Thé reason, despite all other matters, to support the President

A few days ago, on October 6, President Bush made a remarkable speech on the ‘War on Terror’. The speech is just terrific: it covers so much issues, Bush says it like it is – stepping on many toes in the process – and he doesn’t fool you: there will be no gain without pain. The speech was long overdue, but it was worth waiting for it; I have no doubt that much time and effort has gone in preparing it. I have selected big chunks from the speech, while adding my comments, but just read the whole speech yourself.

The President starts a bit dramatically:

And we remember the calling that came to us on that day (9/11), and continues to this hour: We will confront this mortal danger to all humanity. We will not tire, or rest, until the war on terror is won.

No surrender!

The images and experience of September the 11th are unique for Americans. Yet the evil of that morning has reappeared on other days, in other places.

In case you have forgotten.

Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still others, Islamo-fascism.

In my experience, I have never heard a politician use this phrase.

A call for terrorist murder against Christians and Jews and Hindus

The fact that India has been the target of terrorist attacks for many times, has been too easily forgotten.

Bush about who the enemy is:

global, borderless terrorist organizations like al Qaeda … regional groups, often associated with al Qaeda … local cells … more like a loose network with many branches than an army under a single command … Yet these operatives, fighting on scattered battlefields, share a similar ideology and vision for our world

We know the vision of the radicals because they've openly stated it -- in videos, and audiotapes, and letters, and declarations, and websites.

Some prefer to remain blind to reality, while there has been a historical precedent, Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

The President explains:

First, these extremists want to end American and Western influence in the broader Middle East, because we stand for democracy and peace, and stand in the way of their ambitions. … They want us to repeat the sad history of Beirut in 1983, and Mogadishu in 1993 -- only this time on a larger scale, with greater consequences.

Ouch, some of his predecessors surely will not have liked this one.

Second, the militant network wants to use the vacuum created by an American retreat to gain control of a country. … Now they've set their sights on Iraq. … terrorists regard Iraq as the central front in their war against humanity. And we must recognize Iraq as the central front in our war on terror.

I have not been able to see the video of his speech, but I hope Bush stressed that last sentence.

Third, the militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia. With greater economic and military and political power, the terrorists would be able to advance their stated agenda: to develop weapons of mass destruction, to destroy Israel, to intimidate Europe (wake up, euroweenies, and smell the coffee, dak), to assault the American people, and to blackmail our government into isolation.

Some might be tempted to dismiss these goals as fanatical or extreme. Well, they are fanatical and extreme -- and they should not be dismissed. Our enemy is utterly committed.

Given our Western rationality it is tempting not to take our enemy’s motives serious.

Evil men, obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience, must be taken very seriously -- and we must stop them before their crimes can multiply.

Inevitably this reminds me of a certain A.H. in the past, no to appeasement!

The radicals exploit local conflicts to build a culture of victimization

Say no to that!

They have been sheltered by authoritarian regimes, allies of convenience like Syria and Iran

"I have got two more piggies left to wash"

and use terrorist propaganda to blame their own failures on the West and America, and on the Jews.

That is a special one for the Palestinians.

The militants are aided, as well, by elements of the Arab (he could have left out that word, dak) news media that incite hatred and anti-Semitism, that feed conspiracy theories and speak of a so-called American "war on Islam" -- with seldom a word about American action to protect Muslims in Afghanistan, and Bosnia, Somalia, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq

That point should be made more often.

Some have also argued that extremism has been strengthened by the actions of our coalition in Iraq, claiming that our presence in that country has somehow caused or triggered the rage of radicals. I would remind them that we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001 -- and al Qaeda attacked us anyway. The hatred of the radicals existed before Iraq was an issue, and it will exist after Iraq is no longer an excuse.

That is one for the anti-war movement.

In fact, we're not facing a set of grievances that can be soothed and addressed. We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world. No act of ours invited the rage of the killers -- and no concession, bribe, or act of appeasement would change or limit their plans for murder.

They target nations whose behavior they believe they can change through violence (And this one is for the Spaniards, dak). Against such an enemy, there is only one effective response: We will never back down (never!) , never give in (NEVER!), and never accept anything less than complete victory.

Allelujah!

The murderous ideology of the Islamic radicals is the great challenge of our new century

He (OBL, dak) assures them that his -- that this is the road to paradise -- though he never offers to go along for the ride.

Always in for a good joke now and then.

When 25 Iraqi children are killed in a bombing, or Iraqi teachers are executed at their school, or hospital workers are killed caring for the wounded, this is murder, pure and simple.

