Text 23230, 76 rader
Skriven 2006-10-01 21:34:51 av Gary Braswell (1:123/789.0)
  Kommentar till text 23197 av John Hull (1:123/789.0)
Ärende: Fundamental Differences
===============================
While I do not agree with some things you state here, this has been the most
thoughtful thing out of you in years, John.

You should stick to it.


John Hull -> All wrote:
 JH> To say that there are partisan differences between Democrats and
 JH> Republicans about the handling of the war on terrorism is a huge
 JH> understatement.  Don't misunderstand, because I think partisanship is a
 JH> good thing.  The schism, however, is far more than just standard party
 JH> partisanship.

 JH> It is evidence of a fundamental difference in approach that covers not
 JH> the military aspects but the approach to governing, law, and a number of
 JH> other areas.

 JH> Conservatives and Republicans, by and large, approach the issue as a war
 JH> problem.  The United States was a victim of an unprovoked sneak attack
 JH> much the same as we were at Pearl Harbor in 1941.  In fact, more people
 JH> died in the attack on the World Trade Center than at Pearl Harbor.
 JH> Despite the similarities between those two attacks, they are much
 JH> different for one simple reason.  The Japanese were a uniformed military
 JH> force, that because of bad timing by their ambassador in Washington,
 JH> perpetrated a sneak attack instead of attacking after a declaration of
 JH> war.  The WTC attack was carried out by men whose only unifying
 JH> connection was hatred of the US and the fact that they were Muslims.
 JH> They bore no allegiance to a specific sovereign state, nor did they were
 JH> uniforms.  However, we know that certain sovereign states sponsor
 JH> terrorists, and did indeed sponsor these.  Conservatives prefer to take
 JH> the fight to the enemy, wherever he may be found, rather than wait for
 JH> him to attack us on our home ground.

 JH> Liberals and Democrats, for the most part, treat the entire issue as a
 JH> law enforcement problem.  They voted this week on bills in the House and
 JH> Senate dealing with how to handle, and prosecute, captured terrorists.
 JH> 3/4 of the House Dems voted against the bill, while 2/3 of the Senate
 JH> Dems voted against it.  It is notable that in nearly every case where a
 JH> Democrat voted FOR the bill, that member is dealing with a tough, close
 JH> race for reelection.  It is reasonable to say that they do not wish to
 JH> appear soft on terrorism in such a close race.

 JH> As has been pointed out by many pundits on the Sunday news magazine
 JH> shows, most people do not want to be fighting in Iraq (or anywhere else
 JH> for that matter).  That's not too surprising, really, because I don't
 JH> know anybody who is happy about being at war with anybody.  But the
 JH> people also know that it is better to fight the terrorists overseas at
 JH> the source of their support, and they support the troops for the most
 JH> part.  It is also of note that despite the casualties and the hardships
 JH> on families who have deployed troops, airmen, and sailors, there are no
 JH> shortages of volunteers for Army or Navy or Marines.  Most of the troops
 JH> who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan are willing to reenlist and go
 JH> back for a second and even third tour if they haven't already done so.
 JH> They understand the necessity of what they are engaged in.

 JH> The bottom line in all of this is that whether or not we wish to be
 JH> involved in this, it has been forced on us by fanatical muslim
 JH> terrorists, fueled by a centuries old hatred of anything non-muslim. The
 JH> muslim community at large has done little or nothing to stop the
 JH> fanatics, so that task has fallen to the United States and our allies,
 JH> both western and Islamic.  I believe conservatives are fundamentally
 JH> better equipped by temper and experience to prosecute and win this
 JH> struggle than liberals.  It will not be an easy struggle, and it will
 JH> require doing some things on the home front that will adversely affect
 JH> our personal liberties to some extent.  If we don't do these things, we
 JH> will lose, and this country will become no better than a 3rd world,
 JH> balkanized mess.  We haven't endured, and suffered, and sacrificed for
 JH> the last 225 plus years to end on a whimper, cowering from a bunch of
 JH> unwashed religious fanatics whose idea of paradise is blowing up a bunch
 JH> of women and children.

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