Showing posts with label terrorism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terrorism. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Did Obama's West Point speech make the case?

Guessing at the response of the audience on hand -- some of which will likely end up fighting in Afghanistan or Pakistan -- based on a few selected shots of cadets that have been prepping for finals and were there near the end of their day after an evening meal is fairly difficult. I think it’s safe to assume the range of reactions at West Point was broad, but there certainly were many cadets who seemed very eager indeed to shake the President’s hand and have their picture taken with him afterward.

I’d say the President laid out supporting evidence for the decisions he’s made, and articulated the goals and mission scope rather succinctly given it’s a distillation down from months of meetings and briefings with countless military and civilian advisors and other world leaders or their emissaries.

Nonetheless, those with an ax to grind were quick to fill the airwaves and the internet with every negative angle they could remotely connect, from comparisons to Viet Nam (which Obama had already effectively rebutted during the speech) to the dollar cost relative to enacting health care (a valid point, which utterly fails to address the reality that neither NATO nor the U.S. is prepared for the chaos that would ensue if we simply recalled every allied soldier as quickly as is logistically feasible.)

There’s no, “deadline that guarantees the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters will hide their weapons until the coast is clear,” as some have suggested There’s a target for turning over control to a sovereign government that nonetheless includes the potential that they can’t be entirely ready that promptly. A Jihad-oriented, radical branch of Islam calling itself Al Qaeda and/or the Taliban is as bent on controlling the world as Hitler was, and the choices are clear: deal with them there, now, or they will export terror around the world at the time of their choosing.

The bottom line is that after nearly a year of consultation President Obama made a very difficult decision to commit more American lives to help ensure a NATO success, thereby limiting the probability of Al Qaeda mounting an effective strike against countries not enamored of this radicalized, extremist interpretation of Islamic law. Naturally audience reaction is mixed, and the emotionally charged nature of this decision means that even among those who watched him speak many weren't listening to what the speech said, but for what they expected to hear.

That effect will only be magnified as the echoes of supposedly informed opinion rebound on the talk shows and websites which depend on ratings to generate ad revenues. The President was organized and thorough, the rest is up to the listeners. If you didn't get it, "raw and unfiltered," and/or you don't track down transcript you're likely to be hearing what you expect, too.



Thomas Hayes
is an entrepreneur, journalist, and political analyst who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Terrorist Attack In India: Covert Action Needed To Rescue Americans



Happy Thanksgiving. But its not one for the people who are being held hostage in Mumbai, India. Mumbai, the "Bollywood" capital of India, was attacked by a terrorist group called the Deccan Mujahedeen.

I've read and listened to many accounts of what the terrorist's motivations are, but they're targeting American and British people. I don't care what their reasons are, we've got to save those being terrorized and get our Americans home.

But doing this calls for covert, not overt action, else more will die. In the 21st Century, why can't we send in troops dressed and trained in the customs of the area, have them quickly blend in, then disable the terrorists and get our folks home?

It's not something anyone has to know about. That's the old America. Why not a way of doing this that works. We've got to get Americans to safety.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Americans Targeted By Terrorists In India; Hostages Taken; 78 Dead, 200 Hurt

This is breaking news both on CNN and the Associated Press.  A group of unknown gunmen have taken over the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India and "rampaged" through other parts of India.  This is what CNN reports:



CNN) -- Gunmen rampaged through a series of targets in the Indian city of Mumbai killing indiscriminately and taking hostages at two luxury hotels.



A wounded man is carried from the attacked rail station.


Mumbai police spokesman Satish Katsa said gunmen have taken over the Taj Mahal Hotel and Hotel Oberoi, and were holding hostages on multiple floors.
Flames and smoke poured from the Taj early Thursday, and at the Oberoi the military reportedly entered the building and a large explosion was heard shortly afterwards.
Another hostage situation was unfolding at Cama Hospital, CNN's sister network in India, CNN-IBN reported.
Earlier, A.N. Roy, the police chief of Maharashtra state, said there were ongoing battles at the two five-star hotels. iReport.com: Are you there?
One witness told local reporters that gunmen tried to find people with U.S. or British passports and took about 15 of them hostage.

Here's the Associated Press video:

Monday, September 29, 2008

Terrorist ATTACK in Dayton Ohio.

A suspected chemical irritant was sprayed into the mosque at 26 Josie St., bringing Dayton police, fire and hazardous material personnel to the building. The 300 or so inside were celebrating the last 10 days of Ramadan with dinner and a prayer session, but the prayer session was suspended to deal w/ those suffering from tearing, coughing and other symptoms.

It is shameful that what are almost certainly U.S. citizens would engage in this terrorism - in direct contravention of the U.S. Constitution, and the principles the country was founded upon - as a way to showcase their religious intolerance. When we sink to the level of our enemies, we have no claim to be morally superior, and accordingly lose all credibility for enforcing our dissent upon them.

Whatever happened to "do unto others" and the rule of law in this country? I can hardly conceive of a more un-American action than attacking the peaceful practice of one's preferred religion. This behavior is abhorrent to me as a citizen of the U.S.A.

The brave souls who drafted our Constitution and the Bill of Rights must be spitting fire. Such actions as these bigoted zealots perpetrated in Dayton must be universally condemned - the criminals must be brought to justice. It is utterly unacceptable that such actions take place on the soil of the United States of America.