Right-wing media wonks and the President tell us that this proves we must stay the course in Iraq.  It, of course, does nothing of the sort.  Instead it tells us just the opposite.  It tells us:

1. The occupation in Iraq has done nothing, and is doing nothing, to prevent terrorist attacks.

2. The terrorists were British and the British police, in cooperation with other law enforcement entities, uncovered the plot, not the bombs dropped on Iraq.

3. The success of the investigation had nothing to do with the Iraqi occupation or the bombing and rape of Falujah and elsewhere.

4. We cannot bomb countries and expect to prevent terror attacks. It requires instead, vigorous law enforcement, counter intelligence, and criminal investigations instead. 

5. Although we bomb and occupy Iraq, the terror attacks are still on the increase all over the world, and they have nothing to do with Iraq. So what are we to do now? Bomb the UK? 

6. Bush, with the help of the neocon cabal and unapologetic war supporters like Lieberman, let the real culprits of 9/11 escape and we're bearing the fruit of that mistake right now.

7. Since 9/11, non-Iraqi terrorists have:

• Brought down the World Trade Center Towers

• Launched a deadly Anthrax attack on the US

• Bombed Madrid

• Bombed the British subway system

• Bombed the Indian subway system

• Possibly plotted to bomb the Sears Tower in Chicago

• Nearly launched another air attack on the US

STAYING the course DOES NOT WORK! Instead, we need a better strategy to fight terrorists. One that does not include bombing and occupying a foreign nation that does not (and never did have) the ability to attack us.

Fighting terrorists requires our working with our allies around the world, including our mid-east allies, to conduct investigations to prevent the attacks in the first place and then to bring these villains to justice.  We need to bring Bin Laden to justice. We need to find who in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the 9/11 attacks, and the other attacks, and put them away for life.

Contact Sander Bellman

[Ed: Published in the MDJ on 8/20/06 - http://www.mdjonline.com/270/10228678.txt]