Do the insurgents in Iraq see their battle as won or lost by November 2, 2004 election?

Victor Hanson's private papers ^ | October 4, 2004 | Victor Hanson

[Retief]

Do the insurgents in Iraq see their battle as won or lost by November 2, 2004 election?

Hanson: That is hard to tell, since the more critical date is the Iraqi elections in January which if successful will make the terrorists’ murdering even more difficult, inasmuch as they really will be seen as reactionaries fighting an elected government.

One thing is clear, however, that the antagonism toward Bush throughout much of the Middle East and in the Arab World in general is in part attributable to his questioning of the global status quo, which was corrupt and amoral.

When a President reexamines why we still have troops in Saudi Arabia or Germany, or why we negotiate with terrorists and killers like Arafat, or why should we keep the Taliban or Saddam Hussein in their boxes with cruise missiles only—there are bound to be repercussions. It may be reductionist, but I still ask myself, “Who would our enemies or former friends prefer to win the election?”— then I simply vote in opposite fashion.

[MNJohnnie]

After seeing Kerry's "Global Test" "Nuke Fuel for the Mullahs", Unilateral American Nuke Freeze, and Bi-lateral talks with NK gaffes Thursday night, it is simple choice.

Vote Bush 2004, America cannot survive a 9-10 President in a 9-11 world.

[DSBull]

The main problem in the Middle East isn't us, it is the corrupt dictatorships like Saudi Arabia and others who desperately oppress their people.

We are just a target because we are seen as helping these governments, which we have been.

Now having said that, let me clarify, I mean that the average resident who lives in the dictatorships believe this.

Terrorists, believe nothing. They only want to kill all westerners and those Arabs and Muslims that support us or don't support them. They are like gangsters that believe it is easier to make corpses than converts..

Bush has done, finally, what this country should have done long ago, and we had better stay the course or we are going to have more UBL's than we can handle...

My opinion, for what it is worth...

[MNJohnnie]

Bush has done, finally, what this country should have done long ago, and we had better stay the course or we are going to have more UBL's than we can handle...

Yep, but it easy to say that when you don't take into consideration the realities of Cold War Geopolitics. One war at a time. We won the Cold War, Clinton tried to put this one off. Now we are fighting this one.

[kingu]

The victory for the terrorists isn't the outcome of the United States election, it is in how many new walking bombs they can generate in as short as time as possible.

I love how people tend to drag on Bush for an exit strategy, the terrorists have absolutely none. Nine times out of ten, they don't even have a NOW strategy, aside from making as many walking and driving bombs as possible. You can't even imply that they're smart weapons, since there's no goal involved.

It's like an afterthought. "Release all the women prisoners." Err.. Yeah, umm, there's only two. "Release them all!" Hmm. Well, which would you like, Anthrax Annie or Chemical Cindy? "Don't care, release them all." Well, what if we did. "Then.. Err. Then you must release all the men!"

Couldn't they at least PRETEND that they want Saddam to be released? I mean, hell, half the time, they act like liberals (and some conservatives) on a horrible drug trip, kidnapping people to prevent outsourcing of jobs from Iraq, or that is how it appears. "No truck drivers from Turkey, or we take his/her head!" Great, whatcha gonna do, drive it yourself, Mohamed? Because if you don't, that small town over there will die of thirst because one of your 'smart bombs' went and blew up the town's water pipeline.

Oh, sure, yeah, more terror for the people, including all those 'smart bombs' you stashed in that town. Brilliant.

[Retief]

Do the insurgents in Iraq see their battle as won or lost by November 2, 2004 election?

Hanson answers the question by saying that "a Bush victory doesn’t mean . . . that they are completely lost". However, it's pretty clear that a Bush victory would greatly demoralize the insurgents Islamofacists.

The converse is also true, although unstated. A Kerry victory would greatly encourage the Islamofacists.

[Eastbound]

"Again, one great speech by Bush on the moral and political reasons why we are in Iraq, and how this necessary sacrifice represents the best of what America stands for could make all the difference in the world, and seal his victory."

Something to consider.

[Billthedrill]

Remember, too, that the Islamists see a monolithic anti-Bush opinion in Europe - a principal source of their own news - that leads many to overestimate Kerry's chances. I think that re-electing Bush will cause a good deal of bewilderment in folks who believe their own press just a bit too much. Then anger. And then, I hope, despair.

[DSBull]

I was referring to Bush 41 on, sorry for not being clear.

During WW2 these Islamofascists supported Hitler, so they go what they deserved their, occupation.

[Retief]

That's true. One great GWB speech would go a long way, and he gives some pretty good speeches. See this article, The surprisingly good speeches of President Bush:

George W. is more plainspoken than Reagan, but capable of getting off quite moving and poetic lines of his own, when the occasion calls for it, as in his term it again and again has. On these occasions, W. usually (but not always) relies on shrewdly chosen words from the American tradition to carry him, whose sentiments he obviously feels keenly. Just behind his plainspokenness, one can see a serious, deeply convicted man.

Here are some nice excerpts from GWB speeches:

"We stand for the permanent hopes of humanity, and those hopes will not be denied....We did not ask for this mission, yet there is honor in history's call....This calling is worthy of any life, and worthy of every nation. So let us go forward, confident, determined, and unafraid."

Every one of you is dedicated to something greater than yourself. You put your country ahead of your comfort. You live by a code, and you fight for a cause. And I'm honored to be your Commander-in-Chief."

America is a nation full of good fortune, with so much to be grateful for. But we are not spared from suffering. In every generation, the world has produced enemies of human freedom. They have attacked America, because we are freedom's home and defender. And the commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time.

My favorite:

We cannot know every turn this battle will take. Yet we know our cause is just and our ultimate victory is assured. We will, no doubt, face new challenges. But we have our battle orders: My fellow Americans, let's roll.

Let's roll! We got an election to win and Islamofacist Nazis to defeat.

[Eastbound]

"In every generation,
the world has produced
enemies of human freedom.
They have attacked America
because we are freedom's home
and defender. And the commitment
of our fathers is now the calling of our time."
-- President George W. Bush

Great quotes. Thanks for posting them.