Hey all, newbie here. Been lurking. I think there is way to much criticism here and not enough actual opinion on what you would do if you were the president and maker of policy on terror. This is a bit more big picture than the current thread, but covers both Iraq and Iran. I would be interested in hearing other's plan...
My two cents for policy on terror:
1) Remove ourselves from Iraq in phased withdrawal in 2007-2008, with small presence left well outside of Bagdad that can work with Iraqi forces for critical missions along with air support.
- We need these troops so that we have a military option for the real threat in the gulf: Iran, although this will be last resort (which may be the only resort with the mullahs)
- Iraqi's need to settle their difference amongst themselves. Yes it will be chaos, but the birth of a nation usually is. If country divides, so be it. That may be the only way the sunni's and shiites can exist in iraq. With the US out of the picture, there is no way they will tolerate the foreign forces (aka terrorists) in their borders. (as they gladly tolerate today) Terrorists will stay to establish a strict Muslim nation and will be crushed by the Iraqi's.(not necessarily quickly though)
2) Accelerate the conversion to a renewable energy economy, with emphasis on transportation first. Abolish(ok wishful thinking...maybe cripple) the oil lobby as we know it.
- Energy Security = National Security (why you ask? see #3) If you don't see this right now...it's ok I understand...some day, you will
- Renewable energy for electricity market will come along, but power plants don't use oil. (thats more for the global warming thread then national security)
3) Put serious pressure on the arab governments for serious reforms to open up their societies (free press, individual freedoms) and advance their economies.
- These governments are not really effected by western pressure, because they know we need them too much (oil). Once #2 is accomplished we will have much more leverage and the gulf states will need US. Why do you think diplomacy fails? (whose always going to have the upper hand, the dealer or the junkie?)
- Islamic fundamentalism is rampant because of these failed states which royal families take all the money and their piss ass economies are running at 25% unemployment. I'd be pissed off at the world to. If your government couldn't provide basic services and jobs, would you care what the organization does that provides them to you? Yeah, they would start becoming your friend too.
4) Increase our intelligence capability, especially in regards to infiltrating the islamic establishment.
5) Funnel money into border security, especially port security and nuclear screening.
- Let's face it folks, if someone wants to blow up a small scale bomb that kills 100 people, we can not stop them no matter what our strategy is...live with it. Your more likely to get killed on the way home from work or die in a plane crash. If this happens, let's not go rambo and start dropping bombs, it won't help.
- We need to worry about the big one and we need to spend a lot of money in our ports.
6) Pressure Isreal to completely abandon Gaza and the entire West Bank while defending its right to exist. Yes, pack up the outposts.
- This is a big one.
7) Hit known terrorist organizations hard when the opportunity presents itself through intelligence. This will also involve increasing pressure on governments where the terrorists hide out. We have been successful in this to a degree and can accelerate our efforts once our resources are freed up.
8) Work within the auspices of multinational organizations UN, NATO etc. Strengthen our alliances with other western countries and moderate arab states. Let's face it...we f'd this up pretty good.
I think the basis of our strategy has to consider the source of the terrorist problem. It is not one nation. Fundamentalists are spread across entire populations. The only way to stop that is to remove the condition that is creating it. This revolves around reform in the arab states. You can not force reform via military intervention. As for identified terrorist cells..bring out the boys and their big toys.
Unlike many pacifists think, there are situations where we may have to intervene, such as Iran. This IS a grave security threat. Do you think the mullahs would sell nuclear technology to a terrorist organization? Your damn right they would. Is that their plan? Maybe, but maybe not. Right now diplomacy does not work on Iran because we have no leverage. The world desperately needs Iran. Are you seeing the importance of #2 yet?
My two cents for policy on terror:
1) Remove ourselves from Iraq in phased withdrawal in 2007-2008, with small presence left well outside of Bagdad that can work with Iraqi forces for critical missions along with air support.
- We need these troops so that we have a military option for the real threat in the gulf: Iran, although this will be last resort (which may be the only resort with the mullahs)
- Iraqi's need to settle their difference amongst themselves. Yes it will be chaos, but the birth of a nation usually is. If country divides, so be it. That may be the only way the sunni's and shiites can exist in iraq. With the US out of the picture, there is no way they will tolerate the foreign forces (aka terrorists) in their borders. (as they gladly tolerate today) Terrorists will stay to establish a strict Muslim nation and will be crushed by the Iraqi's.(not necessarily quickly though)
2) Accelerate the conversion to a renewable energy economy, with emphasis on transportation first. Abolish(ok wishful thinking...maybe cripple) the oil lobby as we know it.
- Energy Security = National Security (why you ask? see #3) If you don't see this right now...it's ok I understand...some day, you will
- Renewable energy for electricity market will come along, but power plants don't use oil. (thats more for the global warming thread then national security)
3) Put serious pressure on the arab governments for serious reforms to open up their societies (free press, individual freedoms) and advance their economies.
- These governments are not really effected by western pressure, because they know we need them too much (oil). Once #2 is accomplished we will have much more leverage and the gulf states will need US. Why do you think diplomacy fails? (whose always going to have the upper hand, the dealer or the junkie?)
- Islamic fundamentalism is rampant because of these failed states which royal families take all the money and their piss ass economies are running at 25% unemployment. I'd be pissed off at the world to. If your government couldn't provide basic services and jobs, would you care what the organization does that provides them to you? Yeah, they would start becoming your friend too.
4) Increase our intelligence capability, especially in regards to infiltrating the islamic establishment.
5) Funnel money into border security, especially port security and nuclear screening.
- Let's face it folks, if someone wants to blow up a small scale bomb that kills 100 people, we can not stop them no matter what our strategy is...live with it. Your more likely to get killed on the way home from work or die in a plane crash. If this happens, let's not go rambo and start dropping bombs, it won't help.
- We need to worry about the big one and we need to spend a lot of money in our ports.
6) Pressure Isreal to completely abandon Gaza and the entire West Bank while defending its right to exist. Yes, pack up the outposts.
- This is a big one.
7) Hit known terrorist organizations hard when the opportunity presents itself through intelligence. This will also involve increasing pressure on governments where the terrorists hide out. We have been successful in this to a degree and can accelerate our efforts once our resources are freed up.
8) Work within the auspices of multinational organizations UN, NATO etc. Strengthen our alliances with other western countries and moderate arab states. Let's face it...we f'd this up pretty good.
I think the basis of our strategy has to consider the source of the terrorist problem. It is not one nation. Fundamentalists are spread across entire populations. The only way to stop that is to remove the condition that is creating it. This revolves around reform in the arab states. You can not force reform via military intervention. As for identified terrorist cells..bring out the boys and their big toys.
Unlike many pacifists think, there are situations where we may have to intervene, such as Iran. This IS a grave security threat. Do you think the mullahs would sell nuclear technology to a terrorist organization? Your damn right they would. Is that their plan? Maybe, but maybe not. Right now diplomacy does not work on Iran because we have no leverage. The world desperately needs Iran. Are you seeing the importance of #2 yet?
