Al-Qaida Resurgence
The Bush administration and those who wish to continue their failed policy, it seems, have found themselves in a bit of a pickle. Recent reports of an increased threat of terrorism — and some bizarre predictions by Chertoff based on a “gut feeling” — are being spun by many media outlets as a way to bolster support for Bush and the Iraq War by creating a sense of fear among Americans. But this creates a dilemma for the same people that seek to use this information for their benefit. If Al-Qaida is as much a threat, or a worse threat as many report, as it was on September 11th, then clearly the Department of Homeland Security, the war in Iraq and the war on Terror are all dismal failures. I suppose, on the other hand, that if there was no threat of terrorism, the jobs of Michael Chertoff, and many others, would be in jeopardy.
I think the problem is that we fail to accept the real reason why terrorism is such a threat to us.
“A reaction might take place as a result of the US government’s hitting Muslim civilians and executing more than 600,000 Muslim children in Iraq by preventing food and medicine from reaching them. So, the US is responsible for any reaction, because it extended its war against troops to civilians.”
Osama bin Laden
CNN interview 1997
“If the American government is serious about avoiding explosions inside the U.S., then let it stop provoking the feelings of 1,250 million Muslims.”
Osama bin Laden
CNN interview 1997
“Your security is not in the hands of [Democratic presidential candidate John] Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands and each state which does not harm our security will remain safe.”
Osama bin Laden
On videotape shown on Al Jazeera, October 29, 2004
“We, God willing, will continue to fight you and will continue martyrdom operations inside and outside the United States until you abandon your oppression and foolish acts.”
Osama bin Laden
Demanding US withdraw from Iraq, in audiotape broadcast on Al Jazeera, October 18 2003
Is it any wonder that terrorist attacks have increased since the invasion of Iraq, and Al-Qiada continues to grow despite spending $610 Billion to fight terrorism?
Terrorist attacks
2007: 29% Increase
2006: 25% Increase
2005: 400% Increase
2004: 300% Increase
2003: ’significant attacks’ at 21-year high
Butler Shaffer sarcastically points out the probable course of action that will be taken in response to the obvious failures of our government:
“The failure of governmental programs (e.g., government schools, police dealing with crime, etc.) only shows how much more money and authority must be given to the state to overcome such failings! Isn’t this the way the market works: if we buy a product that doesn’t function as promised, don’t we offer a higher price to the seller/manufacturer the next time we purchase it?”
July 13th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
You had me until the last paragraph. It is quite a leap to suggest that this particular administration’s ineptitude is proof that most government should be abolished.
And, in fact, this particular administration was elected largely by the conservative anti-government types. So, since this anti-government administration failed, we are supposed to vote for more anti-government people?
I don’t think that this is the time for some ideological crusade. We just need someone who is competent at pulling the levers of government.
Just make it work.
July 13th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
This was not directed solely at this administration. In fact two of those quote from Bin Laden were directed at the Clinton administration. This ineptitude is not an isolated incident. We have adopted this failed foreign policy some time ago.
That quote was simply meant to show the likely outcome of all of this; which will be more funding for the war on terror, the war in Iraq and the department of homeland security, with more failed results. The same thing is done with all the failing government programs. as we pump more and more money into public schools, the quality of education decreases. The same follows for most other government intervention.
Modern conservative, or neocons, like Bush and those who support him are no more anti-government than liberals. the term conservative has been perverted. this is a very PRO government administration. the size of government under the Bush administration has grown well beyond that of Clinton’s administration. The Bush administration is a great example of the failures of big government and an interventionist foreign policy.
we need to elect someone who will respect our rights, our constitution, and our civil liberties. my “ideological crusade” is simply pointing out that government is pulling levers that it should not have access to in the first place. These government failures are the failures of a particular administration or person; they are the failures cause by an erroneous belief that government can provide services better than the free market and that we need to spread out message of “liberty” around the world through the barrel of a gun. this is why we are unsafe. this is why our country is falling apart.