Logic Times

The Brilliance of the Bush Plan

Posted by Aslan. October 3, 2004. Comments (3)

For centuries, the barbarian Goths tormented the once-mighty Roman Empire, their very name evoked terror on the Roman frontier. The beginning of the end of the Roman Empire unfolded with the Battle of Adrianople in 378, where the Gothic leader Fritigern destroyed 40,000 Romans. The Gothic sack of Rome followed about 30 years later.

The barbarian Goths, the later martial tradition of the Prussians and the twentieth century German military machine wrecked havoc in Europe for almost two millennia. It could be easily argued that the German culture ranks as the most lethally violent culture in the history of the world.

There are other contenders: Italy (and the Roman Empire), the Mongols, perhaps the British. Consider also the Japanese. Bushido, meaning literally “the way of the warrior,” dominated a Samurai culture that flourished centuries before Europeans discovered America. And the mid-twentieth century incarnation of Japanese military tradition rivaled the Germans in Europe with over ten million Chinese killed, with the horrific rape of Nanking (where 300,000 civilians were slaughtered, many beheaded, and well over 20,000 women raped by Japanese soldiers), and with the invention of the suicide bomber (kamikaze).

Where is the threat that Germany and Japan pose to the modern world today?

As pacifists, Germany lectures the United States on undue aggression in Iraq. Their people rise up, not to conquer, but in pursuit of a shorter workweek and a longer holiday.

The Japanese have abandoned the martial aspects of bushido. The fearlessness of warriors willing to die has been replaced with a fearless dedication to more sedate ideals: success in business, pursuit of quality, national pride.

The German and Japanese peoples – an omnipresent threat to regional peace over hundreds of years – no longer represent the slightest threat to peace and to civilization. One thing, and only one

thing, is responsible for this stunning transformation: liberty.

Liberty is the bright light that reveals to the individual the worthiness of organized claims on human life. And government built upon liberty empowers that same individual to resist unworthy calls to sacrifice.

Here lies the brilliance and vision of George W. Bush’s plan for the fundamental Islamic culture. A laughable contender for the German/Japanese crown, fascist Islam only represents a threat because of the evolution of technology. Without the devastating potential of modern weapons to power their chaotic hatred, fascist Islam would be an impotent footnote in geopolitical history. September 11th illustrated the danger of technology - of modern planes, skyscrapers, chemical weapons, biological weapons, and nuclear bombs - under the influence of fundamental Islam.

Instead of pursuing the reactionary policy of punishment, which would have ceased with Afghanistan and done nothing to prevent fascist Islam from regrouping and striking again, Bush sought a long-term solution: to let freedom reveal the lie of fascist Islam to the people of the region. And those who say that the Muslim people are not interested in or capable of peacefully enjoying liberty are – besides racist – ignorant of history.

Looking at the landscape of the Middle East, the United States military needed a point of entry into the region to begin transforming a multinational culture of hatred and oppression into one of freedom. An international pariah and reprobate named Saddam Hussein, through his monstrous actions, thoughtfully volunteered.

Comments

1: quickdraw

October 3, 2004 09:23am EST

Then Bush and Powell lied when they said WMDs were the primary reason for attacking Iraq.

{Aslan: They stated other reasons for attacking Iraq, such as implementation of the Bush Doctrine. It is unfortunate, but the deep-down main reason for attacking Iraq – a Middle Eastern entry point for the U.S. military to aggressively change a dysfunctional regional culture (Iraq and beyond) with liberty - can only be generally alluded to. To spell that strategy out too clearly would be a geopolitical disaster.}

2: Trekram

October 9, 2004 09:02am EST

Regarding this quote from your most recent response: “a Middle Eastern entry point for the U.S. military to aggressively change a dysfunctional regional culture (Iraq and beyond) with liberty - can only be generally alluded to. To spell that strategy out too clearly would be a geopolitical disaster.”

Can you explain how misleading others by not "too clearly" spelling out your intentions and plans is a moral way to approach any issue, let alone an invasion of a sovereign nation? This tactic seems to come right out of the liberal handbook in that they know best and that the ends justify the means. So is it acceptable to fool the people for their own good? If so, can you provide any historical examples where a hidden agenda or misdirected intentions to fool the people did result in a positive conclusion?

{Aslan: The general premise has been clearly defined. The Bush policy statement on this issue is as follows: “In the long run, our security is not guaranteed by force alone. We must work to change the conditions of hopelessness and resentment that provide fertile ground for terrorist recruitment. Above all, this requires bringing freedom to people for whom it has been too long denied, for free people do not support terror….Fifty million people have been liberated from despotic, totalitarian regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq.” Here is where the sleight-of-hand comes into play – in what detail do we explore “despotic, totalitarian regimes”? There are dozens of such regimes in the world, but one thing makes these regimes unique: dysfunctional Islam. Yet, while Islam remains at the heart of the problem, what end is served by developing this idea in the public forum? One can, and President Bush does, use a euphemism for dysfunctional Islam: terrorist regimes.

To answer your last question, every major conflict had its share of manipulation of the truth. In World War I, Germany is remembered often in the same light as in World War II – the powerful and immoral aggressor, the essence of evil in the twentieth century. Yet, Germany was honoring its alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was as much the cause of WWI as Great Britain or France. In addition, the British propaganda machine, much admired by Joseph Goebbels (read here), fabricated most of the reports of atrocities by German soldiers in Belgium in an attempt to encourage the US to enter the war on behalf of the Allies. In Kosovo, there were documented reports of atrocities that have since turned out to be false. Indeed, I think it is a valid question to ask if we entered on the correct side of that war. Two occasions where America was persuaded into war by exaggerations – you be the judge if either end was justified.}

3: Jayne McIntyre

March 1, 2005 12:54pm EST

I have to admit…I never expected the domino effect to take place as rapidly as it is. The point of no return commenced when we went into Afghanistan and the History of the world forever changed. President Bush had the courage to put into motion the concepts that he believed in, and we see the results unfolding everyday. Libya, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon and now possibly Egypt (?). Even Saudi Arabia has held some type of election recently. Syria recognizes the great power that has been unleashed in that area and Iran is looking for alliances to strengthen its position.

And while the Arab world is buzzing…the UN is wondering what has happened to the world while they were busy trying to explain their own deceptions…Europe is busy putting away their protest signs and bringing out their leaders to smile and shake hands with George Bush. Hillary Clinton is trying (unsuccessfully) to inject her face in the region…Russia is strategizing…and the "coalition of the bribed and coerced" is standing proudly beside the US. as true Allies.

R. Vaughn…where are you when we need a poem here?

{Aslan: I needed to read this after reading Jack's post. Thanks! Russ?}