The Real Threat Isn't "Terror"

National Review Online: It's Not A "War On Terror," It's A War On Radical Islam

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Rick Santorum.

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Six years after the September 11 attacks on the United States, what do Americans think about the threat posed by radical Islam? There’s good news and bad news.

The good news - from a new Public Opinion Strategies poll - is that despite a political environment that is extremely hostile to President Bush and his foreign policy, a plurality of Americans believe the threat from Islamic fundamentalism is greater than Soviet Communism was in the 1960s, and than Nazism was in the 1930s. The poll shows general agreement that the U.S. is facing a larger and more significant threat than one defined by the Iraq war, or indeed by the presidency of George W. Bush. That the Iraq campaign is increasingly seen as part of the broader war against Islamic fundamentalism - including Iran, al Qaeda, and other groups funded by radical Islamists - is encouraging. There seems to be recognition that because radical Islam is a long-term threat, America’s fight against it will constitute a long-term war.

The poll’s bad news is that Americans are generally unaware of the strategic partnerships being developed between radical Islamic regimes and governments in Latin America - particularly, Venezuela’s. While people were aware that Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez has made harsh and over-the top anti-U.S. assertions (e.g., calling President Bush the “devil” at the United Nations), very few voters knew about the strategic anti-American partnership he is building with Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

These poll results suggest three things U.S. political leaders need to do. First, our leadership has to listen to what the informed American public is saying. Americans have a good instinct about the enemy’s identity - indeed, they seem to have a deeper appreciation of the threat from radical Islam than do many of our politicians.

Second, our leaders must be more effective in raising public awareness in cases where it is still lacking. Many Americans are still skeptical of the genuine security threat coming from Chávez, Bolivia’s president Evo Morales, and others in Latin America - discounting them as irrational dictators. That the U.S. government has refused to highlight Chávez’s strategic conniving with Tehran only encourages this complacency.

The presidential campaign is the perfect opportunity to begin educating the American people on the Iran-Venezuela alliance. Up to this point the presidential debates on Latin America have not been impressive, with few new and constructive policy proposals and only vague promises to “pay more attention to Latin America.” Among the Republicans, Mitt Romney has pledged to “rebuild relationships of trust,” while John McCain said Latin American nations are “natural partners of the United States.” Democrat Bill Richardson wants to resurrect the Kennedy-era Alliance for Progress, while Barack Obama promised a listening tour, starting with a visit to Bolivia’s Evo Morales. If national security does trump all other issues in the upcoming election, Latin America and its strengthening ties with Iran should be a central topic of discussion.

Third, U.S. leaders must define the enemy appropriately - and that means we must stop referring to our effort as a “war on terror.” This is no more a “war on terror” than the early days of World War II were a war against “blitzkrieg” or a war against “dive bombers.” Whether we call it a war against Islamic extremism, or Islamofascism, or radical Islam, we must clearly communicate and understand that we are engaged in a war of ideas against an enemy with firmly held religious convictions. We recognize that this war of ideas also rages in the Islamic world, in a debate over whether the Islamism of Osama bin Laden or the radical mullahs in Iran is a part of “authentic Islam.” We must also recognize that our enemies themselves believe that they are embracing authentic Islam - and we have to take their own ideas and words seriously. For good reasons and bad, our political leadership has not adequately acknowledged this and therefore has not communicated effectively the nature or extent of the threat to the American people.

To a considerable extent, though, the people already understand the threat. Now it’s time for leaders to lead.

[michellem99-2009]

I love yer poem. I had a good laugh. You got to the point. Yet yer hit the nail on the head.
Lovely truth is not. I often felt are we just prey to who the bad angel with the horns that Jesus kicked asre. I have alway loved verse. knyghtwolf if ye wrote it thank you for sharing it. I hope yer got others thinking.
The awful thing about the churched is they want to save the whole world. That is wrong on their part. When the person need to his/her back yard, before others.

