Having failed to finish off Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Washington now finds itself fighting Qaeda-affiliated groups on multiple fronts, most recently in Somalia. Al Qaeda’s comeback in Pakistan is a devastating indictment of Mr. Bush’s grievously flawed strategies and misplaced Iraq obsession. Unless the president changes course, the dangers to America and its friends will continue to multiply.
At a crucial moment, the Bush administration diverted America’s military strength, political attention and foreign aid dollars from a necessary, winnable war in Afghanistan to an unnecessary, and by now unwinnable, war in Iraq. Al Qaeda took full advantage of these blunders to survive and rebuild. Now it seems to be back in business.
The New York Times
Editorial
Al Qaeda Resurgent
Published: February 25, 2007
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THIS HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN LEFT OUT OF TEXTBOOKS BECAUSE IT HASN’T BEEN WRITTEN.
9-11 AND THE PRE-EMPTIVE IRAQ WAR ARE TOO RECENT TO HAVE DEFINITIVE HISTORIES WRITTEN YET.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS BATTLE AGAINST EXTREMISTS, WHO ARE NOW EVEN MORE EXTREME AND BIGGER AS A RESULT OF BUSH’S [FAILED] FOREIGN POLICY, IS UNCERTAIN AND EVEN MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF HIS PRE-EMPTIVE INVASION OF IRAQ.
DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS UNTIL THEY ARE COOKED.
ON THE OTHER HAND, BETTER COUNT THEM BEFORE THEY'RE COOKED SINCE THEY MAY BE CREMATED AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE BY THE DECISION MAKER IN IRAQ AND IRAN.
My father fought in World War II. I am aware of his patriotism, bravery and sacrifice. I am thankful and grateful for what he and all of the other men and women did who fought to defeat Germany's and Japan's armies.
My father would not, however, now applaud or condone what George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and all of their minions have done in order to go to war with Iraq.
I believe my father would oppose staying any longer in Iraq.
Afghanistan is now nearly back in the hands of the Taliban, surrounded by Opium poppies that supply the world with most of its heroin.
Afghanistan was a legitimate war.
But, gentlemen, this Iraq war was a lie based upon lies.
It is a far different thing from World War II.
Entire countries were fought in World War II!
You can be defensive (and defend) George W. Bush's foolish, fallacious and wrong decision to go to war with Iraq, but defending this president does not rid us of the genesis of his illegitimate war that now has us in the crosshairs of more extremists and more Jihadists than before his pre-emptive invasion.
Our children, grandchildren and their children will be GROSSLY AFFECTED BY THIS CURRENT WAR.
If anything, Iran and Iraq will have to fight each other. Maybe even Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia and other countries may have to fight each other.
Let’s leave.
If it gets better, than we have won.
If it gets worse, who has lost?
What was the purpose for going to Iraq?
Let’s protect ourselves here in our own country.
Let’s have the necessary weapons and defensive measures to keep the radical extremists out of our country.
Let’s use the money to re-build America.
(Securing Canadian and Mexican borders would help!).
Let’s keep a strong national guard at home where they belong to help America and Americans.
Let’s have an expedient go-to-the moon equivalent program to develop alternative fuels IMMEDIATELY.
Bush has been giving us his gas about such programs for six years (while Dick Cheney met secretly with his oil tycoon buddies in secret meetings, “developing” America’s energy policy.). Previous administrations also gave their promises. But the oil cartels had them under their thumbs.
IT'S THE OIL STUPID!
