http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/25/opinion/25sat1.html To have the sober conversation about the war in Iraq that America badly needs, it is vital to acknowledge three facts: The war has nothing to do with Sept. 11. Saddam Hussein was a sworn enemy of Washington, but there was no Iraq-Qaeda axis, no connection between Saddam Hussein and the terrorist attacks on the United States. Yet the president and his supporters continue to duck behind 9/11 whenever they feel pressure about what is happening in Iraq. The most cynical recent example was Karl Rove's absurd and offensive declaration this week that conservatives and liberals had different reactions to 9/11. Let's be clear: Americans of every political stripe were united in their outrage and grief, united in their determination to punish those who plotted the mass murder and united behind the war in Afghanistan, which was an assault on terrorists. Trying to pretend otherwise is the surest recipe for turning political dialogue into meaningless squabbling. The war has not made the world, or this nation, safer from terrorism. The breeding grounds for terrorists used to be Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia; now Iraq has become one. Of all the justifications for invading Iraq that the administration juggled in the beginning, the only one that has held up over time is the desire to create a democratic nation that could help stabilize the Middle East. Any sensible discussion of what to do next has to begin by acknowledging that. The surest way to make sure that conversation does not happen is for the administration to continue pasting the "soft on terror" label on those who want to talk about the war. If the war is going according to plan, someone needs to rethink the plan. Progress has been measurable on the political front. But even staunch supporters of the war, like the Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, told Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at a hearing this week that President Bush was losing public support because the military effort was not keeping pace. A top general said this week that the insurgency was growing. The frequency of attacks is steady, or rising a bit, while the repulsive tactic of suicide bombings has made them more deadly. If things are going to be turned around, there has to be an honest discussion about what is happening. But Mr. Rumsfeld was not interested. Sneering at his Democratic questioners, he insisted everything was on track and claimed "dozens of trained battalions are capable of conducting anti-insurgent operations" with American support. That would be great news if it were true. Gen. George Casey, the commander in Iraq, was more honest, saying he hoped there would be "a good number of units" capable of doing that "before the end of this year." Americans cannot judge for themselves because the administration has decided to make the information secret. Senator John McCain spoke for us when he expressed his disbelief at this news. "I think the American people need to know," he said. "They are the ones who are paying for this conflict."
That sounds about right. Unfortunately, political pride will get in the way of our leaders acknowledging any of it.
I don't agree with number 2. Whether is directly influenced terrorism or not can be debated. Beyond that I think it definitely indirectly affected terrorism. Bush let the world know that you are with us or against us & that we would not accept terrorism. What that has to do with Iraq is also questionable, but none the less I think the point was made.
1. i know already. been saying it forever. 2. short term that is probbaly right. however, in the real long term democratization of repressive states may be the ONLY solution. 3. i knew this would be a long and hard fight. in fact, i remember when bush gave his speech the night before the war started he told me that this would not be a simple in and out deal. i dunno what "plan" is better than the current plan of being tough and not being swayed and wimping out. the worst possible plan is to be babies and crawl home because of insurgetnts. i like the current plan.
