Logic Times
Iraq - Al Qaeda Linkage
Posted by Aslan. October 13, 2004. Comments (0)
When the preliminary 9/11 commission report was disclosed, most major newspaper headlines in America proclaimed: “No Link Found Between Iraq and Al Qaeda.” In their biased excitement to undermine “Bush’s war,” the press seized upon a phrase that they thought invalidated the hostilities in Iraq.
Conservatives vehemently objected to this mischaracterization, which represented a baffling misreading of the commission’s findings and is all the more scary because it was not coordinated (see The Importance of Rathergate). Indeed the later publication of the complete 9/11 Report was quietly received in the media since it clearly vindicated these concerns. The commission noted several links between Iraq and Al Qaeda, just no 9/11 operational links. Since exactly no one in the Bush administration ever claimed operational 9/11 links, the headlines were a non sequitur.
Conservatives however, while correct in pointing out yet another example of media bias, should have applauded the unintentional truth in these attack headlines, which were a breathtaking illustration of the important and potentially fatal differences between conservatives and liberals.
It required little vision and nominal leadership to go into Afghanistan. Momentum and righteous rage were on our side, which, when combined with the American military, makes for staggering diplomatic efficiency. Such efficiency was clearly visible in the Kerry-esque reversal by Pakistan, who went from Taliban chum to Taliban hunters in the time it takes to read tea leaves.
In addition, the words of the Bush Doctrine, while brilliant, would certainly have been put forth in similar form by a Democrat administration. September 11th required it and liberals love words. It is the deeds of the Bush Doctrine that are an anathema to the left and that are doing more to save American lives and protect American children than any other conceivable government action. Iraq is not about 9/11, it is about the Bush Doctrine in action.
Every scrap of intelligence we have about the events that have emboldened Islamic terrorists points to American timidity and American irresolution as the basis for their confidence and the catalyst for terrorist action. Without a meaningful application of the Bush Doctrine as a follow-up to Afghanistan, we would have fulfilled terrorist expectations about American lack of resolve to aggressively fight this new war. And there is not a liberal leader that draws breath who would have implemented the leftist version of the Bush Doctrine in such a way as to meaningfully transform the Middle East and fascist Islam.
The implementation of the Bush Doctrine is the reason we are in Iraq. It is the reason the Iraqi/Libyan nuclear weapons program has been terminated. It is the reason thousands of Islamic terrorists are dead in Iraq and not quietly plotting future 9/11s. It is the reason Iran is struggling to quell internal populist reform. It is the reason Saudi Arabian officials have floated the trial balloon of democratic elections. It is the likely reason that there have been no follow-ups to 9/11. It is the reason Bashar Assad cannot sleep at night. Oh, and by the way, it is the reason 25 million people no longer fear torture and oppression at the hands of madmen.
The moment of true leadership from a post-9/11 president was after Afghanistan; what would be next? This war requires far more than killing Osama bin Laden; it requires a solution to the problem of fascist Islam, and leadership began in earnest when George W. Bush demonstrated that he is more concerned with your family’s future than his own political future.
Copyright © 2004 Dan Hallagan. All Rights Reserved.