Much has already been forgotten about the origins of The Bush Doctrine. With hopes for freedom rippling throughout the Middle East it is perhaps instructive to look back to the The 2002 State of the Union Address, best remembered for introducing the “axis of evil,” delivered four months after 9/11.
All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children to be educated, and live free from poverty and violence. No people on Earth yearn to be oppressed, or aspire to servitude, or eagerly await the midnight knock of the secret police.
If anyone doubts this, let them look to Afghanistan, where the Islamic “street” greeted the fall of tyranny with song and celebration. Let the skeptics look to Islam’s own rich history, with its centuries of learning, and tolerance and progress. America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere. (Applause.)
No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt from them. We have no intention of imposing our culture. But America will always stand firm for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity: the rule of law; limits on the power of the state; respect for women; private property; free speech; equal justice; and religious tolerance. (Applause.)
America will take the side of brave men and women who advocate these values around the world, including the Islamic world, because we have a greater objective than eliminating threats and containing resentment. We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror.As Thomas Donnelly writes at AEI, “The opportunities to expand the Pax Americana also rest upon one of the few solid truths of social science: Democracies rarely war on other democracies.” They don’t support terrorist organizations that do so either…
Excellent point by Donnelly. And recent developments in the region are very encouraging.
The naysayers and pessimistic prognosticators of the impact of the Bush doctrine have another disconfirmation of their misunderestimation of the unredefeated President and his vision for change in the Middle East.
This also a MUST READ: A condemnation of Islamic terrorism by an American Muslim
Ten, nine, eight, …. don’t mind me, I’m just counting to see how long it takes before the Wizbang Wet Blankets show up….seven, six,…
…two, one. Hello. Actually, no, I remember sitting in my car and listening to that speech in a parking lot when I was supposed to go inside and meet people. It was a good speech and despite my thinking invading Iraq was a bad idea, I still certainly agree with the goals put forth in that speech, and think the ME seems to be moving in the right direction as a result of the Bush Doctrine. But then I really don’t know who doesn’t.
W is just extending what Barry ran on in 64 and Ronnie put into practice successfully form 1981 – 1989. History suppors the fact that democracies rarely start wars of any kind – except in self defense, as in the real JFK’s invasion of Vietnam in 63; or Wilson sending Black Jack into Mexico,
See this anthology of essays re the GWOT and Islamofascism.
A War of Ideas, Ideologies, Cultures, Religon, and Good vs. Evil
Link Here
And while your there check this piece out:
FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH!
Link Here