Fighting the War on Terror

Authored by Michael Pate on September 7th, 2003 at 10:00 PM

That�s why I left Metafilter too, James. On September 12, when I saw people whose opinions I had sorta-kinda agreed with up until then, start to blame America for the genocidal hatred that we witnessed the day before. It took the Metafilter crowd one day to get over it—and nowadays they�re openly on the side of the killers. It�s a community, all right; a community of benighted, lost souls. - Charles Johnson

The sheikhdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by King Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz al-Saud, operates without any elected representatives or constitution and has been America’s best arms customer during the 1990s. President Clinton has approved $23.8 billion in licenses and sales to Saudi Arabia since 1993, including some of the most sophisticated weapons the U.S. produces: General Dynamics M1A2 Abrams tanks, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Strike Eagle attack aircraft, and Rockwell GBU-15 smart bombs. Saudi Arabia also buys arms directly from American corporations, bypassing Pentagon middlemen; purchases include the $300 million upgrade and support system for the Peace Shield radar system that the country bought directly from Raytheon in 1998. The kingdom may also make its next purchase of F-16 fighters directly from Lockheed Martin, much as Singapore did in 1997. All these goodies for a country that is located at the heart of an unstable region, is still technically at war with Israel, and grows increasingly resentful of Western influence. - Mat Honan

As long as they pump the crude, I think Bush will continue to turn a blind eye to our most dangerous enemy. - Oliver Willis

It is time that the United States begins the process of withdrawing our troops, and allow a UN peacekeeping force to take over the reconstruction of Iraq. In their rush to war, the Administration failed to adequately prepare for the post-invasion period. Negotiations for an exit must begin now. An exit agreement with the United Nations must involve the US letting go of the contracting process. The UN must also take over management, accounting and distribution to the Iraqi people of Iraq’s oil profits. Additionally, a transition from UN control to self- determined governing structure by and for the Iraqi people must be planned. Finally, the Administration, which unwisely ordered the bombing, must fund the reconstruction. - Dennis Kucinich

I endorse Dennis Kucinich for President of the US. We need an elected president who will support the freedom and interests all Americans, not just the rich few. - Richard Stallman

And for America, there will be no going back to the era before September the 11th, 2001 — to false comfort in a dangerous world. We have learned that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness. And the surest way to avoid attacks on our own people is to engage the enemy where he lives and plans. We are fighting that enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan today so that we do not meet him again on our own streets, in our own cities. - George W. Bush

Editorial: Bush is a lying liar. Even worse, everyone knows he’s lying. Doing what’s right for the Iraqi people? No one in the US cares about Iraq. $87 billion. Say that out loud. $87,000,000,000. We’re stuck in Iraq, it’s a quagmire. There’s no way out. We’re f***ed. End of editorial. - Dave Winer

The next president will need to undo the work of this band of radicals currently controlling our foreign policy � who view the Middle East as a laboratory for their experiments in democracy-building, where no such traditions exist. Their approach will drastically change the view that the world has had of the United States. - Howard Dean

The Middle East will either become a place of progress and peace, or it will be an exporter of violence and terror that takes more lives in America and in other free nations. The triumph of democracy and tolerance in Iraq, in Afghanistan and beyond would be a grave setback for international terrorism. The terrorists thrive on the support of tyrants and the resentments of oppressed peoples. When tyrants fall, and resentment gives way to hope, men and women in every culture reject the ideologies of terror, and turn to the pursuits of peace. Everywhere that freedom takes hold, terror will retreat. - George W. Bush

Conclusions: Bill would seem to have had a warm relationship with Saudi Arabia. Howard thinks that democracy is a form of government reserved for those worthy of it. Dave is focusing only on the monetary cost and says no one cares about the Iraqis. Dennis cares about the Iraqis but wants to increase the cost. How this would help the non-rich many that Richard supports escapes me, but he, like everyone else, is entitled to support the candidate of his choice.

Addendum: At Oliver’s request, I have removed the conclusion I drew from his statements.

Links in this entry:

Bush is a lying liar
Bush: It's Not Just His Doctrine That's Wrong
Guns for Oil
Kucinich Calls for U.N. to Replace U.S. In Iraq
Lileks on Metafilter
President Bush Addressed the Nation Sunday Night
President Bush Addressed the Nation Sunday Night
Richard Stallman's Personal Home Page
Saudi Arabia: The Threat

Comments

How about you not put words in my mouth? I believe that terrorism, funded and supported by the Saudis is our number one enemy. Our president has done very little to fight this.

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