calbear on July 30, 2007 at 1:50 PM

calbear, you make some good points. It is important to maintain accuracy. Heck, I’d settle for a president who’s willing to dispel the lame notion that Islam is a religion of peace. The link between all the attacks may not be Bin Laden personally but I think we all have an idea of what that link truly is.

You’re suggesting things that I’m not suggesting.

I’m using hyperbole, but I still think you’re overreaching. Bin Laden wants the world to believe that he and his men single-handedly ended the Soviet Union, kicked Americans out of Somalia, and inflicted shame on the American Empire. You’re not saying that, but giving him “credit” for anything he didn’t mastermind (WTC’93, Khobar Towers) is a bad idea.

the idea that every single American setback since Beirut is attributable to and organized by bin Laden.

calbear on July 30, 2007 at 1:05 PM

You’re suggesting things that I’m not suggesting.

By 1998, al Qaeda had already struck the World Trade Center in New York (1993) and Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia (1996).

That’s the kind of sloppy thinking/language that gets conservatives in trouble with the “Bush lied!” crowd (which, if you haven’t been keeping track, seems to be most politically minded people in the world today). Few people believe that those are examples of al Qaeda “striking.” There are possibilities of connections between the groups who did these and al Qaeda, but it’s important to be clear about where the blame really lies. It’s also very important not to overstate the influence of bin Laden, pumping up a myth that’s been extremely dangerous to U.S. interests, the idea that every single American setback since Beirut is attributable to and organized by bin Laden. Such misstatements are also detrimental to U.S. interests in getting other countries and organizations – Iraq, Iran, Hezbollah – off the hook for their misdeeds.

We knew bin Laden was a bad guy in 1996. That’s enough. We don’t need to claim he’s been the post-Cold War universal svengali of all terror in the world. If we’re going to be serious about this struggle, we need to be careful in our arguments. Such carelessness leads to a world in which the U.S. is fighting for the right thing but no one else cares. And that, as we’ve seen, is quite harmful for everyone.

I’m beginning to wonder if my assumption that political correctness will be tossed aside when people start dying is completely wrong.

Bill C on July 30, 2007 at 10:59 AM

You and Bryan are both correct. The correct question is how many people will have to die before political correctness is tossed aside? Hopefully it will be before PRCalDude’s idea takes place.

Tantor on July 30, 2007 at 11:14 AM

ha, good one,

I say old boy, that wasn’t exactly cricket you know.

Grow a pair, O’ sons of Winston.

Truly I say to you, Admiral Lord Nelson is at this moment wailing and gnashing his teeth at what has become of his beloved nation.

Unfortunately, I think it is wrong. People have been dying in this war for years, but PC is only getting stronger.

Bryan on July 30, 2007 at 11:03 AM

Just wait. They’ll nuke London or a major U.S. city.

Please accept our heartfelt apologies.

.

The Brits think we’re more emotional than they are, so play it up.

Otherwise, my sentiments exactly.

…political correctness will be tossed aside when people start dying…
Bill C on July 30, 2007 at 10:59 AM

Actually, they feel that if they are just more and more PC, then people will…like…them, and all this meanness will go away. Combine those people with the rest of the “we’re worse than anybody” crowd and you’ve got a true suicide pact.

Secretary of State Tantor to the British Foreign Secretary, a year after Bin Laden is caught:
“Thank you for your cooperation in catching Mr. Bin Laden, whom we have been interrogating for the last year. He’s told us everything he knew while squealing like a little girl. We have since wrapped up his entire terror network, down to the shops where they bought their blank videos. Unfortunately, after the interrogations were complete Mr. Bin Laden fell into a wood chipper and was inadvertently fed to the hogs. You can imagine our chagrin. While this unfortunate accident does not fulfill the spirit of our mutually beneficial agreement, we promise to do better with the next mass-murdering terrorist mastermind you give us. Please accept our apologies.”

Would we hesitate to pass on intelligence to the Brits just because their cops accidentally over-reacted and shot a guy to death in a subway car right after their 7/7 terrorist attacks?

Grow a pair, O’ sons of Winston.

(Will it be Churchill or Smith?)

Bill C on July 30, 2007 at 10:59 AM

Unfortunately, I think it is wrong. People have been dying in this war for years, but PC is only getting stronger.