Thursday, October 30, 2003

Dumbass Playgrounds

War

Terrorists do care about US strategy and actions.  Because right now, we are hunting them down.  They are on the run, hiding in caves, and fearful that they will be ratted out.  They are fearful that a group of US Special Forces like the ones described in GeekLethal’s first post will be knocking on the door of their hideout.  The only places where terrorist attacks have happened in the wake of 9/11 are those places where we do not have troops – like Saudi Arabia, where we (hopefully temporarily) left, or Indonesia, or Israel.  The most powerful military force in world history is devoted to exterminating terrorists.  I think that this fact has made an impact on their thinking, and on their plans.

It will also have an effect on those who might have joined them in more salubrious times.  When the uniform result of an attack on America is death and destruction not for America but for the terrorists, all but the most zealous will think twice.  And even the most zealous might reconsider their means when 99% of all attempts result in abject failure.  The martyr must not merely die for his faith, but he must inflict damage in the process.  Continued failure will result in demoralization.

During the recent Gulf War, even Iraqi military strategy assumed the basic goodness and restraint of American forces.  They hid behind civilians, knowing that we would not willingly harm civilians.  The Iraqi people have witnessed that, and our efforts to rebuild their nation – not merely the damage from our brief bombing campaign, but from decades of neglect.  If we are successful in remaking Iraq into a democratic nation – which will require the willing cooperation of the Iraqis, the Islamic world will notice.  And the fact of a successful, free, prosperous Arab nation will put immense pressure on other authoritarian and despotic governments.

The proper question to ask is, “does America give a shit what the rest of the world thinks?” We were attacked; and we are, with the assistance of many other nations taking action we see fit to remove the threat.  This is a basic right of national sovereignty.  While we have taken steps to get the approval of others, we do not require it, any more than France needed UN approval to invade the Ivory Coast.

The cost of our invasion will likely exceed $300 billion dollars.  That is less than one year’s expenditure on our military.  It is less than three percent of our gross national product for one year.  The occupation and eventual departure from Iraq will not bankrupt us, and I cannot conceive of any possible domino effect that would lead from that occupation to any kind of decline.  “We didn’t spend the money on drugs for rich old people, Revolution in the streets!” This is, well, extremely unlikely at best. 


Posted by Buckethead on 10/30/03 at 11:11 PM
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