[knyghtwolf]

And the Lord so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son...the bush regime so loved money, oil, and power that they sacrificed ALL of everyone elses children so theirs would be spared in the sacrifices to be given. MY God is BIGGER AN'' BADDER THAN YOUR GOD.
PREY TO GOD
I%u2019M THE REASON HUMANKIND BLEEDS
I HAVE BEEN CALLED
THE CURSE OF EVE AND EVOLUTION
ANCIENT FALLACIES TO MODERN LIES
YOU SERVE TO LIVE
MY MANY NAMES
TURNING YOUR PAINS
INTO MY PLEASURES
YOU MADE LOVE
I GAVE YOU AIDS OF ASSISTANCE
MY CAPITALISTIC POLLUTION GAVE
CANCERS OF THE
COMMON SENSE & MORAL FIBER
ALONG WITH YOU, YOURSELF
FOR ME TO DEVOUR
YET TO ME YOU
SOLD YOUR COLLECTIVE SOULS
FAME & GLORY FUTILITY
TIN PLATED & IN THE BOX MENTALITIES
YOU%u2019RE SUCH AN
EASY PREY FOR ME
PLEASE LET US PREY
PLEASE LET US HUNT
FALSE TRUTHS THAT LEAD US
OFTEN ASTRAY
THE MILLIONS OF BODIES LYING
DEAD & DYING BENEATH
OUR HANDS & FEET
WAR IS SUCH A
SIMPLE GAME TO PLAY
ALTAR BOYS AND CHOIR GIRLS
ARE TAKEN IN
PANIC, SIN, & PLEASURES
EATING AND KILLING YOUR OWN
IN MY NAME
RELIGION KILLS
THE TOWERS OF IVORY
OF THE NEW CITY
FROM THE MINDS OF MEN
I GOT MORE APOCALYPTIC STRATEGIES
BEGIN TO PREY
BEGIN THE HUNT
PRAY TO GOD
OR
PREY FOR GOD?
Great poem, the guy that wrote this has humankind down cold.

[michellem99-2009]

The Real Issues
By Barbara Ann
America love to fight.
I often pander the why.
She have no reason.
Is it to play with their toys.
Or over oil so ye can drive.
Her leaders say torror.
But that is a lie.
I know that.
Amreica is a bully.
Lives are lost in wars.
America trains the groupes
that She fights.
It does not make any sence.
If ye think about it.
America is no longer
The greatest nation on earth.
She has sold her people out.
America once had pride.
Now she don''t.
Ever wonder why.
Her leaders the me,myselt and I persons.
They nolonger care.
It is the money or greed.
Money get them in office.
America really yer went down hill.
So this olde hillbilly
can''t understand ye any more.
Yer changed and not for the better.
Amreica I cry tear as yer
Send boys and girls to illegal wars.
They come home so messed up.
America they are our loved ones.
Bring yer military to yer shores.
They don''t belong fighting and
deading over yer lies.
Lies America yer told so many times.
What has happened to
Charity begains at home first.
Have yer forgot that lesson.
I hate war, guns,fighting.
America is falling.
What happened America to
We the people by the people
and for the people.
You turnt yer back on
God,people born here.
Oh Amreica yer so sad.
I was taught to clean out
my back yead before telling
others to.
America ye have issues.

Please give Barbara Ann credit as I wrote it. thank you.

[erehmat]

I can not believe Daniel Benjamin of the Brookings Institute, can be so irresponsible in writing the news story. I am not concerned with other part of the news but saying that, "Chitral is a remote, rugged area governed by tribes that will not allow even the Pakistani army to operate there", is a baseless statement and itself is a news for the people of Chitral.



In Chitral there is no any tribe, it is not like Noth Waziristan Or Kurum or Khyber agency. Chitral is a settled district, well under the control of Army and Police. There is nor was any tribal system existing in Chitral. it is surprising that a responsible reporter without any investigation reports that in Chitral there is tribal system and even an army can not go there. If the ''CBS News'' is based on such incorrect reports it is indeed a pity.



