posted on September 27, 2001 03:47:54 AM new
Powell's broader wisdom prevails.
President George Bush, retreating from his warning last week that the Taliban would "share the fate" of terrorists if they did not hand over Osama bin Laden, said he was not interested in "nation building" - long-term troop deployments to help rebuild a shattered country.
The best way to fight the "flat evil" of terrorism would be to "ask for the co-operation of citizens within Afghanistan who may be tired of having the Taliban in place or tired of having Osama bin Laden" in their country.
The White House spokesman, Mr Ari Fleischer, said the policy was "not designed to replace one regime with another regime".
The shift towards an "Afghan solution" instead of a US-imposed regime appears to be in response to fears among Arab and Muslim nations, especially Pakistan, that toppling the Taliban would cause uprisings in their countries and push the region into long-term instability.
US reports also said the Administration was worried about the impact of a humanitarian and political crisis if the Taliban fell.
posted on September 27, 2001 06:36:15 AM new
Operation name, "Infinate Justice" has been changed to "Operation "Enduring Freedom"!
But, now, although a military strike is not imminent, it's not out of the picture and that's what bothers me. Instead of backing out of that militaristic goal, the Bush administration is stalling in order to align a better coalition.
Powell has done a great job so far by keeping the hawks and the Pentagon under control. I hope that his wise policy will prevail throughout the world.
posted on September 27, 2001 06:59:22 AM new
Hey lookie at those chicken American. They get fraid to fight us. They want only to talk talk and not walk walk. We bitchslap you again. America. <spit>
``I think it can't be stressed enough that everybody who's waiting for military action ... needs to rethink this thing,'' Wolfowitz told a news briefing.
``We don't believe in just demonstrating that our military is capable of bombing. The whole world knows that,'' he said.
Furthermore, they don't know where bin Ladin is
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - "The United States told NATO (news - web sites) allies Wednesday it needs more information on how to find Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) and his followers and asked their help in gathering intelligence."
So, they need more intelligence....that is, if you can believe what they are saying.
posted on September 27, 2001 08:47:10 AM new
So Bush gives a list of demands to the Taliban that are not negotiable and when they ignore them we do nothing but back off?
posted on September 27, 2001 09:00:04 AM new
Bush is paralyzed with indecision. The aministration is trying to build a coalition with the governments that harbor terrorists. Unbelieveable.
posted on September 27, 2001 10:13:42 AM new
Bush isn't paralyzed with indecision, it's just that whoever should be in charge of telling him what to say hasn't been doing a very good job of it. Through much of this, he's had the appearance of a kid who's been told to go out and play while the grownups are busy inside doing something important.
Left on his own, he makes little noises, nodding his head and frowning, trying out his grown-up face. Every so often, he unholsters his empty hands for the quick draw, index finger pointing at the shed or the shadows in the hedges - "Dead or alive! Pow Pow!" In his make-believe scenario he probably holsters those hands, bad guys dispatched, unsuccessfully tries to look humble, plays with his hat, and says, - "Aw shucks, Ma'am, tweren't nuthin' more than shootin' a camel's butt in an empty tent. You good folks can go about your business now." Then he rides off into the sunset.
We never thought that Bush would be making these decisions, and he's not. This isn't a suprirse. This is the way of Republican presidents - their job is to be a face, a guy you can call "president," while the real work is done by others. What is surprising is that he's not being handled better. Where are the guys who did Reagan, he could use them.
posted on September 27, 2001 12:17:32 PM new
I would not include the governments that harbor and sponser terrorists in a coalition that has been formed to fight terrorism.
The northern alliance is waiting for U.S. airstrikes to support them in overthrowing the Taliban. I would provide the airstrikes so they could rid themselves of the Taliban.
There is little hope of locating Bin Laden until the northern alliance has control of Afghanistan.
With no international inspections, Saddam Hussein is free to develop and produce biological weapons. One of the terrorists killed in the attack on the WTC was seen with an Iraqi intelligence officer in Europe. No proof that they were discussing the WTC attack but does prove that Saddam has contact with al Qaeda. I would send our military to finish Desert Storm.
I would give Israel the "diplomatic" go ahead to take back the buffer zone they negotiated away in their misguided attempt for a peaceful solution to the Palestinian problem.
posted on September 27, 2001 12:27:31 PM new
Do you have your lapel buttons printed up and pressed yet, sasooony? I'd like to have one of the first issue.
posted on September 27, 2001 12:57:53 PM new
One thing I've always wondered: what's in it for the women? We always here about the paradise Muslim *men* get when they die...what do the women get?
posted on September 28, 2001 09:06:36 AM newKRS:They get the men, bunni.
Let's see...the men get 70 virgins to massage their libidos for eternity (I guess the guys will still be happy when they are no longer virgins, unless it's "look but don't touch" ). The women get an eternity of what they got in life, subservience and denial. Whoop-de-doo!
Like most other modern religions Islam really doesn't have a lot in it for women, does it?
edited due to errant UBB where none was intended
[ edited by bunnicula on Sep 28, 2001 09:08 AM ]
posted on September 28, 2001 02:34:06 PM new
On topic:
Bush announced that special forces are in 'hot pursuit' of terrorist within Afganistan right now. Must be those guys who landed in the night in Pakistan.
[ edited by bunnicula on Sep 28, 2001 09:08 AM ]