When will the media get rid of their "un-partisanship"?

Under their rule, they have banned books, and desecrated historical monuments, and brutalized women.

Let us talk more about that, instead of about Abu Ghraib of over Guantanamo.

Zarqawi has said that Americans are, quote, "the most cowardly of God's creatures." But let's be clear: It is cowardice that seeks to kill children and the elderly with car bombs, and cuts the throat of a bound captive, and targets worshipers leaving a mosque.

Eat this, sucker! I love it, when he does that.

And Islamic radicalism, like the ideology of communism, contains inherent contradictions that doom it to failure.

We didn't ask for this global struggle, but we're answering history's call with confidence, and a comprehensive strategy. Defeating a broad and adaptive network requires patience, constant pressure, and strong partners in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and beyond.

Unilateralism, you said?

First, we're determined to prevent the attacks of terrorist networks before they occur. We're reorganizing our government to give this nation a broad and coordinated homeland defense. … Second, we're determined to deny weapons of mass destruction to outlaw regimes, and to their terrorist allies who would use them without hesitation.

I hope they heard him in Iran.

Third, we're determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary of outlaw regimes.

In case Syria and Iran didn’t hear him the first time.

Fourth, we're determined to deny the militants control of any nation, which they would use as a home base and a launching pad for terror.

They will have to impeach Bush before the US will leave Iraq without completing the mission.

Area by area, city by city, we're conducting offensive operations to clear out enemy forces, and leaving behind Iraqi units to prevent the enemy from returning.

Are the media paying attention?

Some observers look at the job ahead and adopt a self-defeating pessimism. It is not justified.

Period!

By any standard or precedent of history, Iraq has made incredible political progress -- from tyranny, to liberation, to national elections, to the writing of a constitution, in the space of two-and-a-half years. … Progress isn't easy, but it is steady.

Honest, but true!

And no fair-minded person should ignore, deny, or dismiss the achievements of the Iraqi people.

This one is for the media.

We've heard it suggested that Iraq's democracy must be on shaky ground because Iraqis are arguing with each other. But that's the essence of democracy

But some people seem to have a different notion of “democracy”.

Some observers also claim that America would be better off by cutting our losses and leaving Iraq now. This is a dangerous illusion, refuted with a simple question: Would the United States and other free nations be more safe, or less safe, with Zarqawi and bin Laden in control of Iraq, its people, and its resources?

Do I have to answer this one?

There's always a temptation, in the middle of a long struggle, to seek the quiet life, to escape the duties and problems of the world, and to hope the enemy grows weary of fanaticism and tired of murder. This would be a pleasant world, but it's not the world we live in. … This enemy considers every retreat of the civilized world as an invitation to greater violence.

The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the militants future recruits by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy and hope across the broader Middle East. This is a difficult and long-term project, yet there's no alternative to it.

This man does not want to fool you: no pain, no gain.

Our future and the future of that region are linked.

We're encouraging our friends in the Middle East, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to take the path of reform, to strengthen their own societies in the fight against terror by respecting the rights and choices of their own people.

I was waiting for it and finally he said it, sorry for doubting you, Mr. P.

The time has come for all responsible Islamic leaders to join in denouncing an ideology that exploits Islam for political ends, and defiles a noble faith.

Let there be no misunderstanding, no apologies.

In conclusion:

With the rise of a deadly enemy and the unfolding of a global ideological struggle, our time in history will be remembered for new challenges and unprecedented dangers. And yet the fight we have joined is also the current expression of an ancient struggle, between those who put their faith in dictators, and those who put their faith in the people. Throughout history, tyrants and would-be tyrants have always claimed that murder is justified to serve their grand vision -- and they end up alienating decent people across the globe. Tyrants and would-be tyrants have always claimed that regimented societies are strong and pure -- until those societies collapse in corruption and decay. Tyrants and would-be tyrants have always claimed that free men and women are weak and decadent -- until the day that free men and women defeat them.

We don't know the course of our own struggle -- the course our own struggle will take -- or the sacrifices that might lie ahead. We do know, however, that the defense of freedom is worth our sacrifice. We do know the love of freedom is the mightiest force of history. And we do know the cause of freedom will once again prevail.

My dear American friends, do you realize what a wonderful President you have? He may be flawed, but the most important thing is that he is absolutely right on this oh so important, even the most important issue of our time. The world can only hope that your next leaders are cut out of the same wood.