Recently, at the Politics Online Conference run by GWU, I spent some time talking with a number of individuals from the left and some Paulistinians.
Their position on the war on terror: "If we just stop intervening all over the world, particularly in the Middle East, then our enemies will have no reason to attack us." The idea is that if we mind our own business, they will go away. This argument goes hand in hand with the "Bush is a bully. When he's gone we'll just meet with all these dictators and peace will come."
I don't know how they reconcile that view with reality.
Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden threatened the European Union with grave punishment on Wednesday for publication of cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammad.
In an audio recording posted on the Internet coinciding with the birthday of Islam's founder, bin Laden said the drawings, considered offensive by Muslims, were part of a "new crusade" in which Pope Benedict was involved.
"Your publications of these drawings -- part of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican had a significant role -- is a confirmation from you that the war continues," said the Saudi-born militant leader, addressing "those who are wise at the European Union".
You are "testing Muslims ... the answer will be what you shall see and not what you hear."
Don't they realize that our enemies are deadly, and they are willing to kill over CARTOONS!? Our enemies aren't rational, thoughtful human beings. They are deadly, hateful people who want to kill us. They won't go away when we get out of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
No, then they'll hate us because some newspaper criticizes Mohamed. Or they'll hate us because our flag has stars and stripes or because our President meets with some foreign leader they don't like.
Our enemies won't stop until their brand of deadly religious extremism has covered our world in blood. If the left can't see that, they and their political allies aren't fit to defend our country.
