Will al-Qaeda Follow Us Home?

I'd say there are big differences between the two. Vietnam started over there and ended over there - sure there were reasons for it - which i'm not about to start attacking or defending - but the simple fact is that we weren't involved until we decided to be involved. with al-Queda, we were. they were attacking us and such way before we got involved in Iraq, and there's no reason to think it won't continue if we lose the war.

So basically, the Viet Cong had no real reason to continue the war over here - they got "enough" of what they wanted. al-Queda and the like don't just want us to leave them alone and let them rule themselves as communists, though - they want to see our downfall.

 

I think we should have finished the job we started in 2001. Namely getting "public enemy number 1". You know who I'm talking about ... the RNC recently used him in a campaign ad. If he escaped into Pakistan, as claimed, why wasn't that the next front on terrorism. Pakistan has weapons of mass destruction. And as soon as Mr. Al-Qaeda ended up there, they became a state harboring terrorists. How's that different from what we were told about Iraq?

Personally, I think this war will win us nothing. Even if we somehow managed to wipe out every single last terrorist entity in Iraq & Iran, religious extremism would still exist. Unless you have some magical way of wiping that out, it will always be a threat.

 

The question seems a bit moot to me. After all, as long as they are accomplishing their goals, two of which were getting Saddam out of power so a theocracy could rule Iraq, and getting U.S. troops out of Saudi Arabia, then they don't need to attack us. The Israel/Palestine issue is still there, though, so I guess anything is possible.

What do the terrorists want? Maybe not what we think. Take the quiz here and find out. It's short and worthwhile reading.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/11/10/01247/557

 

Once you understand that the mind of the fundamentalist muslim (ala christian crusaders, hundreds of years ago) equates the destruction of all that is non-muslim, you have your answer. Heck the arab countries think nothing of killing their own ... how much more, those (religious or secular) who support Isreal? The only good thing about peak oil, and the eventual / inevitable lessoning of fossle fuels is that the funding for muslim terrorism will lesson (IMHO).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]342515[/snapback]</div>

If only it were that simple. If the Palestinien situation were resolved, and Iraq were a stable country, then I'd say they'd stop, since, to quote the quiz ref'd above, most people just want to get on with their lives and aren't political. So, IMHFO, they'll continue no matter what we do to a certain extent, but what we're doing now in Iraq is feeding into the cycle.

 

This is stupid. Its not like Al Qaeda (if such a thing really exists) is just in Iraq and somehow we are a wall keeping them there. We should be fighting worldwide terrorism that could be anyone anywhere. The attacks in London and Madrid were done by homegrown terrorists. Even 9/11 was pepetrated by legal "visitors" from Saudi Arabia!! And let's not forget about Timothy McVeigh, not related to Al Qaeda but terrorism just the same.

What happens in Iraq has no bearing whatsoever on the war on terror and is actually a stupid and deadly distraction.

 

I sincerely hope they do not follow me home. The house is in a mess and we just ran out of beer - wait a minute ...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 10:35 AM) [snapback]342528[/snapback]</div>

Maybe I haven't been listening carefully, but are you sure the USA is at war with Iraq? I am under the impression that after S. Hussein had been ousted, a legitimate Iraq government was set up and Allied troops remained in Iraq to help train Iraq security services and overcome dissidents. "Losing" & "winning" do not seem to be the right words here. Better would be "succeeding" or "failing".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 12:05 PM) [snapback]342590[/snapback]</div>

Boy, that sure is funny! Who knew you could be so funny?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Nov 2 2006, 12:20 PM) [snapback]342552[/snapback]</div>

There was no Al Qaeda in Iraq until after we went there. There was no Al Qaeda until after we went to Saudi Arabia for Gulf War I.

I don't know that al-Zawahiri was ever in Iraq, so I'm not sure how he could have been Al Qaeda in Iraq. Maybe Al Qaeda Outside of Iraq.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 2 2006, 01:08 PM) [snapback]342637[/snapback]</div>

Perhaps the documentary "Power of Nightmares" might help you sleep better.