Originally posted by Mindship
Actually, I have to disagree with most of the sentiments posted.I think we Are in a war, a war unlike any other that's been fought, at least in modern times. And it's gonna take a very, very, very long time (20-50 years, I would guess) to get through it. We will win, eventually, but I fear at great cost.
If we lose--just for arguments sake--then the world will likely reflect, more and more, the mindset of the victors. That happens anyway, right?
Is Bush doing the right thing in how he's handling it? Sure does Not seem that way. Is he exploiting the conflict for capitalist gain? Very likely. Regardless, I do believe this: whatever you wanna call it, the fact is, there are people out there--medieval, barbaric, obsolete in mindset--who are plotting--as we speak, er, type--how next to do us harm.
And make no mistake: those who say a WMD being used in a city is Not a matter of If but When--they're right.
Originally posted by Mindship
1. Maybe we disagree on the definition of "war."
Up until now, "wars" have been fought by, what: opposing armies/navies/whatever on a battlefield often removed from civilian populations? The largest of these traditional wars was WWII, pretty much spanning the globe, or likely would have, if the Axis powers started to win. Then came nuclear weapons and the realization that the world was no longer big enough to wage a traditional war, certainly nothing bigger/more explosive than WWII. WWIII--a nuclear conflict--would've been deadly beyond comprehension.So we entered a new phase: the Cold War, a war of nerves, which we won and became the sole superpower. In the traditional sense, no one could challenge us.
Well, since no one could grow big enough to fight us, the enemy rebounded, so to speak: they got smaller and sneakier, evolving into a form our traditonal way of fighting couldn't well deal with. But the objective is the same: whether it's Nazi armies marching across the land, or a handful of terrorists seeking to plant WMDs, "They" want to force their way of life on "Us," by force if necessary. Not once, not twice, but as often as they can until they reach their objective. They will kill and destroy as much as possible to meet their objective. It is not a limited exchange...this is war.
Also for the first time in history, thanks to WMDs, a single individual has the power to destroy a city. Both persistence over time, and potential scale for destruction, make this a war.2. Don't know; don't know. Someone once said that on 9/11, 3 things began: the 21st century, Bush's presidency and WWIII.
From what I understand, the impetus for Arab/Islamic discontent supposedly goes back centuries. A historian could answer this better than I. In any event, this is not a traditional war; it does not require a formal declaration. That's how civilized people fight wars. Islamic fascists are not civilized.3. Because we are bigger, richer and stronger, plus we have to win. Would you wanna live under their rules? Do you consider their way of life a step forward? It's like the rabbit being chased by the fox: the fox runs for a meal; the rabbit runs for its life.
4. It's not a concept. Concepts don't fly planes into buildings and they don't plan to gas subways. And sooner or later, a "concept" is gonna make a mushroom cloud rise over someone's city. Even if there is a 0.1% chance of that happening, it's a 0.1% chance we can't afford. Do you want it happening in your city?
Please understand: I do Not consider the US of A and its leadership angels. The First World is hardly perfect. But a democracy is still the best game in town.
Both of these posts are right on the money.