Ending the War

[Nbadan]

Why Obama should end the "war on terror"

Bush's infantile response to 9/11 has harmed our national interests for too long. It's time to declare it dead.
By Gary Kamiya

Nov. 25, 2008 | Barack Obama will confront a daunting list of priorities when he takes office on Jan. 20. Rescuing the nation's economy -- if there's anything left to rescue by then -- will obviously be at the top of the list. But it is just as important that Obama immediately declare an end to the "war on terror," and reverse all of the policies that have been carried out in its name.

George W. Bush's "war on terror" has been an unmitigated disaster. First, it is unwinnable. Terrorism is not an enemy. It is a tactic as old as humanity, and until the lion lies down with the lamb, it will continue to exist. Waging a war on terror is a category violation, like waging a war on violence. Second, it is self-defeating. By invading Iraq to preempt an alleged terrorist threat, the U.S. greatly increased that threat. And by elevating terrorist groups, which pose no existential threat to America, to the status of state actors, the Bush administration enhanced their prestige. The number of terror attacks around the world has risen greatly since Bush started his "war," and hatred of the U.S. in the Arab-Muslim world has metastasized.

In a subtler way, the "war on terror" has degraded our national psyche. It encourages the U.S. to remain in a psychological state that is simultaneously fearful and aggressive -- an infantile state, one that prevents us from thinking clearly about how to address our real foreign policy challenges. The U.S. is too powerful and self-confident to act like a three-year-old having a permanent tantrum. One successful terrorist attack, no matter how horrific, should never have led to a fundamental change in America's geopolitical strategy. A good general cannot allow his battlefield moves to be dictated by emotion, any more than a boxer can allow himself to drop his guard in a futile effort to land wild haymakers.

Of course, Obama should not abandon the fight against international terrorism, but adopt more effective tactics. He should treat al-Qaida and its ilk as criminals rather than armies. Quiet intelligence work, coordination with allies and law enforcement should be used as much as possible. There may be times when military action is needed, but it should be minimized because of its negative effects. Obama should make it a top priority to address the conditions that fuel anti-American hatred. In Afghanistan, this means rebuilding the country; in Pakistan, not propping up unpopular despots like Musharraf; in Israel and the Palestinian territories, throwing the full weight of American diplomacy behind a two-state solution. When it comes to fighting terrorism, America's most powerful weapon is not its army, it is its brain.

Salon


If insannity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, then its time to end this insane war on terror...

[Anti.Hero]

I'm all for being isolationists.

[doobs]

If insannity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, then its time to end this insane war on terror...

This quote--is it Einstein?--has always bothered me. Of course you can expect different results if you do the same thing over and over again, if the conditions have changed. If I throw 10 identical uppercuts in a fight, I'll probably hit my opponent sometimes and miss sometimes. Different results.

It should be: "assuming identical conditions, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result."

I don't mean to make a point about the war on terror or anything. I just hate that quote.

[Bigzax]

dude, W is going to serve up osama's head on a platter the day before the inauguration and give you libs the finger...Mission Accomplished!

[Tully365]

This quote--is it Einstein?--has always bothered me. Of course you can expect different results if you do the same thing over and over again, if the conditions have changed. If I throw 10 identical uppercuts in a fight, I'll probably hit my opponent sometimes and miss sometimes. Different results.

It should be: "assuming identical conditions, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result."

I've always hated that quote too-- it makes no sense at all. I'd say the old "Practice makes perfect" is the the exact opposite, and more accurate.

[Anti.Hero]

It makes perfect sense. Some sayings are not meant to be dissected like you all are doing.

[Tully365]

So if someone is a bad outside shooter, or a bad free throw shooter, they are "insane" for going to the gym and practicing the same shot over & over in an attempt to improve? It makes no sense. It's slightly dumber than "everything happens for a reason."

[Anti.Hero]

You study for a test one way, you fail your test.

The next go around, you study the same way, you fail your test.

And so on. Change the way you study. See if you get different results.

Perfect sense.


He also said compound interest was the 8th wonder of the world? I cannot seem to find where it is located though. Einstein is such an idiot.

[clambake]

i think the stakes are different when lives are in the calculation.

[Anti.Hero]

So if someone is a bad outside shooter, or a bad free throw shooter, they are "insane" for going to the gym and practicing the same shot over & over in an attempt to improve? It makes no sense. It's slightly dumber than "everything happens for a reason."

They will never be perfect.

That saying is bull too.

[LnGrrrR]

I'm all for being isolationists.

I'm fine for that, but let's make exceptions for the countries that like us so we can keep SOME bases open for quick responses.

[Wild Cobra]

I'm fine for that, but let's make exceptions for the countries that like us so we can keep SOME bases open for quick responses.

I'm all for free trade with countries of similar economic wealth and worker compensations. However, we need to also adjust are tax system closer to theirs to be on an equal playing field. I would be all for free trade with:

Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Belgium
Botswana
Brunei
Canada
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kuwait
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Qatar
Singapore
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom

Now I selected the countries that have almost at least about 1/2 the per capita income that we do, down to the lowest in sequence. The Bahamas. I also included Mexico. They have less than 1/4 rather than about 1/2 or more. I include them because they are one of two immediate neighbors. I am one that believes in helping close neighbors out. We simply cannot include the likes of China just for cheap goods. Let that manufacturing go back to Mexico, and relieve some of the illegal immigration we have.

[spurster]

I am wondering how close we are to the US moving to a much lower superpower status. We will be so much in debt to China and the rest of the world that we won't be able to withstand outside pressure and we won't be able to afford these "adventures" anyway. We might need to cut our losses to help get our financial situation under control. If we don't get it under control, it will end up being much worse.