How should America go about winning the war on terror ? Your suggestions

[Natalinasmpf]

Natal, "making them angry" is caused in large measure by the incitement of a hostile Arab press and hostile religious elite. US support of freedom and democracy is not fundamentally hostile to Islam, albeit it is hostile to religious fundamentalistic political control -- but that is the primary thing that has to be fixed before we win the war on terror.

It is rather like a catch-22 isn't it?

The source may be from the anti-US press: but, what is the RESPONSE? A response that causes anger, that further escalates the violence, or a response that pacifies?

"Return your enemy's evil with good, for by doing so you are collecting lumps of coals on his head, and making him a footstool for your feet".

In essence, if a few bees stings you while attempting to gain some honey from the hive, do you swat at them, angering the entire hive, or do you, say, use smoke instead? And use cream to relieve the poison and pain?

[Natalinasmpf]

Yes, we should have all appealed to Hitler instead of fighting him...

You don't appeal to Hitler. You appeal to the GERMAN PEOPLE.

You show them how irrational Hitler is. You boost their confidence in internationalism. You show them how irrational nationalism is. You make it conducive for Germany to establish good ties with other nations, such that it will be a pity if Germany broke them. You reduce the reasons for the German people to support him?

Well, if we could turn back the hands of time.

[Ned]

Natal, we need both kinds of approaches. Obviously, Bush is being as "sensitive" as the situation permits in Iraq by letting the Ayatolloh Sistani essentially call the shots in the Shi'ite portion of Iraq. He backed off in Falluja earlier at the request if the Iraqi governing council. As a result of these actions, the US has the support of a majority of the Iraqi political establishment.

[Natalinasmpf]

He backed off in Falluja earlier at the request if the Iraqi governing council. As a result of these actions, the US has the support of a majority of the Iraqi political establishment.

Political establishment is a political establishment. What about the people?

Obviously, Bush is being as "sensitive" as the situation permits in Iraq by letting the Ayatolloh Sistani essentially call the shots in the Shi'ite portion of Iraq.

Thats not the approach I meant...alas....

[Heresson]

Originally posted by Natalinasmpf

Yes, we should have all appealed to Hitler instead of fighting him...

You don't appeal to Hitler. You appeal to the GERMAN PEOPLE.

Yes, surely it will work
- Hitler won't let them hear the message
or
- Hitler will manipulate this message to support his case

[Solomwi]

Pressure Iran until a liberal regime takes over. It's the linchpin of militant Islam, and if the mullahs were to fall, the House of Saud woudn't be far behind.

[Richelieu]

How should America go about winning the war on terror?

Become what you are pretending to be. Build that shining city on the hill. If you build it, they will come...

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Ned
Turkey.

Is not fundamentalist. Muslim yes, fundamentalist no.

Originally posted by Ned
Iraq.

Isn't a democracy yet.

Originally posted by Ned
Afghanistan.

Has more registered voters than people eligable to vote. Nice democracy.

Nice to see you didn't answer any of the questions, especially since they were prefaced with "more importantly". Let's try this again. If a country elects an Islamic Fundamentalist government, what do you do? Let them have an Islamic Fundamentalist government that's elected, or force a non-Fundy government on them?

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Ned
do you seriously believe that Kerry would have gone to war against the Taliban or Saddam?

Taliban yes, Saddam no. The way it should have been.

[aneeshm]

Let us get a bit back on topic , what ?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by dannubis
now this is an interesting point of view

i believe hitler had one of those too ...

You invoked Godwin! You loose!

[axi]

Ban scary movies.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Ned
Sava, do you seriously believe that Kerry would have gone to war against the Taliban or Saddam?

Yeah and I believe he would have done a better job than Bush.

Look at Afghanistan. 11,000 US Troops at the HEIGHT of operations. There are more police officers on Manhattan Island than there were in Afghanistan. Bush ALLOWED Osama bin Laden to escape. Bush is INCOMPETENT.

[Heresson]

Originally posted by axi
Ban scary movies.

I was always afraid that the jackal attempting to catch this blue bird making meep meep is going to die.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Drogue

Taliban yes, Saddam no. .

I believe as well that Kerry would have done this post-911.

If Kerry has been president all along, Saddam would likely still lead Iraq and would still be under sanctions. Most likely the Iraqi situation would be pretty much as it had been for years-- Saddam as an annoyance and possible threat but having no links to AQ and the US having much greater military capability when Iran or Korea act up