Who's really winning?

[FiveB247]

Who's really winning the war on terrorism? The US since being attacked on 9-11, has invaded two nations, removed itself from Saudi Arabia as well as sent troops all over the world in pursuits of terror groups. I might add that all of these actions have cause much negative perceptions and feedback from international consensus. The US has also decided to send troops into Indonesia in order to fight extremists. And this is all without mentioning all the economic ramifications of our
actions. My point is this, when Bin Laden and al Quada attacked on 9-11, their intention was to hurt the US economically as well as initiate a war between Islam and the West. Is he or has he succeeded?
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/05/20/saudi.new.attacks/index.html

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[high fly]

I don't think we have enough information to tell.
Back in '68, the Tet Offensive was impressive in it's scope, but later we learned that after wards, they were running out of Congs and that it was not only a tactical defeat, but a stragic one as well.
We do not know if the recent terrorist attacks are a last gasp by a handful of survivors or part of a new offensive by a refreshed enemy.

" and they ask me why I drink"

[FiveB247]

I do not question that we will slowly (and have been) dismantling al Quada. But it seems like we have fallen into the rut where these terrorists and extremists want to lead us. In a sense, we've played into their hands. Al Quada is one of hundreds terror organizations. It's very comparible to the war on drugs, or even more simply like downloading music; push on Napster today and 100 more upgraded versions will be around tomorrow.

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[Bergalad]

Who's really winning the war on terrorism?
No one. It's not that cut-and-dried as that. We are not fighting one country, but multiple cels who do not have a specific territory or solid target to hit. The only tangible thing we have to strike at is a religion, and that's not gonna happen any time soon.
And this is all without mentioning all the economic ramifications of our actions.

I think the US has been fairly up-front with cost projections for Iraq and elsewhere. This all costs lots of money, and the administration has told the country that. There's no secrets here.
My point is this, when Bin Laden and al Quada attacked on 9-11, their intention was to hurt the US economically as well as initiate a war between Islam and the West. Is he or has he succeeded?
Economically, to an extent. It will take a while more for the US to climb out of the dent left in it from the 911 attacks, but we will climb out. There is no real war against Islam, just against extremists. I think many Muslims are starting to see that the US wants there to be peace in the ME with this big push by Bush for the Palestinian/Israeli settlement.
We do not know if the recent terrorist attacks are a last gasp by a handful of survivors or part of a new offensive by a refreshed enemy.
True, and good point.
It's very comparible to the war on drugs, or even more simply like downloading music: push on Napster today and 100 more upgraded versions will be around tomorrow.

Possibly, but "pushing on" one of them is preferable to letting them run free. What other rational options are there? Terrorists have been emboldened by 911, and it's quite easy to build a bomb and blow something up. The recent attacks were out of the control (for the most part) of the US and so blame should not fall on Bush. It is hard to make a clear assessment of the success in this war because we don't know how many attacks have been foiled by our renewed vigillance. I think the US is doing just about everything it can to fight this war, and they have the upper hand right now.

[East Side Dave]

I'll tell you who's not winning- my Aunt Edith. That 74-year-old blind bitch should never try to armwrestle me ! Yeahhh! Takedown, Auntie!!

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[FiveB247]

Bergalad, As usual you are missing the point in my post. The point I was making, is that the Bin Laden/ Al Quada types already have won, they seek war against the West...and the US fighting all of the world is a simple sign of this. They seek to popularize Islamic fundamentalism and bring attention to their cause, to raise arms vs. the West, democracy and the US. In many respects, they are doing all of these succesfully. The new terror attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco are most likely al Quada connected which shows of the growth of anti-US thought as well as a rise extremists.http://www.terrorismanswers.org/home/

I heard the head of the Dept. of Homeland Security say that the US is more prepared for such attacks since 9-11. This is obviously true, but the same goes for these terror groups. He also said all of this as they raised the terror alert to Orange.

And as for my mention of the economic reprocussions of all these actions, I didn't mention it in any light regarding the government not telling or hiding such spendings. I simply stated it would impact us greatly.

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[Bergalad]

Bergalad, As usual you are missing the point in my post. The point I was making, is that the Bin Laden/ Al Quada types already have won, they seek war against the West...and the US fighting all of the world is a simple sign of this.
Oh. Since the thread title was "Who's really winning" I thought you were looking for people's opinions, not validation of your own. bin Laden didn't ask for the destruction of the Taliban, nor did he expect that. His "war" was not what you say it is (West vs East), but one of ideology and religion. He, and the others like him, never imagined that the US would do what it did and continues to do, and in that respect we have won a victory over complacency and appeasement.

[Death Metal Moe]

I'll tell you who's not winning- my Aunt Edith. That 74-year-old blind bitch should never try to armwrestle me ! Yeahhh! Takedown, Auntie!!


Nice Dave! Don't let those old people have an INCH!!

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[The Jays]

1) It is not clear cut who is winning the war on terrorism. The U.S. is leading the battle against terrorists, and is taking action against terrorist organizations and its leaders. Thanks to cooperation from many countries, we have taken both accused and potential terrorists out of the picture, yet there are still more to take care of. We have taken down two regimes that supported and financed terror, and we are still working in those countries to ensure the safety of the innocent people both in their immediate area and to those who would be targeted outside of the area.
2) While we understand that our actions may produce negative feedback from the members or other countries, we also understand what is the correct course of action to take to ensure the safety of ourselves and the world. We must take action against terrorism. Appeasement or dialogue with terrorists is not a solution.
3) Terrorism was able to strike a blow to the US and the Western world on one particular day. We have not and will not allow them to have another day again.



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[Yerdaddy]

The US has also decided to send troops into Indonesia in order to fight extremists.
Philippines, not Indonesia.

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[Se7en]

The point I was making, is that the Bin Laden/ Al Quada types already have won, they seek war against the West...and the US fighting all of the world is a simple sign of this.


Well then, we should just sit back and do nothing.

That'll show THEM!!!!



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[FiveB247]

Oh. Since the thread title was "Who's really winning" I thought you were looking for people's opinions, not validation of your own. bin Laden didn't ask for the destruction of the Taliban, nor did he expect that. His "war" was not what you say it is (West vs East), but one of ideology and religion. He, and the others like him, never imagined that the US would do what it did and continues to do, and in that respect we have won a victory over complacency and appeasement.

I wasn't seeking validation, you either mis-understood what I was saying or mis-interpreted it. (So, I reiterated what my point was) As for your take on 'what Bin Laden wants'; he has always been about creating a fundamentalist islamic middle east as well as removal and destruction of the West/ US. His words speak of all of these ideas as well as show his call to arms for all muslims around the globe to fight the great, evil US. That is his belief...not just simply ideology and religion as you say it is.

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[LiquidCourage]

The US has also decided to send troops into Indonesia in order to fight extremists.



I believe it's the Philipines

[FiveB247]

Yeah I saw yerdaddy mentioned that. Got the whole sending troops to phillipines and the extermination in Indonesia mixed up. My bad.

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[high fly]

Different countries, sure, but they do look the same.....

" and they ask me why I drink"



This message was edited by high fly on 5-24-03 @ 4:03 PM