I hope ''CBS News'' will investigate the matter and ask the writer to clarify his statement. Chitral is a most peaceful district in Pakistan, it has the lowest crime rate in the country and highest literacy rate in the province (over 45%). Chitralis are peace loving people and never carry Kalashnikovs and other rifles. a few people have shot guns for duck shooting, as it is an old tradition of Chitral. I hope the CBS News would clarify their position on this report after ascertaining the facts

[Ed0719]

The REAL threat to the USA is from people like George W. Bush and Rick Santorum and those who follow them like sheep to the slaughter. Now the neocons need a new boogeyman to scare the sheep so they''re inventing them around every corner. And you sheep believe them. Man, you people are so dumb!

[Ed0719]

The REAL threat to the USA is from people like George W. Bush and Rick Santorum and those who follow them like sheep to the slaughter. Now the neocons need a new boogeyman to scare the sheep so they''re inventing them around every corner. And you sheep believe them. Man, you people are so dumb!

[taotxzen]

Xlib

Let me help clarify our position:

Reality check number one: Al-Qaeda was never in Iraq prior to our invasion. I know that Cheney, Fox and Rush have told you otherwise.

Priority one, two and three is the threat that we face from Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda that was and is currently located in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Bush diverted resources away from this area to attack Iraq.

We are not for %u201Dcutting and running%u201D we are for focusing our entire effort on the terrorist that actually attacked us on 911. They are not in Iran (a Shiite Country that opposes Al-Qaeda, a militant Sunni group), they are not in Venezuela.

Bush and co. (Halliburton, KBR, Blackwater, etc.) has diverted our focus from the actual threat and has lined their pockets on the lives of over 3,500 of our best and bravest. Yes, Cheney still has major holdings in Halliburton and the Bush family is still joined at the hip to Saudi Arabia and major oil companies.

Why haven''t we been attacked? Do you honestly think that this nation is anymore secure than prior to 911? Are the borders safer? Are the ports more secure? How much of the 911 commissions findings has Bush implemented?

[taotxzen]

"The Real Threat Isn''t "Terror"...it''s Venezuela!"

Billy Kristol''s boys are showing us the way, just like when thay lead us away from Al Qaeda and Bin Laden and into our current quagmire in Iraq.

[xlib]

The majority of these posts profess the same elitism, smugness and utter stupidity that has been spewing from the left for the past six years.
It is much easier and calming to ignore what is right before your faces. However, if those faces are buried in sand, you can''t see either.
What has to happen to wake you people up?? The new binLaden tapes, which we would not have if SOMEONE had taken him when offered, is telling us to convert or else. It is using the same talking points that the left has been using.
What has to happen, another attack??
As for Iraq and saddam not being involved. May I once again point to the youtube video of your guy, pope al, ripping Bush 1 a new one for not taking him out?? He went into everything including his ties to terrorism and WMD''s. That was in 1992. He and bubba win, and nothing. Nothing was done for eight years ending in 9/11.
You people have such hatred for one man and you are so consumed, because that''s the in thing to do and the media has done a great job in fostering your hatred. You are leemings, nothing more.
Now, drink your Sunday morning koolaid.

[bluestardad]

Remember AIPAC, Israeli and Saudi Arabian Neocon Supporters are pushing America to fight their wars for them! IRAQ IS NOT IN ANY WAY IN AMERICAS NATIONAL INTEREST!

Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC''s original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC''s stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. It also provides analysis of the voting records of U.S. federal representatives and senators with regard to how they voted on legislation related to Israel. The New York Times described AIPAC on July 6, 1987 as "a major force in shaping United States policy in the Middle East."
READ AIPAC AD BELOW
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

[brianbwb-2009]

National Review Online: It''s Not A "War On Terror," It''s A War On Radical Islam

International Brian Online: It Was Declared By Bush As A "War On Terror," Now It''s A War On Radical Islam, Next It Will Be A War On Islam In General, Then A War On Non Whites, If The NRO Has Its Way, Fascist Creeps Just Love Mission Creep

[stopkidding]

A greater threat than Nazism? A greater threat than atomic war with Soviet Communists? If Americans REALLY believe that then we need to hire more history teachers.

