War On Terrorism: Designed For Failure

Written by Hal Pawluk
Published August 27, 2004

There has been a lot of discussion recently about how the invasion of Iraq was executed poorly, but while it was indeed reckless and inept, execution of the invasion is actually a second or third order question.

The invasion of Iraq was sold as being to further the war on terror and to spread peace and democracy into the Middle East .

But the means chosen could not possibly have achieved these ends.

A unilateralist invasion of a non-terrorist but Islamic state creates failure in multiple ways.

  • As an attack on Islam, it increases anti-Americanism and pushes those who already disliked America closer to hate and fanaticism (and many over that line).
  • As an attack on a state that had little to do with terrorism, it is a major distraction and diversion of attention and resources from the real jobs of suppressing terrorism and encouraging democracy.
  • As a unilateralist invasion, it weakens the international unity that is required to effectively deal with the Islamic extremist cells interwoven into the fabric of countries like Britain, Germany, the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh and probably dozens more.

As policy, it was doomed to failure by definition.

If the administration felt they absolutely-positively had to use military force (for whatever reason, ideological or psychological), they had an appropriate place to use it in November, 2001. Instead of just dropping a few hundred troops to clean out the last major Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan, they should have sent in 100,000 troops.

Afghanistan today would not be under the control of warlords supporting terrorists on the money they make as the world's major suppliers of opium (75% of it), and the terrorist concentrations on the border with and inside Pakistan would certainly have been diminished (with additional salutary effects on other surrounding 'Stans).

It is more than time to admit the failure and start on a path with some chance of success.

Write your Senators and House Representative and tell them what you think.

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War On Terrorism: Designed For Failure
Published: August 27, 2004
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Section: Politics
Writer: Hal Pawluk
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Comments

#1 — August 27, 2004 @ 14:08PM — Big Time Patriot [URL]

It is NOT in George Bush's own best interests for the war on terror to be successful. If he doesn't run for re-election as a war president, what would he run as? It is in George's personal best interest if there is another attack before the election.

Does George put his personal best interests ahead of the countries best interests? He put himself first when it came to serving his country during the Vietnam War. He put his own interests in terms of cutting his own taxes (and particularly cutting the taxes he would owe when his parents die) ahead of balancing the budget.

It's all about what's good for George and ending the war on terror isn't on that list.

#2 — August 27, 2004 @ 17:35PM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

Why can't the Democrats position the "Bush war presidency" as what it is?

It is a complete failure with no chance of success right from the beginning. Another attack before the election would be proof of that.

But the Democrats need to start bringing out this administration's performance on the war, the economy and any other metric you care to name.

The performance has been terrible, in spite of the right-wing Newspeak.



#3 — August 27, 2004 @ 19:33PM — Marc [URL]

100,000 US troops?

Russia sent in 120,000 and faught to a 10 year stalemate that cost over one million lives. It just could be the US went to school on the Russian mistakes and decided another option would be more productive.

That evil unilateralist Bush should have known better I guess. At least in your eyes. And the eyes of "Big Time Patriot." And of course you can produce source documents/evidence that prove Bush knowingly started wars based on personnel interest, can't you? Please provide so we can all be enlightened. Just one note. That evidence should be something other than empty Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil boxes whoses contents were used to fashion cute little hats. You know like signed Bush memos stating how Cheney's Halliburton stock is down and damm "lets start a war Dick!"

But upon further review it seems the term "unilateralist" is a misnomer. On the contrary with the introduction of the Proliferation Security Agreement (PSI) he has gone far further than any other administration in the fight against Islamofacist bastards.

PSI is playing a key role in curbing and caging North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il. It played a key role in disarming Libya, discovering and rolling up the Pakistani A.Q. Khan nuclear smuggling network, and has become a framework for international military and police exercises organized by the United States. Its membership includes most of the world's largest economic powers, most of the world's largest military powers, and most of the most influential states on earth. The United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Russia, the Netherlands, France, Australia and Germany are among its 15 member states, and it is one of the pillars of the Bush administration's strategy to both win the war on terrorism and halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. As an organization set up to perform a mission that the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have jointly failed, halting the spread of nuclear weapons, it has the potential of becoming an alternative to the UN itself in coming decades. Notably, all of its members to date are democracies. Unlike the UN who insists on placing dictatorships and terror sponsors as head if it human rights functions.

But thanks to the media and Democrats who insist on portraying the Bush administration as "unilateral," you have probably never heard of it. Or care to. They are too busy adjusting their tin-foil hats, or supporting a candidate that offers no better plan than the promise of "doing it better." with France's help.



#4 — August 27, 2004 @ 20:39PM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

If this administration "went to school on the Russian mistakes" they didn't learn squat - aren't you paying any attention to what's going on in Iraq?

"Unilateralist" is the right description.

#5 — August 27, 2004 @ 22:00PM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

PS, Marc, belittling the opponent is an indication to many that the belittler knows he's in the wrong but doesn't know how to deal with it.

And one thing it does not do is strengthen any arguments that you might have.

It does get people to take you less seriously, though, and for some that may be enough.



#6 — August 28, 2004 @ 02:50AM — Marc [URL]

As far as Unilateral goes at the start of the Iraq war it was far from being unilateral.

The G-7 comprises the world's major industrial democracies. Aside from America, there are six other countries. The United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, have troops in Iraq. Three, France, Germany and Canada, do not. A 4 to 3 majority of G-7 nations are members of this so called ''fraudulent coalition.'' Eleven of 19 NATO members have contributed troops. Thirteen of 25 members of the European Union have forces serving inside Iraq. Granted some units are small but the term fraudulent hardly fits unless one is driven by blind ideology or political expediency.

Oh... the term "fraudulent coalition" is from many of Kerry's surrogates, (including himself), talking points. It might even be called belittling Also known as calumniatory, or disparaging. and very much like this quote that has your digital fingerprints all over it.

It's Michelle Malkin's lying weasel slur, Marc.

One of many attributed to you, that I won't embarass you with.

#7 — August 28, 2004 @ 08:24AM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

What on earth are you talking about, Marc?

#8 — August 28, 2004 @ 09:13AM — Hal Pawluk [URL]

Okay, I've had my coffee now and I'm back.

The entire world, including many Republicans, recognizes that there would have been no invasion of Iraq without the U. S. steam-rolling Tony Blair and the leaders of numerous smaller nations (Micronesia, for crying out loud?)

The entire world recognizes that even in the countries that joined in, it was only the politicians who agreed to say they were in while the majority of citizens in the majority those countries were against doing so (e.g., Britain, Australia).

The entire world recognizes that 90% of the deaths and casualties and costs in Iraq are American.

The entire world is also aware that Bush's dad did a much better job in the first Gulf War. That used over 500,000 troops and only 24% were American.

His son is a loser in coalition-building, too.

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