly the kind of non-radicalized Democrat that the party may have to turn to after getting slaughtered in November. I really feel that Bill Clinton gutted the Democratic party. His politics of polarization pushed the Left and the Right much further apart, with him at the fulcrum in the center wielding much more power than would have otherwise been possible.
Now what are the Democrats left with, a few good Senators and a bunch of wacko leftists from safe seats in the House. Most of the moderates have left. The party will have to really reinvent itself if it's ever going to compete seriously for the Presidency.
At least in some areas, Lieberman gets it.
I wonder if he knows that the enemy in "knowing our enemy" includes the person with which he ran, and the person for which he will vote in November?
I see him in the middle between Zell Miller and YYYEEAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
The link works perfectly for me — and I tested it several times.
Search on Google for "Foundation for Defense of Democracies" and the speech will be on the home page.
Here's the URL of the speech:
http://www.defenddemocracy.org/in_the_media/in_the_media_show.htm?doc_id=228970&attrib_id=7377
Regards, Ivan
Thanks much, URL worked perfectly (and was on the original posting if I'd have been thinking).
Zell Miller. :)
Has President Bush ever used the words "Islamic" and "terrorism" together just as Lieberman does so (correctly) here??
How about Zell Miller who is a dem and IS supporting W?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.