Bill Glasheen wrote:Interesting summary (from the Director of National Intelligence).
Al-Zawahiri's letter offers a strategic vision for al Qa'ida's direction for Iraq and beyond, and portrays al Qa'ida's senior leadership's isolation and dependence.
Among the letter's highlights are discussions indicating:
* The centrality of the war in Iraq for the global jihad.
* From al Qa'ida's point of view, the war does not end with an American departure.
* An acknowledgment of the appeal of democracy to the Iraqis.
* The strategic vision of inevitable conflict, with a tacit recognition of current political dynamics in Iraq; with a call by al-Zawahiri for political action equal to military action.
* The need to maintain popular support at least until jihadist rule has been established.
* Admission that more than half the struggle is taking place "in the battlefield of the media."
I found many more interesting tidbits, such as them expressing where the coalition was doing them the most harm and their contempt for Shia Muslims. There's also a bit in there about the many hostages being held in Iran (thus al Zarqawi needs to be careful not to tick the Shia off). Interesting...
- Bill
Bill-san :
In the spirit of your post above and the content of the letter please see below. I think it fits your topic too. As Peters states in his views perhaps we are too eager to step into the muddle.
(this is a cross post from my Apathy and the Tightening Noose Around America):
Apathy & the Tightening Noose of Terrorism against Ameri ca Thread
quote:
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Originally posted by domucasa I think that there are honest reasons for
disagreeing with the Iraq invasion. (for the
record I am for it). But you cannot say that
it was an easy decision. The americans may have
been better off if they had kept the lid on
Iraq and let Saddam use the Iraqis as
he wished, on the assumption that
Iraqis are not ready for democracy and will
only want to fight each other if given control
over their own country.
I think that the arguement against invasion
is much crueler and cynical than the arguement
for invasion. I have to admit though that often
cruel and cynical views are correct .
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domucasa,
Good point, as you said above perhaps Iraq is not ready for democracy.
Let's take a look at a quote from Ralph Peter's book
"Beyond Terror":
He is discussing America's recent use of its military:
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quote:
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......We died in Beirut, uncomprehending to the last, but stayed in the Sinai. We descended upon impovererished islands like tourists with guns, and soon went home as tourists do.
Then came the 1990's. Somalia, Haiti, poorest of poor. Macedonia, Rwanda and Eastern Zaire, Bosnia. After the squandered Desert Storm, we lingered in the Persian Gulf watching as the dictator we spared tormented his people and played peek-a-boo with UN surrogates we supported with a hollow prescence and hollower rhetoric..........
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(p.92)
He later continues....
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quote:
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The next century will indeed be an American century, but it will be a century of difficult American choices, and it is unlikely that we will always choose wisely. Military readiness is essential - but the military must be ready for reality not for its fantasy.
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p. 94
Finally,
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quote:
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Yet in an age when those who make our national decisions have not yet served in uniform and do not understand either the technical or human dimensions of military operations, our forces consistently look capable of military operations in ways they are not -- and too expensive and powerful to be left on the display when the President is left out of options and key interest groups or foriegn leaders are clamoring for American action. We are going to go to school, whether or not we have learned our lesson.
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p. 95
Pretty powerful stuff?? Comments?
Meanwhile, I take the admonition against scenes of slaughter (because it makes the Americans pissed and then they kick butt) to be a big thumbs up in my book. You're damn right, loser! 
