Bush is our Greatest Security Risk

[AntiFascist]

Am I the only one who remembers the first Gulf War? Working from home, I was glued to CNN watching day after day as the U.S. demonstrated its superior war technology with laser satellites, stealth bombers, and superior tanks totally devastating Iraq. Drunk in our new role as the world's only superpower, I don't believe that we really wanted to target Saddam Hussein specifically. Instead, we wanted to demonstrate to the world how easily and how readily we could cause mass destruction, leaving millions to suffer in the aftermath. Meanwhile, one could watch and sense the growing anger in the greater Arab community against the United States and specifically against "Bush” (George Bush I). How many effigies of Bush were burned in mass demonstrations?

Even back then, I feared that there could eventually be retaliation against the U.S. How quickly we forget the anger that has built up against the U.S. when recently we naively expected Iraqis to greet us as liberators. Many would argue that there could have been much more efficient and effective ways of dealing with Saddam than destroying the infrastructure of an entire nation. It is no wonder that the average Iraqi still bears a grudge against the U.S. and how easily it is for insurgents to move into that country. When George W. became president this must have been déjà vu and the final straw for the Islamic radicals. Although the 9/11 attacks had been planned for years, the son of George Bush I taking power must have provided tremendous motivation for them to carry through the attacks as effectively as possible. If George W. wins a second term, and in the wake of the second war on Iraq, one can only anticipate how effective the next attack may be.

I am not implying that there had been any sort of political, financial, or cooperative link between what happened in Iraq and what Al Queda is planning, but when it comes to the U.S. establishing new military bases in the Middle East and now possibly getting involved in Iran, isn’t that what it is all about?

[mopaul]

1. 8 yrs. of Clinton interrupted the grand scheme

but it continues under dubya, just as i knew it would. they have a plan, and they will see us all die rather than give up that plan

[AntiFascist]

2. Baggage Handling

Jamie Rubin, just interviewed on CNN, makes an important point: a Kerry administration will be able to start a fresh foreign policy without the baggage of the Bush administration, none the least of which is leftover from the first Bush administration that comes with Rumsfeld, Cheney, etc. It will be much easier to forge alliances when we are no longer acting purely in self-interest.