On President George W. Bush’s 9/11/06 Address
Americans have strong feelings one way or another about the Global War on Terrorism. Whether or not the people of this great nation agree, President Bush made several good points:
* (Terrorists) are evil and kill without mercy.
* (They practice) a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent.
* We know that if they were able to get their hands on weapons of mass destruction, they would use them against us.
* If we do not defeat these enemies now, we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons.
However, I disagree with the President’s statement "We have learned that they form a global network of extremists who are driven by a perverted vision of Islam". The truth is that Islamic extremists and terrorists are following the example set by the Prophet Muhammad and the early caliphs as recorded in the Koran, Hadith, and early biographies written by Muslim believers. They are not driven by a perversion – they are returning to a dark period of history that few want to talk about. We will explore more about the life of the Prophet and the early religion of Islam in later posts to this blog. This will not be an easy topic, but is necessary in order to understand how the foundations of Islam are linked to modern day terrorism.
Perhaps the most important statement that President Bush made was "We face an enemy determined to bring death and suffering into our homes". We saw it on 9-11-01, and we have seen numerous attacks being planned in America over the past five years but thwarted by our law enforcement agencies. I certainly take exception to the politicians and others who feel the United States is less safe now than before the terrorist attacks. In my opinion, these people are not connected with reality, but instead are misguided by idealism or pushing a political agenda. Americans should be ever so grateful for the significant improvements in national security that have been made since 9-11-01. To think otherwise is simply wrong. Americans should also be grateful to those men and women who serve in the armed forces and protective services. Respect at home goes a long way with their morale.
In a time of war, America rightfully must stay alert and provide the country’s security forces the flexibility they need to protect all citizens. If wiretapping reveals a terrorist plot then the perpetuators should be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The lives saved may include loved ones or close friends of YOURS. If one of yours was lost to a terrorist act, then you would be the one grieving and blaming those in the Administration for not doing enough. There’s a fine line between doing enough and doing too much. If you count the benefit in terms of lives saved, then I believe that America is doing well and taking appropriate protective measures.
Back to the statement "We face an enemy determined to bring death and suffering into our homes". As stated in my posting on 8/4: Islamic militants who desire to join the Jihad against Americans only need to slip into Iraq or Afghanistan, join the resistance, and there they can fight them directly. The truth is that the best defense against Islamic extremists who are determined to destroy America is for the American military to engage them overseas. That is far more preferable than for the terrorists to stage attacks on American soil against civilians and infrastructure. History assures us that the terrorists will continue to attack Americans one way or another. The point is that our military is far better equipped to fight the terrorists. So, as unpopular as the war against Terrorism may have become, the benefit of taking the fight to Middle-Eastern theaters is that the American military is fighting terrorists on foreign soil, engaging them under the rules of war (as opposed to our criminal justice system), and using our extensive capabilities to bring the war to them 24-7. In fact, if the United States pulls out of the Middle East, then the terrorists will follow them and bring the fight to American soil.
* (Terrorists) are evil and kill without mercy.
* (They practice) a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent.
* We know that if they were able to get their hands on weapons of mass destruction, they would use them against us.
* If we do not defeat these enemies now, we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons.
However, I disagree with the President’s statement "We have learned that they form a global network of extremists who are driven by a perverted vision of Islam". The truth is that Islamic extremists and terrorists are following the example set by the Prophet Muhammad and the early caliphs as recorded in the Koran, Hadith, and early biographies written by Muslim believers. They are not driven by a perversion – they are returning to a dark period of history that few want to talk about. We will explore more about the life of the Prophet and the early religion of Islam in later posts to this blog. This will not be an easy topic, but is necessary in order to understand how the foundations of Islam are linked to modern day terrorism.
Perhaps the most important statement that President Bush made was "We face an enemy determined to bring death and suffering into our homes". We saw it on 9-11-01, and we have seen numerous attacks being planned in America over the past five years but thwarted by our law enforcement agencies. I certainly take exception to the politicians and others who feel the United States is less safe now than before the terrorist attacks. In my opinion, these people are not connected with reality, but instead are misguided by idealism or pushing a political agenda. Americans should be ever so grateful for the significant improvements in national security that have been made since 9-11-01. To think otherwise is simply wrong. Americans should also be grateful to those men and women who serve in the armed forces and protective services. Respect at home goes a long way with their morale.
In a time of war, America rightfully must stay alert and provide the country’s security forces the flexibility they need to protect all citizens. If wiretapping reveals a terrorist plot then the perpetuators should be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The lives saved may include loved ones or close friends of YOURS. If one of yours was lost to a terrorist act, then you would be the one grieving and blaming those in the Administration for not doing enough. There’s a fine line between doing enough and doing too much. If you count the benefit in terms of lives saved, then I believe that America is doing well and taking appropriate protective measures.
Back to the statement "We face an enemy determined to bring death and suffering into our homes". As stated in my posting on 8/4: Islamic militants who desire to join the Jihad against Americans only need to slip into Iraq or Afghanistan, join the resistance, and there they can fight them directly. The truth is that the best defense against Islamic extremists who are determined to destroy America is for the American military to engage them overseas. That is far more preferable than for the terrorists to stage attacks on American soil against civilians and infrastructure. History assures us that the terrorists will continue to attack Americans one way or another. The point is that our military is far better equipped to fight the terrorists. So, as unpopular as the war against Terrorism may have become, the benefit of taking the fight to Middle-Eastern theaters is that the American military is fighting terrorists on foreign soil, engaging them under the rules of war (as opposed to our criminal justice system), and using our extensive capabilities to bring the war to them 24-7. In fact, if the United States pulls out of the Middle East, then the terrorists will follow them and bring the fight to American soil.
