Friday, August 11, 2006
The President In His Element
Terrorism - Hatred Among the Ruins
President Bush eagerly jumped at the opportunity to talk about terrorism -- the topic has done him well -- and put in a plug for the endangered domestic surveillance program. His pet war is floundering to say the least. The non-existent WMD and mission accomplished a distant memory. In the din about the new threat of terrorist plans to destroy passenger aircraft unearthed in London, negotiations for a cease fire agreement in Lebanon temporarily ceded the headlines. The Post: "This country is safer than it was prior to 9/11," Bush said with Air Force One behind him. "We've taken a lot of measures to protect the American people. But obviously we're still not completely safe, because there are people that still plot and people who want to harm us for what we believe in." The timing was right. The prospects look dim for Republicans facing re-election. It might, just might gain the president a few points in a poll and give Republican candidates a chance to say that they are stronger when it comes to national security.
- In what was an apparent reference to this year's controversies over the administration's surveillance programs, Bush told reporters: "It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the United States of America. And that is why we have given our officials the tools they need to protect our people."
The Other War
Stalemate in the negotiations for cease fire in the other war that the Bush Administration is fighting through Israel. No boots on the ground but steady supply of weapons of war and technology to assist Israel. The civilians continue to take the brunt of the attacks. Good for the Hezbollah; they are assured of new recruits. A large anti-war demonstration is planned for tomorrow (Aug.12) in Washington, DC. The organizers plan to surround the White House. Petula Dvorak in the Post: "The nation's capital is becoming a stage where passions on both sides of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict are being played out with a series of protests, vigils and rallies in Washington in recent weeks, with more to come."
- The largest demonstration -- billed as a protest of the "U.S.-Israeli war" -- is expected to draw "tens of thousands" of people who plan to surround the White House tomorrow, said Tony Kutayli, communications coordinator for the Washington-based American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee, one of the groups helping coordinate participants arriving from across the country.
On July 22nd, the Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid wrote in the Washington Post about reaction among muslims to the attacks against Lebanon.
- Mounting Muslim Anger Endangers Security
- Lahore, Pakistan - The Israeli attack on Lebanon is fuelling unprecedented anger amongst ordinary Muslims, despite the support that many moderate Muslim regimes are demonstrating for the action.
- Muslim anger on the street is being directed at Israel, America and Britain and also at their own leaders who are doing nothing to help bring about a cessation of hostilities or a ceasefire. The U.S. -- by publicizing its success in isolating Syria and Iran for their support for Hezbollah -- falls further in public opinion in the Muslim world, endangering its own security, making it more of a target for terrorist attacks and undermining any future role the U.S. may have in brokering a peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
- Israel's air and land invasion is unlikely to wipe out Hezbollah. Instead the group will go further underground and become more dependent on terrorist tactics to continue the fight. Also there will now be a much greater justification for Sunni terrorist groups such as al' Qaeda to link up with Shia extremist groups such as Hezbollah to work and plan together. This would encourage and strengthen terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan and the Middle East. The world is certainly becoming a more unsafe place.
