National Intelligence Estimate
We’re heading into the fifth year of the war on terror. President Bush and his supporters have rarely hesitated to remind us that 1) we are at war; and 2) his leadership is uniquely suited to protect the U.S. from future attacks.
This week, a new National Intelligence Estimate report was released that contradicts at least one of these claims. In light of the recent Senatorial slumber party, it’s time that the American people had a serious debate about the wisdom of our current foreign policy.
The NIE reports that the terrorists we’ve been fighting over there are gaining strength and are a growing threat to the U.S. This is important to note. We are not safer due to the protracted war on terror.
Not surprisingly, the Bush administration has answered the report by informing us that the terrorists would be even stronger if it weren’t for our actions in combating terrorists. (If you buy this claim, I have a bridge you might be interested in.)
I’m no spring chicken. I know that foreign policy, particularly between diametrically opposed civilizations, particularly when one of those civilizations has the habit of invading the other, particularly when the other civilization has a whole lot of something that everyone else wants. . . is tricky. There are no quick answers or fast fixes for the situation in the Middle East.
What I do know is that I believe in the concept of Democracy and I would, frankly, like to see it exercised a bit to sort out this debate. I’m pretty well fed up with the Disinformation News Networks and our absolute faith in the two party system. I would love to see some courage and leadership come out of the Washington DC region.
The writing is on the wall. The NIE report confirms it. How long must we pay for our failed decisions? Who will be brave enough to admit that we made a mistake?
Filed under culture, politics, war : Comments (0) : Jul 19th, 2007 by tadfad