[seabhacre]

This war is wrong; because it is about doing unto others what we would not like them to do unto us. If the Santorum fellow ''invaded'' my home, I would not be happy (read P1SS3D!). I would devise a way to get back at him. I would in essence terrorize him and his family. He in turn would write an article stating that I was a bad person and that my terrorism against him and his family was unjust and un-warranted. He would claim No-Fault and cry to all that would listen about my badness. He would makeup all kinds of *** about how I am only doing this because I am jealous of his success, wealth, and his un-godly ways. And anyone, even someone from his own family, who sees the real truth and speaks out about it would be marginalized and maligned by him and his friends (read MSM). Don''t mistake what I''m saying here. I will not be switching to the Democrats in the next election. I will only vote for one Man. The only Man currently running that represents the America I grew up believing in, the America I%u2019ve spend 25 years serving. The only Man that speaks from the heart and tells it like it really is, the only man that understands what being an American really means, the only man that Jefferson, Washington, and Franklin would vote for. That man is Ron Paul!

[xzavierbrown]

Posted by cdfoxtrot at 10:41 PM : Sep 08, 2007
+ report abuse

*****

when do you think it becomes a threat???when someone influenced by this ideology decides to park a 747 up your arse?

you are trying to act so "intelligent" but the meat of your logic is pure sh*t..you just plagerized john cobert..you know that b rated comedian.

[cdfoxtrot]

I thought these were idiotic rantings as I skimmed the article, then I noticed who the author was. I should have looked there first and saved myself the time. If it''s true that Americans see "Islamic fundamentalism" (whatever that is) as a bigger threat than that of Nazi Germany, we''re in big trouble. But I am optimistic Americans are more intelligent than that. And Santoram''s attempt to link the failed, illegal Iraq war to some broader struggle is more wishful thinking on his part than anything in the real world. Good thing he''s not in the US Senate anymore. The country can do better than this idiot.

[ubrew12]

The real threat is debt, which Santorum and his party are using to enslave the American people.

You could have a 911 event happen every year, and your chance of dying in a terror attack would still only be 1/20 th of your chance of dying in a car accident. Santorum and his party have successfully used terror to distract the American public from the fact that they have bankrupted the American treasury (which we would normally go to to help pull us out of a recession, which Santorum and Co are gifting to us as we speak).

Osama isn''t going to enslave you. Santorum is.

[kesac4650]

It is easy to say that we are really in a war gainst radical Islam, but once upon a time we believed that the Communists were intent on redistributing wealth to the poor.
That was a farce, used to motivate people in the service of Stalin and Lenin, who desired power by any means.
We don''t know if Islam is being used in the same manner to motivate servants of Allah to elevate power seekers equal in malevelance to any person that has ever walked this earth.
The author doesn''t know that answer.

[sparks224]

"...Bushit cannot be the Devil. The Devil is smart. The Devil is well-informed. The Devil plans..."
Posted by gkc99

You forgot to include, %u201Cthe devil shoots people in the face on hunting trips%u201D.

[samthetvcat]

"Spend 10 minutes on the Internet following links to "Public Opinion Strategies". There you will find a long history of push polling and Republican-based work behind the political scenes. POS (www.pos.org) publishes the results of their polls but the Web site doesn''''t present the actual poll questions. With a little digging you *can* find sample questions and they are phrased in a biased manner and often present only a agree/disagree response option.

As for Rick Santorum, he now is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (www.eppc.org). Oh momma, the irony never ends."
Posted by ofufo at 02:34 PM : Sep 08, 2007

LOL - I did the same thing . . . the only statistic that really matters is the one listed on their site saying "About half of our research is dedicated to winning elections." From a quick scan of their clients, they seem to largely be Republicons and include David Vitter!

[ofufo]

Spend 10 minutes on the Internet following links to "Public Opinion Strategies". There you will find a long history of push polling and Republican-based work behind the political scenes. POS (www.pos.org) publishes the results of their polls but the Web site doesn''t present the actual poll questions. With a little digging you *can* find sample questions and they are phrased in a biased manner and often present only a agree/disagree response option.

As for Rick Santorum, he now is a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center (www.eppc.org). Oh momma, the irony never ends.