Posted on 12/29/2002 1:07:49 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
Patty Murray: Senator and The Times both missing point about bin Laden
I agree that some of those criticizing Sen. Patty Murray's comments on Osama bin Laden have political motivation, but I think The Times ("Those silly attacks on Sen. Patty Murray," Opinion, Dec. 24) and Murray are both missing the point. Murray rhetorically asks how the Middle East would look if "we had been there helping them (build roads, schools, etc.) rather than just ... going to bomb in Iraq and go to Afghanistan."
First, the money which bin Laden, Hamas, etc., spend around the world, both for terrorism and for their "community-building" efforts (which, by the way, include virulent anti-Western propaganda aimed at millions of school-age children), comes from Western economies, for oil. We don't "just bomb."
Second, there are geopolitical legacies which have created problems in the Middle East and for which the U.S. shares responsibility, but the fact is that many of the regimes in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq among them, have had the better part of the last half of the 20th century to use their oil money to build broad-based economies and pluralistic democracies; they have not done this.
Third, the militant Islamic vision of bin Laden would not have been altered by U.S. aid programs. It is a reaction against modernity itself and its vision is the destruction of the West. There is no room for negotiation with this ideology and no hope of placating its adherents. To misunderstand this is dangerous.
To ignore these aspects of the issues is to leave the students with an incomplete view, ultimately skewing the policies these young people might build should they have the opportunity. This is my problem with Murray's dialogue.
David Landsman, Mercer Island
Misguided message
A few days ago our senior senator, Patty Murray, explained what is wrong with the U.S. foreign policy. It should be more like the policy of Osama bin Laden! Now that is a big jolt to people who live where I do. I have some news for Murray. The reason why bin Laden is so popular in certain Islamic circles is due to his success in killing Americans and other Westerners. He is not the male counterpart of Mother Teresa, no matter what our misguided senator thinks.
We are at war, just the same as we were when we took on Hitler and others 60 years ago. I remember those times well and I cannot imagine a member of Congress paying tribute to Hitler.
The idea that Osama has done more than the U.S. to build up other countries in useful ways is totally brain-dead. One of the worst things about the whole mess is that she didn't deliver this speech before the Senate, where there are many people who could have set her straight. She delivered it to high-school youth, where it may be possible to misinform and subvert them.
Lou Christen, Seattle
Partisanship
Your editorial defending Sen. Patty Murray is the most blatant, partisan editorial I have ever read outside of Pravda. It just proves how extreme-left your paper is.
As a former Marine officer who served his country well, it offends me greatly to have a senator who is so anti-American as Murray get away with such treasonous and stupid comments.
She and your paper will be widely quoted by al-Qaida and Saddam. Our military-service people who are in harm's way protecting Murray will not have their morale enhanced by this.
Robert Johnston, Camano Island
Unfair criticism
Your editorial accusing Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance and Rep. George Nethercutt of shenanigans for criticizing Sen. Patty Murray about her comments regarding Osama bin Laden was totally off-base, unfair and inaccurate in its assertions.
The Times quoted an unnamed "bin Laden expert" stating that "the senator's comments were mostly accurate." Whoever that "bin Laden expert" might be and whatever he might have said, the fact is that the consensus among journalists, intelligence experts and others who closely follow the bin Ladens is that Osama bin Laden has done very little to help poor Arab or Muslim people.
Because of his enormous wealth, bin Laden was able to utilize some of his money to build some roads and facilities, but all with the clear purpose of influencing local people in his efforts to impose his fanatical brand of Islam. He does not and never had any altruistic motive. It is incomprehensible that The Times would not take the trouble to ascertain the facts before it decides to attack Vance and Nethercutt. The supreme irony in this debate is that here we have a liberal politician like Murray who advocates equal rights for women going out of her way to "understand" the motives of a terrorist who firmly believes that all women are inferior to men and that they should be hidden behind veils.
Ron Kanjilal, North Bend
Hiding from critics
I'm glad to hear that you still staunchly defend Sen. Patty Murray's stupid comments. Does this mean that you agree that we don't do enough to help others? Do you have pictures of the day-care facilities that Osama helped build?
At least when Sen. Trent Lott was caught saying something stupid he faced his critics. Murray is hiding.
Maybe it is true what is said about her — she is not the brightest light in the Senate. Maybe her handlers are keeping her under wraps because they know that any dialogue she enters into will only make her look worse than she already does. Whatever the case, The Times shouldn't be defending her refusal to answer those who disagree with her. Last time I looked she represented everyone in Washington, not just the Democrats.
Janet Suppes, Bellevue
Sort of like describes the soccer mom in tennis shoes, eh?
Senator Cantwell and Senator Stupid are the Senate equivalents of Dumb and Dumber.
No pro-Murray letters listed...odd.
Not much doubt about that. Cynthia isn't all that dumb, she just SOUNDS dumb because her world-view is so paranoid and crazy.
Patty is in a league by herself when it comes to dumb. She has that deer in the headlights look ALL the time. Cynthia just has it occasionally, when her world-view comes up against some irrefutable fact or other (like a crashing defeat in the Dem primary for example.)
Now Cynthia's daddy - HE's dumb!
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