"The Long War"

     Tomorrow marks the 6th anniversary of Al Qaeda's attack on America.  The world, and how we view it, has changed markedly since that crisp, late-summer day in 2001 when two planes slammed into the World Trade Center's twin towers, another plane blasted the Pentagon, and a fourth flight, literally, was wrestled to the ground in Pennsylvania before it could assault the U.S. Capitol.

     These are sobering times.  We are engaged in a war like none other we've fought before.  And we need to be realistic about our opponent.  Radical Islam understands it cannot survive (let alone thrive) in a world of spreading democracy, open markets, religious freedom and instant information via the Internet.  We must accept that our opponents are motivated by fanatical faith, which they believe gives them every justification to murder us as we work, play or even fly.

     During a White House briefing on this subject, I asked the President's top terrorism aide on the National Security Council what he proposed we call this struggle.  After noting there's a debate among experts on the proper name, he said: "The Long War."  That should give us some sense of what we're in for.

     The fact we have suffered no major attacks on US soil during the last six years is an answer to prayer and a testament to the valor of our nation's fighting men and women.  Clearly, we have succeeded in taking the fight to Al Qaeda -- even as we all recognize some elements of that effort have not gone well.  But we need to accept that this war will wax and wane for decades, if not generations.  That is a discouraging proposition for a peace-loving, affluent, diverse land like America.  But prevail we will.

     I have this conviction because of my faith in the One True God, who vanquishes all enemies and pretenders, but also because of the role He has set for America is His-story (history).  America weathered our worst crisis in the mid-1800s and "solved" the issue of slavery for a watching world.  In the 1900s, we defeated totalitarianism (Nazism in World War II and Communism in the Cold War).  It appears America again has an unwelcome but essential role to define and then defeat radical Islam in this super-violent expression.

     As we prepare to mark this somber day, let us remember our fighting men and women overseas. But I pray we will also remember that we filled churches and offered prayers in the immediate aftermath of 9-11.  So we should tomorrow (and every day) as we seek God's favor in this great, disquieting Long War.

Comments

[bilerico]

How can you not see the similarities here?

You said about Islam: "And we need to be realistic about our opponent. Radical Islam... We must accept that our opponents are motivated by fanatical faith..."

And then say about your own faith: "I have this conviction because of my faith in the One True God..."

So it's okay for you to think that your God has ordained your country to kill their people, but it's not okay for them to think that their God ordained them to kill your people? That's some twisted logic. The fact that they're using a diety to advocate death and destruction should give you pause before banking on that same right yourself.

Where was that quote from Christ about taking war to others before they could war on you at home? It must be with all his teachings about homosexuality...

[Kenn]

The United States had both a right and obligation to respond to the unprovoked attack on 9-11. IMHO it required a Declaration of War by Congress.

Got two minutes? Watch this video:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul406.html

Bil should weigh the number of Americans killed by gay sex compared to those killed by al Qaeda. Then ask, "Which is more dangerous? Wilful ignorance an denidal of gay-related health risks? Or al Qaeda?"

[Scott]

*bangs head into desk*

[Kristen]

I feel your pain, Scott.

[Curt Smith]

Bil,

I draw a sharp distinction between fanatical faith that promotes and glorifies murder (the taking of innocent life)and my faith that the Bible is true and the God of the Bible is true to His Word therein. And while it's not politically correct to say this, logically we have to agree Islam and Christianity cannot both be true in their teachings about the Deity. One has to decide. Moreover, there is not moral equivalency between faith in Christianity and, for example, suicide bombers in Israel or hijackers who turn planes into weapons of mass destruction. I believe our soldiers and our nation are fighting so that that decision doesn't confront you from gunpoint -- convert or die! That is radical Islam's message to the West. Indeed Bin Laden has just issued a new video chapter in his running screed since the above blog was posted....tune in tonight as I'm sure there will be ample coverage of his latest "convert or die" message on the eve of 9-11. There is no religious freedom in Islam, Bil, which is one of the values I tried to extol in the post.

Well said!

[Chris Mann]

Bill is right to call Curt on his twisted logic:

"So it's okay for you to think that your God has ordained your country to kill their people, but it's not okay for them to think that their God ordained them to kill your people? That's some twisted logic."

...if only the above was, in fact, Curt's logic. It's not. It's Bill's twisted effort to twist Curt's logic.

Read that paragraph over, carefully, and, if just for the sake of good dialectical exercise, consider Curt a reasonable and smart man, if just long enough to conduct the exercise.

Curt's point is that radical militant Islam unsheathed its saber and cut down three buildings, four planes and thousands of lives. Furthermore, the "merciful Allah" curiously endeared himself to hundreds of thousands of families and friends, and the millions of ordinary folks like me who didn't lose a direct family member or friend in the attack, but were still reduced to tears in the days, weeks, and years since the attack.

This brand of Islam delights in the destruction of all "infidels" and has been ramping up for subsequent swipes. The US and her allies have intervened--on behalf of a people including Bill Browning, it should be noted--and saved many. *Many*

Indeed, this is well described as a "Long War" but there is no alternative. We must continue to take the war to the terrorists and not let them regroup to bring the war back here.