Rush just mentioned this article on his show and I had to post about it. It’s classic. It just dawned on the folks at the San Francisco Chronicle that even if we pull out of Iraq, it won’t stop Jihadists from trying to kill us:
Calling on the Bush administration again to withdraw troops from Iraq, Democratic lawmakers and critics of the war have seized on the bleak findings of a partially declassified intelligence report that concluded the war is helping cultivate new supporters for Islamist militants across the globe.
But experts on terrorism warn that extricating the United States from the increasingly unpopular war will not be enough to stop jihadists.
“It was a great mistake to go to Iraq,” said Syed Hasnat, an expert on terrorism at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. But a sudden withdrawal, he added, would both greatly damage the United States and “affect the cycle of international extremism.”
The roots of international Islamic militancy go far deeper than the U.S. military presence in Iraq, and their goals extend beyond forcing out 147,000 U.S. troops, experts say. And although the Iraq war has helped radicalize thousands of Muslims, without it, jihadists — militants who seek to turn conviction in their faith into the grounds for a holy war against people of other religions — can use other long-standing grievances to recruit new fighters: Muslim discontent over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the widespread belief that the United States intends to colonize the Middle East.
Where have these people been? Jihadists have been killing Americans for years. They were behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the USS Cole bombing, and of course 9/11. All of these attacks took place long before the Iraq war, yet it just now occurs to the folks at the San Francisco Chronicle that pulling out of Iraq will do nothing to appease jihadist?
Update: Wizbang reader Rory reminded me of the Khobar Towers:
Please add Khobar Towers to the list. That had the fingerprints of Jihadist and even perhaps Al Qaeda all over it.
That’s something, CLINTON, Democrats and perhaps even Giuliani have the luxury of forgetting.
The 333rd Fighter Wing will never forget.
Thank you for the reminder, Rory.
Lee? Hello? Are you there?
Lee took his marbles and went home. “twas a tad too hot in here for him.
http://wizbangblog.com/2006/09/28/muslim-leader-the-only-dialogue-we-will-accept-is-when-all-other-religions-agree-to-convert-to-islam.php#359109
So Bush’s war made us unsafer.
Go figure.
Chalk one up for common sense.
Oh.well,I hope he can stop twitching and return to work tomorrow and not end up a burden on us taxpayers.
Remember this?
I need links on the Democrats plan on the war on terror or even how to handle the terrorist situation.
Still nothing. They had 8 years to show us how they would handle terrorism. That was smarter?
not end up a burden on us taxpayers.
Uhm. Probably too late.
LEE, Sept 28 2:44pm
“It was a great mistake to go to Iraq“and it is a greater mistake to not learn a lesson from that, And vote out the morons who got us into this mess….
So when is AL QUAEDA HOLDING THEIR ELECTIONS??
Peter, I was somewhat aware of possible sarcasm. I know it’s tough to include sarcasm in text without a little winkie sign or something, but that just gives it away.
I was just clarifying for people who don’t know any better. Besides, not many people know much about the US Merchant Marine anyway, I figured I might as well throw in my two cents.
Lee, how in the world do I slander you? Do you admit to slandering Lorie and the rest of the Wizbang posters?
After all, it’s the same logic, isn’t it? If you put forth an argument that happens to coincide with the oil industry, you charge that Lorie and others are shills for the oil industry. Even if they aren’t paid by them.
So, why aren’t you a shill for the radical Islamic fundamentalists, when you mouth the same arguments they put forth?
Or is this one of those “special” Lefty standards, where what’s good for the goose doesn’t apply to the gander?
Henry:
LOL. OK. Next time I’ll throw in a little winkie or something.