To all those out there who support the "hearts and minds " approach espoused by Sir Michael Howard, I suggest you listen to what Bin Ladin is saying and read what he is writing.
This man is Hitler in another guise, bent on world domination by a muslim caliphate. Yes, hearts and minds can work in situations like Malya and Cyprus, to name a couple, but these were localized actions which lend themselves to that approach. We are dealing with a horse of different colour here, operating on a world stage.
Bin Ladin's Al-Qa'ida is multi-national, with members from numerous countries and with a worldwide presence. Senior leaders in the organization are also senior leaders in other terrorist organizations, including the Egyptian al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya and the Egyptian al-Jihad. Al-Qa'ida seeks a global radicalization of existing Islamic groups and the creation of radical Islamic groups where none yet exist.
Bin Ladin and his Al-Qa'ida support Muslim terrorists in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Somalia, Yemen, and now Kosovo. He also trains members of terrorist organizations from such diverse countries as the Philippines, Algeria, and Eritrea.
Al-Qa'ida's goal is to "unite all Muslims and to establish a government which follows the rule of the Caliphs." Bin Ladin has stated that the only way to establish the Caliphate is by force. Al-Qa'ida's goal, therefore, is to overthrow nearly all Muslim governments, which are viewed as corrupt, to drive Western influence from those countries, and eventually to abolish state boundaries. This is why he declared a holy war against the US and the western civilizations some years ago. Bin-Ladin advocates the destruction of the United States, which he sees as the chief obstacle to reform in Muslim societies. Since 1996, his anti-U.S. rhetoric has escalated to the point of calling for worldwide attacks on all Americans and their allies, including civilians. We are a few years late in responding to his declaration of war.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council on 15 October 1999 demanded that the Afghan faction, known as the Taliban, turn over Usama bin Laden to appropriate authorities in a country where he would be brought to justice. In that context, it decided that on 14 November 1999 all States shall freeze funds and prohibit the take-off and landing of Taliban-owned aircraft unless or until the Taliban complies with that demand. Since the Taliban did not comply with this obligation, the measures of the resolution have entered into effect. Unfortunately, like most UN demands, it is having no effect.
We went through the appeasment happy horse **** in the 30s, it didn't work then and it will not work now. We are doing the right thing , seeing international terrorism for what it is and finaly responding. Afghanistan and Bin Ladin is only the beginning, we have to root all the tentacles of this octopus wherever they are. The calous murder of 6,000 people on 9/11 was their most recent and best shot to date. We have to eradicate this evil from the world, or our children and their children will be permanently at risk.
We are not carpet bombing Afghanistan, we are hitting selected targets. We are not striking the people of Afghanistan, we are are striking at the international terrorist organization and its head that are taking refuge in that country. The Taliban were not elected by the people and are not representing the people of Afghanistan, they are foreign arabs who took power by force.
Well, that's my rant for the day.
Phew! I need a beer!
