One thing I’ve observed in comments on my site and others is that if you mention history, the leftist knee-jerk reaction is “You’re blaming Clinton! or “Remember how Nixon failed in Vietnam!” It is as if the interceding 25 years didn’t even exist. I guess for many of them, they didn’t. But this war against Islamicists could have been dealt with during those years. There was an overriding concern during much of that time, however: Nuclear War with the Soviet Union. Prior to 1989, any move we made in the world had that shadow hanging over it. North Vietnam could have easily been dispensed with. So, too, North Korea. Many of the smaller conflicts around the world were warfare by proxy.
That changed in 1989, and we didn’t.
Victor Davis Hanson is one of my favorite writers. Not just because of his skill with words, but because he is also a dedicated student of history. This day, there are two articles of his that everyone (including “truth man” and “curveball”) should take the time to read. I don’t expect those two visitors to do so. It might upset their vison of the world. I hope they will read them, and be driven by the desire to read and try to understand rather than try to find fault with the words.
The Fruits of Appeasement is from this spring. “truth man”, if you botherd to read this you might understand the post above.
As long ago as the fourth century B.C., Demosthenes warned how complacency and self-delusion among an affluent and free Athenian people allowed a Macedonian thug like Philip II to end some four centuries of Greek liberty
All I have to add is aren’t we glad the hi-jackers weren’t strategic thinkers. Can you imagine what would have happened to utility rates here in the northeast had they chosen to direct those airliners to three different nuclear generating plants?? That would have made for a very uncomfortable existence in my book.
Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — September 11, 2004 @ 8:26 pm
You’re right. They do think strategically, but their vision is to attack money. Fortunately, they don’t grasp economic issues.
Comment by Bunker — September 12, 2004 @ 6:14 am
And that “vision” of theirs is why I do not get all worked up over the latest “terror-alerts”. Having served on active duty during the time of escalating terror activity and the Iranian embassy fiasco, I know what to look for in my daily life. Unfortunately most of our fellow Americans do not, so it falls upon us to try to explain to the “average citizen” why they need to calm down. The odds of anyone individual being a victim of terror are far less than being killed in an auto accident, or having a heart attack, or any number of other things. Now if they begin attacking the everyday infra-structure, I’ll begin to worry.
Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — September 12, 2004 @ 10:52 am