Wednesday, September 27, 2006
CNN has sent me the same Breaking News twice. Here's what it says:
Oh you can tell so much by what we include to tell. Here's the section of interest in the short report that that sentence comes from:
• The Iraq conflict has become the "cause celebre" for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.
One thing's for sure, you can show your agenda real quick by quoting -- or selectively quoting -- this report. It's got red meat for everyone.
If you accept the narrative that the War on Terror has only bred terrorists, then you must accept the responsibility for our limp-wristed response to past terrorist provocations -- no more finger-wagging in Chris Wallace's face -- since we'd have to accept that a vigorous response would provoke resentment and recruiting opportunities for Jihadists. You just can't have it both ways. If a military response to terrorist acts provides a recruiting stage for terrorists, as would any perceived "imperialist" interference in the affairs of the Muslim world, then what you have is a recipe for paralysis.
In fact, the report can be used equally to justify exactly what the Administration and the "neocons" (and some of the Generals and others who have been calling for Rumsfeld's head, for that matter) have been arguing all along -- that taking action carries dangers, but that if we're willing to see it through, victory will discredit the Jihadist movement and the establishment of at least some semblance of liberal democracy in the region will poison the well for them as a more permanent and far-reaching solution.
Is this great bureaucratese or what? One sentence for one side of the debate, another for the other side. The key here is that once you decide on a course of action, you've got to see it through for the long-haul. There are many paths to success, but it does not seem to me that any argument can be made from this report for a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq, and one should be particularly suspicious of anyone caught using only part of this report to justify their "Iraq is a disaster" story line.
Oh, here's another bit the New York Times and CNN won't be spending a lot of time on:
This NIE certifies the un-provoked, unnecessary, largely unilateral invasion and unplanned occupation of Iraq (UULUIUOI) as a shipwreck in progress. Time to throw the deck furniture overboard.
Case in point. The above comment was left by someone searching for posts on the NIE, staying for 1 minute and 5 seconds -- long enough not to read the post, but just to administer the talking points. (at least he says "largely unilateral")
Therefore, according to the "NIE", Law Enforcement, the police, CREATE criminals.
If there were no police, there would be less crime.
DOH!