Hey everyone,
Everybody has called for everything from full scale nuclear assault to a more measured response, against targets ranging from the entire Middle East to just the perpetrators.
Who's right? I don't know. But I know this:
The only democracy in the Middle East is Israel. The only country in which Arabs can vote for their leaders is Israel, where native born Arabs are given citizenship.
Most Arab leaders treat their people like absolute shit. The Saudi royal family may be the wealthiest on earth. Yet much of their country is poverty stricken.
Iraq? Saddam seems to live pretty well, but the country is starving. Somemay blame sanctions for the current poverty. That may be partially correct. However, recall that during the Gulf War, Iraqi soldiers were actually sent to war without boots. There were no sanctions then. This is how Arab leaders care about their people.
Other Islamic leaders are no better. The Taliban....well, their women are not permitted to be educated past age 8. Recently the Taliban was rounding up and executing DOGS because they were delcared unholy. Sorry Fido, you're dead. Meanwhile, the people are so poor that they live in tents and herd goats through the city.
Iran? Althought the reform movement is powerful (Khatami was elected with 77%) the hard line Guardian Council (they religious ruling authority) has rejected any attempt at reform.
My point is, the culture is different. I am not sure it can be understood with Western eyes. They don't value human life the way we do. It is evident all over the Middle East.
Retaliation will happen in this case. But our measued responses have not deterred anything. The terrorists who blew up Flight 103 were found and tried, as were the ones who attempted to bomb the Trade Cetner in 1993. Did it work? No. Terrorism came back stronger than ever, because teh triaal and execution of a few people does not resonate in that culture.
Instead, we are treated to Palestinians (a misnomer) and Iraqis celebrating.
There are always two sides to the story. Those Arabs and Muslims who support this behavior will tell you that these acts are what the US deserves for their support if Israel, or something to that effect. Yes, we are supporting the only democracy in the region. Yes, we are supporting the only Middle Eastern nation where Arab citizens get to elect their leaders. Yes, we are supporting the nation that gives Arabs more rights than any other in the region. Yes, we are probably guilty as charged in supporting Israel.
The only way any lasting change will happen in the region is if there is aggressive retaliation against leaders and citizens who support terrorism. This is sad. But it is true. There can be no understanding of any other means. The people of the region must be made to understand that terrorism against Americans means that THEIR family is in jeopardy. They must be made to understand that when they cheer mass homicide, they will be shown the other side of it too.
Middle eastern leaders have managed to maintain power by using Israel and the US as enemies, the glue that holds the region together. Rather than make changes, much of the youth of the Middle East is encouraged to become terrorists. (The PLO pays the surviving families of suicide bomers).
At some point, the people have to rise up against their government. But their governments are using Israel (and by proxy) America to re-direct their anger. They need to be shown that rising up in cowardly terrorist acts will only result in tremendous retaliation. Eventually they will get the message, and rise up against their own oppressive leaders.
Does anyone think anything else will work?
My thoughts. Others?