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Intbel · 13-03-2006, 06:43 PM

"This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take awhile."

Thus spake G.W.Bush for whom 'crusade' was an offhand reference. But all the more powerfully for that, it was an accidental probing of unintended but nevertheless real meaning. That the President used the word inadvertently suggests how it expressed his exact truth, an unmasking of his most deeply felt purpose. 'Crusade', he said. Later, his embarrassed aides suggested that he had meant to use the word only as a synonym for struggle, but Bush's own syntax belied that. He defined crusade as war. Even offhandedly, he had said exactly what he meant.

Osama Bin Laden:

''The call to wage war against America was made because America has spearheaded the crusade against the Islamic nation, sending tens of thousands of its troops to the land of the two holy mosques over and above its meddling in its affairs and its politics and its support of the oppressive, corrupt and tyrannical regime that is in control.''

In relatively backward populations it is all too easy to generate support for a crusade against "Those Evil Christians" and indeed, against "Those evil Muslims."

How hypocritical it is to deride Muslims who attack our interests on the basis of a religious faith when Bush stated publicly "God told me to invade Iraq" ? He also stated "God would tell me, 'George, go end the tyranny in Iraq' and I did."

Those statements says much about Bush and his thinking.

And Blair, explaining how he managed to live with the decision to go to war in Iraq: "If you have faith about these things then you realise that judgement is made by other people. If you believe in God, it's made by God as well."

Bear in mind, in 2003, Blair allowed Christian organisations and other 'faith groups' a central role in policy-making in a decisive break with British traditions that religion and government should not mix.

To allow policy to be determined by faith I find worrisome, especially in the light of today's unrest.

As to the Muslim world, what it needs right now is a long period of calm and stability, not one based on security apparatuses and dictators but on the free expression of the collective will of its peoples. If the west is not prepared to help in that endeavor, it should at least cease being a hindrance. The worst thing it can do is to become our enemy.

13-03-2006, 06:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Intbel Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a field near you - look for the yellow and purple tent ... Posts: 4,665	"This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take awhile." Thus spake G.W.Bush for whom 'crusade' was an offhand reference. But all the more powerfully for that, it was an accidental probing of unintended but nevertheless real meaning. That the President used the word inadvertently suggests how it expressed his exact truth, an unmasking of his most deeply felt purpose. 'Crusade', he said. Later, his embarrassed aides suggested that he had meant to use the word only as a synonym for struggle, but Bush's own syntax belied that. He defined crusade as war. Even offhandedly, he had said exactly what he meant. Osama Bin Laden: ''The call to wage war against America was made because America has spearheaded the crusade against the Islamic nation, sending tens of thousands of its troops to the land of the two holy mosques over and above its meddling in its affairs and its politics and its support of the oppressive, corrupt and tyrannical regime that is in control.'' In relatively backward populations it is all too easy to generate support for a crusade against "Those Evil Christians" and indeed, against "Those evil Muslims." How hypocritical it is to deride Muslims who attack our interests on the basis of a religious faith when Bush stated publicly "God told me to invade Iraq" ? He also stated "God would tell me, 'George, go end the tyranny in Iraq' and I did." Those statements says much about Bush and his thinking. And Blair, explaining how he managed to live with the decision to go to war in Iraq: "If you have faith about these things then you realise that judgement is made by other people. If you believe in God, it's made by God as well." Bear in mind, in 2003, Blair allowed Christian organisations and other 'faith groups' a central role in policy-making in a decisive break with British traditions that religion and government should not mix. To allow policy to be determined by faith I find worrisome, especially in the light of today's unrest. As to the Muslim world, what it needs right now is a long period of calm and stability, not one based on security apparatuses and dictators but on the free expression of the collective will of its peoples. If the west is not prepared to help in that endeavor, it should at least cease being a hindrance. The worst thing it can do is to become our enemy. __________________ We are all free to choose - every step of the way - no exceptions.