War on Terror - questions

Submitted by David Nittskoff (United States), Oct 26, 2004 at 11:49

"It is a momentous decision for Americans, indicating whether or not they take seriously the mortal threat of Islamist terrorism. It is also a verdict that Americans make on behalf of the entire civilized world. That is why the stakes are so high."

Are the Arab nations part of the civilized world? As a democracy should we not be involving the rest of the world in making the verdict?

Is the commander in chief not responsible for what happens on his watch? Is he not ultimately accountable for the unaccounted 380 tons of military grade explosives that we know are missing in Iraq? Is he not ultimately responsible if international laws and conventions are broken or ignored by those under his command?

Was Eisenhower wrong for the armistice with North Korea? Was Nixon wrong from withdrawing from Vietnam? If there is no democracy in Iraq, would it be wrong to withdraw? If there is democracy in Iraq, would it be wrong to withdraw?

Why do we still have troops in Europe 59 years after WWII ended?

I know guys who make a wrong turn on a road but won't admit it. They keep going hoping that something good comes from their innovative travels. It is possible that the road they are on will come back to the road they should have taken, but usually they just keep wondering until they have to double back and acknowledge the wrong turn (usually claiming the signs were not clear), but not admitting being lost. Doesn't this mirror our current policy in Iraq?

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