On October 6, President Bush delivered a
speech that outlined why America was fighting the War on Terror in general, and fighting in Iraq in particular. Given the Administration's
declining poll numbers, the speech was an important event. Rather than relying on the right or left to interpret the Administration's strategy and goals, let's examine the President's own words (note that some of the quotes are out of order in order to create logical groupings; hopefully, nothing is taken out of context).
In the President's own words
On the current struggle:
"And yet the fight we have joined is also the current expression of an ancient struggle, between those who put their faith in dictators, and those who put their faith in the people."
"The murderous ideology of the Islamic radicals is the great challenge of our new century. Yet, in many ways, this fight resembles the struggle against communism in the last century."
"We didn't ask for this global struggle, but we're answering history's call with confidence, and a comprehensive strategy."
On the enemy:
"Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still others, Islamo-fascism. Whatever it's called, this ideology is very different from the religion of Islam. This form of radicalism exploits Islam to serve a violent, political vision: the establishment, by terrorism and subversion and insurgency, of a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious freedom."
"Many militants are part of global, borderless terrorist organizations like al Qaeda..."
"Other militants are found in regional groups, often associated with al Qaeda..."
"Still others spring up in local cells, inspired by Islamic radicalism, but not centrally directed."
On the global militant strategy:
"First, these extremists want to end American and Western influence in the broader Middle East, because we stand for democracy and peace, and stand in the way of their ambitions."
"Second, the militant network wants to use the vacuum created by an American retreat to gain control of a country, a base from which to launch attacks and conduct their war against non-radical Muslim governments."
"Third, the militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia."
"Like the ideology of communism, our new enemy pursues totalitarian aims. Its leaders pretend to be an aggrieved party, representing the powerless against imperial enemies. In truth they have endless ambitions of imperial domination, and they wish to make everyone powerless except themselves."
"We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world."
On state support of terrorists:
"They have been sheltered by authoritarian regimes, allies of convenience like Syria and Iran, that share the goal of hurting America and moderate Muslim governments, and use terrorist propaganda to blame their own failures on the West and America, and on the Jews."
"The United States makes no distinction between those who commit acts of terror and those who support and harbor them, because they're equally as guilty of murder."
On victory:
"We will confront this mortal danger to all humanity. We will not tire, or rest, until the war on terror is won."
"Against such an enemy, there is only one effective response: We will never back down, never give in, and never accept anything less than complete victory."
"Our commitment is clear: We will not relent until the organized international terror networks are exposed and broken, and their leaders held to account for their acts of murder."
On negotiating with the enemy:
"In fact, we're not facing a set of grievances that can be soothed and addressed. We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world. No act of ours invited the rage of the killers -- and no concession, bribe, or act of appeasement would change or limit their plans for murder."
The US strategy:
"We didn't ask for this global struggle, but we're answering history's call with confidence, and a comprehensive strategy."
"First, we're determined to prevent the attacks of terrorist networks before they occur."
"Second, we're determined to deny weapons of mass destruction to outlaw regimes, and to their terrorist allies who would use them without hesitation."
"Third, we're determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary of outlaw regimes."
"Fourth, we're determined to deny the militants control of any nation, which they would use as a home base and a launching pad for terror."
"The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the militants future recruits by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy and hope across the broader Middle East."
"If the peoples of that region are permitted to choose their own destiny, and advance by their own energy and by their participation as free men and women, then the extremists will be marginalized, and the flow of violent radicalism to the rest of the world will slow, and eventually end."
On the progress of the War on Terror:
"Because of this steady progress, the enemy is wounded -- but the enemy is still capable of global operations."
"We don't know the course of our own struggle -- the course our own struggle will take -- or the sacrifices that might lie ahead. We do know, however, that the defense of freedom is worth our sacrifice. We do know the love of freedom is the mightiest force of history. And we do know the cause of freedom will once again prevail."
Examining the message: A can't-win strategy
American soldiers continue to die in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world as part of the War on Terror (for the most up-to-date official numbers, go to the Department of Defense page
here, then on the right column, under "Press Resources," click on "Casualty Reports"). Casualties will occur in any conflict -- whether a military action is viewed as justified, such as WW II, or questioned, such as Vietnam. But America should avoid engaging in a strategy that cannot succeed. We should have clear, achievable objectives (if it can't be won, at least tell us that it's our modern day Alamo, out last glorious stand -- for an ideal we all hold dear or for self-preservation). Unfortunately, the President's own speech demonstrates that his War on Terror -- as he defines it -- is simply unwinnable. Why? Because:
- We are fighting an idea. First, he defines the combatants as a variety of militants and terrorists, banded together by an extreme view of Islam. He then goes on to describe a shared agenda and strategy. He lumps together groups, such as Iraqi insurgents, 9/11 hijackers, and Beslan terrorists, as one and the same, even though their actual agendas and motivations are not identical. What we are really fighting is a series of global skirmishes with a variety of organizations that are loosely grouped together under the banner of extremist Islam. But you can't wage war on an idea, and you can't arrest and kill a concept. Unfortunately, that is what we are doing now.
- There is no way to win according to his goals. The President says the United States will never back down until it has achieved "complete victory" and "until the organized international terror networks are exposed and broken." But is this outcome possible given the three groupings of militants the President described? We could win WW II by forcing the unconditional surrender of Japan and Germany. How can we get all the militants to surrender? They don't answer to one leader or live in one country. No one can stand on the deck of a battleship and sign a peace treaty. And since the President says "no concession, bribe, or act of appeasement would change or limit their plans for murder," there is no way to achieve victory except through the surrender, capture, or the killing of each and every militant in the world.
We certainly shouldn't back down from a fight that we think is justified. But if we are fighting an idea, don't accept anything but absolute victory, and refuse to contemplate any non-military solutions, victory can never be achieved.
We shouldn't give in to terrorists, and there are many that will fight to the death rather than change their ways. But we can't continue on with this fool-hearted strategy. We need coordinated and dedicated military, law enforcement, diplomatic, cultural, and social efforts to rid the world of the existing terrorists and to prevent the next-generation from emerging.
In his own carefully crafted words, the President outlined a strategy that cannot be successful. It's time for Republicans, Democrats, and others to understand this failure and demand a change.
