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I waffle back and forth on how to feel about this. A lot.
It's so much to take in, even over time.
Sometimes, I'm very supportive of Bush, and I think this is just right. And sometimes I'm terrified, because it seems to go too far.
Phrasing the demands of the Taliban the way he did...pardon me, but didn't that phrasing, in that venue, at that time, seem almost guaranteed to get their backs up and prevent any chance we might have had of getting them to work with us? And if we have evidence - why are we not producing it? They've said they'll hand over bin Laden if we do, after all. Though I'm not sure what they would consider sufficient evidence, which may well play into the decision.
We must stop the terrorists, yes. And I think we do need access to see the training camps aren't operating. (Truthfully: is there anyone out there who thinks they won't simply spring up somewhere else, where we aren't watching, however? We can inconvenience them, but can we wholly stop them?)
What the Taliban does to its own people is horrible. But it's been horrible for years. Why is it suddenly involved in this call to war? Why is it included, as if it was a reason? Because it makes a grand rallying cry. Because abuses of freedom, safety, and health are very scary to the American people. It's a well-timed inclusion, and I think, also an effort to make the "enemy" more an Enemy.
Is force of arms the right response to a regime like that? I don't know. Sometimes I think yes, sometimes I think no. But I'll tell you this: either we should have acted before now, or those issues should not be included in this call to action against terrorism. Either we failed before, or we are failing now, by drawing in things not worthy of the action.
Enemies of freedom.... I hope we still have allies in the world after all of this. I hope we don't go to the extreme his words seem to imply.
On the other hand, I agree that we need to act. I'm afraid of the consequences, and I'm not at all sure whether it's the right course of action or not that we choose; after all, consequences can be equally frightening either way.
I hope something happens to keep us from having to find out. There has to be a path out of this mess, somewhere.... But can we find it? Worse, what scares me: are we even looking?
I'm glad of other things he said. Purely, plainly glad. It was a beautifully delivered speech; it was powerful; and I'm so glad he spoke about tolerance, about defending our values by living them, about the fact that this is not a good example of the Islamic faith.
I know. I'm going 'round in circles in what I write. That's okay. I'm going 'round in circles in my head, too.
It's so much to take in, even over time.
Sometimes, I'm very supportive of Bush, and I think this is just right. And sometimes I'm terrified, because it seems to go too far.
Phrasing the demands of the Taliban the way he did...pardon me, but didn't that phrasing, in that venue, at that time, seem almost guaranteed to get their backs up and prevent any chance we might have had of getting them to work with us? And if we have evidence - why are we not producing it? They've said they'll hand over bin Laden if we do, after all. Though I'm not sure what they would consider sufficient evidence, which may well play into the decision.
We must stop the terrorists, yes. And I think we do need access to see the training camps aren't operating. (Truthfully: is there anyone out there who thinks they won't simply spring up somewhere else, where we aren't watching, however? We can inconvenience them, but can we wholly stop them?)
What the Taliban does to its own people is horrible. But it's been horrible for years. Why is it suddenly involved in this call to war? Why is it included, as if it was a reason? Because it makes a grand rallying cry. Because abuses of freedom, safety, and health are very scary to the American people. It's a well-timed inclusion, and I think, also an effort to make the "enemy" more an Enemy.
Is force of arms the right response to a regime like that? I don't know. Sometimes I think yes, sometimes I think no. But I'll tell you this: either we should have acted before now, or those issues should not be included in this call to action against terrorism. Either we failed before, or we are failing now, by drawing in things not worthy of the action.
Enemies of freedom.... I hope we still have allies in the world after all of this. I hope we don't go to the extreme his words seem to imply.
On the other hand, I agree that we need to act. I'm afraid of the consequences, and I'm not at all sure whether it's the right course of action or not that we choose; after all, consequences can be equally frightening either way.
I hope something happens to keep us from having to find out. There has to be a path out of this mess, somewhere.... But can we find it? Worse, what scares me: are we even looking?
I'm glad of other things he said. Purely, plainly glad. It was a beautifully delivered speech; it was powerful; and I'm so glad he spoke about tolerance, about defending our values by living them, about the fact that this is not a good example of the Islamic faith.
I know. I'm going 'round in circles in what I write. That's okay. I'm going 'round in circles in my head, too.