...frankly, we don't seem to have degraded Al-Qaeda's efforts to infect the region. We seem to have opened the door for them.
Well, as I keep saying, I'm not of the mindset that it has to be an either/or scenario, that unless we're degrading them significantly, they have to be growing substantially. I am of the mindset that it's preferable to kill as many of them "over there", than wait until they can kill as many of us, "over here". And I also have to disagree with you that we have't degraded them at all. We've completely dismantled their command and control, we've significantly disrupted their financial channels, we've significantly altered their methods of communicating, and they're having to adapt to all those accomplishments we've brought about...and they are. That's why they're still a threat, that's why they're still able to recruit, and that's why they're focusing a ton of their resources in 1 general location, than being able to systemetically operate all over the globe, even though they still try
And I have to ask, upon what do we base this assertion that without the conflict in Iraq Al-Qaeda would have grown unhindered? We seem to still be stuck on the notion that the conflict in Iraq is the only way to fight Al-Qaeda, and the only reason for this seems to be "because it is". I don't find that to be a convincing reason.
Same basis in how we left Hitler and his Nazi machine alone, expecting them to abide by international law & will. And may I correct yoy in that the conflict in Iraq isn't the "only way" to fight AlQeada, simply that it's the current way. A subtle yet distinct difference
I'm confident you're aware of the "bandwagon" phenomenon.....there are plenty of fence sitters, who if believing AlQeda is actually winning the war against the Great Satan, will likely come out of the woodwork to join the "winning" team
Okay, that seems reasonable. But then, as you pointed out, we are responsible for putting ourselves in this position.
As I said, the parameters were put in place when we entered. Whether you like it or not, we are there now. Whether it was right or wrong is irrelevent now. As you have referenced above, it's an absolutely reasonable assumption to make of a significant boon in AlQeada's recruiting efforts, if we were to prematurely withdrawl. Currently you keep arguing how our presence now is a recruiting effort. Let's pretend for a moment it is.......what could make it exponentially worse is to prematurely withdrawl
Killing terrorists 1st is a great way of preventing them from killing Americans (or any other civilian) later
Okay, but that doesn't address how our current actions affect the perception/portrayal of the U.S. as evil.
Our current actions are magnified 10fold, by not just AlJazira, not just by CNN, by by our own politicians on the left, who echo any and everything bad that happens, and pin it on the U.S., thus perpetuating the "Great Satan" phenomenon. Lemme go back to the bandwagon reference. There are those core supporters of AlQeada who will se us as evil personified for simply existing, kinda like how they see Israel. I'm rarely referencing those folks, outside of the need to kill them. This recruting tangent you & I are referencing is about the middle of the roaders, the fence sitters, those who are trying to decide if what we're doing is in an effort to help bring them stability and democracy for them & their families, or as some perverted effort of ourse to reign terror on their people & religion. Obviously it's the former, but that message consistently gets blunted when you have news stories plastered for days on a complete distortion of some soldier flushing a Koran down the toilet, and a Majority Leader claiming that "the war is Lost", adding even further discouragement to the fence sitter.
When our actions are consistently shown/broadcast in the most negative light possible, minus all the positive actions that have been accomplished, that "perception" will continue, regardless of what we actually are doing
I find hard to believe that Iraq is a key battlefield for Al-Qaeda's existence. Almost as hard to believe as the idea that we need an open-ended conflict in Iraq to defeat Al-Qaeda.
A) I was referencing the rhetoric coming from the likes of Usama & his officers, and B) there is an end, despite the continued distortions that this is a war with no end in sight
