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Bush strategy: democracy
Posted by
kerrb
at
2005-10-11 03:14 AM
Bush outlined his strategy for defeating terrorism in a speech on October 6, 2005.
Note that he refers to terrorists by shorthand as "radicals" and
"militants", after acknowledging that others use different terms ("
Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still
others, Islamo-fascism")
He accurately outliines the vision and goals of the "radicals" as:
- to end American and Western influence in the
broader Middle East
- to use the vacuum created by an American
retreat to gain control of a country, a base from which to launch attacks
and conduct their war against non-radical Muslim governments
- (by) controlling one country will rally the
Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the
region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to
Indonesia
He then outlines US strategy to defeat the "radicals" goals. The US
Administration is still overtly promoting a long term "drain the swamp"
policy, see the bit quoted in red below:
First, we're determined to prevent the attacks of terrorist networks before
they occur ...
Second, we're determined to deny weapons of mass destruction to outlaw
regimes, and to their terrorist allies who would use them without
hesitation
Third, we're determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary of
outlaw regimes ...
Fourth, we're determined to deny the militants control of any nation, which
they would use as a home base and a launching pad for terror
The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the
militants future recruits by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy
and hope across the broader Middle East. This is a difficult and long-term
project, yet there's no alternative to it. Our future and the future of
that region are linked. If the broader Middle East is left to grow in
bitterness, if countries remain in misery, while radicals stir the
resentments of millions, then that part of the world will be a source of
endless conflict and mounting danger, and for our generation and the next.
If the peoples of that region are permitted to choose their own destiny,
and advance by their own energy and by their participation as free men and
women, then the extremists will be marginalized, and the flow of violent
radicalism to the rest of the world will slow, and eventually end. By
standing for the hope and freedom of others, we make our own freedom more
secure.
America is making this stand in practical ways. We're encouraging our
friends in the Middle East, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to take the
path of reform, to strengthen their own societies in the fight against
terror by respecting the rights and choices of their own people. We're
standing with dissidents and exiles against oppressive regimes, because we
know that the dissidents of today will be the democratic leaders of
tomorrow. We're making our case through public diplomacy, stating clearly
and confidently our belief in self-determination, and the rule of law, and
religious freedom, and equal rights for women, beliefs that are right and
true in every land, and in every culture.
_________________________
Bill Kerr
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