A Terrific Fire breathing editorial

F R I D A Y , A U G U S T 0 6 , 2 0 0 4A Terrific, Fire-breathing Editorialby Michael in New York on 8/06/2004 01:48:00 PMI'll quote the entire editorial by Bob Herbert in today's New YorkTimes if I don't control myself.</p><p> It's passionate and on point andstirring.</p><p> Here's a sample:"It's as if the government were following a script from the theater ofthe absurd.</p><p> Instead of rallying our allies to a coordinated andrelentless campaign against Al Qaeda after Sept. 11, we insulted theallies, gave them the back of our hand and arrogantly sent the bulkof our forces into the sand trap of Iraq.Now we're in a fix.The war in Iraq has intensified the hatred of America around theworld and powerfully energized Al Qaeda-type insurgencies.</p><p> At thesame time, it has weakened our defenses by diverting the veryresources we need - personnel, matériel and boatloads of cash - tomeet the real terror threats....Does the administration have any real sense of what motivates thenation's enemies? Does it understand the ways in which Americanpolicies are empowering its enemies? Does it grasp the crucialimportance of international alliances and coordinated intelligenceactivity in fighting terror? And is it even beginning to think seriouslyabout lessening our debilitating dependence on Middle Eastern oil?The United States is the greatest military and economic power in thehistory of the planet.</p><p> But it lacks a unifying sense of national purposeat the moment, and seems uncertain, even timid, as the nationalsecurity challenges continue to mount.</p><p> That is what a failure ofleadership can do to a great power." Add New Comment Logged in as AnonymousUser Logout from DisqusLogged in asusing Facebook Connect (Logout)Type your comment here.</p><p> HuffPost PoliticsBurris Won't Say If He'll Run In 2010 -MASCOUTAH, Ill. (AP) -- Roland Burris said Mondayhe's enjoying being Barack Obama's appointedsuccessor in the U.S.</p><p> Senate and will decide indue...20 minutes agoMatthew YglesiasObama Open to Iranian Enrichment? - One keyissue in the Iran policy debate concerns whether ornot the United States could live with a dealwherein Iran verifiably foreswears nuclearweapons...21 minutes agoThink ProgressFrank ‘I’m A Member Of Dick Cheney’s Fan Club’Gaffney: Obama’s ‘Respect’ For Muslims Is CodeFor Submission - The right wing has beenapoplectic over President Obama’s words andactions while in Europe.</p><p> A large amount of theiroutrage has been over the fact that Ob...26 minutes agoDaily KosBeck: Daily Kos, C&L blame me for cop killer -Because it’s all about him, right? Howself-absorbed can one man possibly be? (Thisvideo is from Beck’s April 6, 2009 broadcast.</p><p> Thestill image is of ...31 minutes agoBen SmithRemainders: Ankara - White evangelicals trustObama to handle the Muslim World "about right."Gates brings the change to defense contracts.34 minutes agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S Traders: Chicago PMI dataSubscribe to get purchasing managers'data before public release.www.kingbiz.com4.69% Fixed Mortgage RefiNo Points.</p><p> Refi Your Mortgage Now! AsFeatured on CNNMoney & Forbes.DeltaPrimeRefinance.comThe Ford StorySee Ford's Progress on their Plan to Makethe World's Best Vehicles.FordVehicles.com/TheFordStory AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: A Terrif...http://www.americablog.com/2004/08/terrific-fire-breathing-edit... 1 of 64/6/09 6:54 PM