"We are creating the next generation of terrorists."
"We are creating a culture for terrorism [in Iraq]."
-- Both quotes are from David Browne, a Democratic Strategist on MSNBC today

Dear Mr. Browne.

Not all that sorry to have to disagree, but the culture and the generation were both present long before we went in. To sit back in your comfy chair and criticize our president's policy without knowledge of how this world we share actually ticks must indeed be a rewarding career, for you handle it so zealously, but the facts remain that it is the extreme false-faruqs (one who distinguishes the truth from falsehood) of Islam who have curtailed once-religious teachings to center upon a heaven for all through the creation of a holy jihad (there are actually three different uses for the term “jihad”, each involving struggle: 1a believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible; 2the struggle to build a good Muslim society; 3and the struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary [AKA “Holy War”]) in which one may properly die for Allah -- and this holy jihad would exist whether against Western occupation of a tyrannical Moslem state, or Western occupation of a hotel within a democratic Moslem state during a civil vacation. I recall Lebanon (Beirut in particular) being considered the Eastern Riviera just a few decades ago. Pretty hard to believe today.

"We should never forget the lessons of September 11th."
-- President Bush

Anyone recall what that lesson was?

"When buildings fall down, it's really sad."

No.

"The World Trade Center was improperly designed, and therefore unable to resist the sustained fire of Boeing 707 impacts."

No.

"Ranch-house design is far safer than high-rise design."

No.

"When you live in a big city, some days can get really dusty."

No.

"Terrorists attack to gain attention. Terrorists attack to cause terror. Terrorists attack to cause confusion. Terrorists attack to kill -- anyone, anywhere, any time, any way. It doesn’t even matter that some of the victims in Iraq might be Iraqis, innocent even in the eyes of the attacking terrorist(s), for they would be killed or injured through the enactment of an accepted and holy act of fatwa (legal opinion concerning Islamic Law). Terrorists of the Middle East hate Westerners of every stripe, and will attack them on all fronts. Terrorism takes no day off. Terrorism is designed with you and me in mind. Terrorists will attack Western interests overseas. Terrorists will attack Western nations in their homeland, and in their homes. Terrorists will attack interests on U.S. soil. Terrorism will not end, until every terrorist is caught or killed, and every Madrasah (Islamic school) preaching the myth that every Westerner on the face of the planet is a direct enemy of Islam and that terror as an open doorway to some Islamic paradise is uprooted and burned to the ground. Terrorism is pure evil, and should be treated as such by all. To believe otherwise is to believe an absolutely baseless myth, and to support terrorism."

Close.

“Terrorists will strike and kill innocent life.”
-- President Bush

Now for the twist. I do support terrorism as a military course of action, but then only when directed against my enemies, and then only against accepted military targets. It should also be known that, in this respect, the U.S. Militaries also support terrorism, for so was I personally trained during 7 years of Infantry, and so did I personally train others through 7 years of Infantry, and 7 years of Signal Corps. Done right, it works very well.

Dan