Personally, in response to 9/11, I think every country that sponsors Islamic terrorism should have been turned into a sheet of glass. I know many innocent people would have died in the process, but long term, it would have saved many more innocent lives. That is the same reasoning used in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It brought a savage, unrepentant enemy to its knees and prevented a prolonged war which would have ultimately resulted in many more casualties.
The modern day Western idea of warfare seems to be to turn an enemy into a friend. Theoretically, that is a grand idea. Realistically, it is impossible when applied to a certain enemy. People whose entire existential ideology rejects democracy and human rights cannot change. People who abhor the freedom Americans take for granted do not want to be free. And people who would rather rejoice in the death of free people will never embrace them as friends.
There is a limit to kindness and compassion and democracy. You cannot force it on people who don't want it. The Iraqi war has become a lost cause - not because we are unwilling to fight for the oppressed, but because some people simply do not want to be free.
Actor Omar Sharif tried to explain this to George Bush. Apparently Bush was unable to comprehend an entire population who would rather remain slaves than to enjoy democracy:
Sharif said that he spoke with President Bush before the beginning of the Iraq War and told him that Arab nations are made up of sects resistant to becoming democratized.
"I said to Bush, even before he entered Iraq: Forget about all that. We, the Arabs... We are not like [regular countries]," said Sharif. "You will drown there.
After being asked what Bush's response was, the actor stated: "He didn't believe me."
(Cross-posted at SnappedShot.com)
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