Iraq is Important

Like most Americans these days, I'm not particularly happy about our involvment in Iraq or the lack of progress that's being made towards stabilizing the violence there. And yet, there is a strong argument for continuing US involvment in Iraq on a large scale - a view that I do not endorse, but one that I feel has been lost in the quagmire of incompetence that has engulfed this administration (recently highlighted by George Tenet's remarkable revelations). I bring this up because Joe Lieberman had an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post a few days agothat makes this case, and while I don't buy his conclusions he does make some acute observations that people in this country should consider carefully.

Senator Lieberman says the following: "Al-Qaeda's strategy for victory in Iraq is clear. It is trying to kill as many innocent people as possible in the hope of reigniting Shiite sectarian violence and terrorizing the Sunnis into submission."

This seems quite accurate - but it's even more important to realize where this comes from. Al-Qaeda is not a terrorist organization in the traditional sense of the 20th century terrorists movements. It is not like ETA, the PLO, the IRA, or the Tamil Tigers. It does not want to establish a national identity and create its own state. It does not seek legitimacy through open negotiations with heads of state, or fear that using a nuclear bomb would hurt its cause. Rather it is an organization that thrives on terror and absolute control - killing civilians has become an end in itself, because this creates the fear that allows them to rule with impunity.

The necesary result of this analysis is that when US forces leave Iraq, unless the Iraqi people band together in a way they have never done in history to quell Al-Qaeda's rise, we will probably end up with a radically Islamist government that would have massive implications for stability in the Middle East, as well as for our continued safety at home. Terror is a powerful tool, and it takes country with a strong national identity and adherence to democracy to resist it. Iraq is not at that stage yet, or at least it does not appear to be. I don't think that this analysis necessarily leads to the long term military occupation solutions that John McCain or others are calling for, but it is important to realize the stakes that are involved.

Senator Lieberman makes his second major point when he says: "Al-Qaeda, after all, isn't carrying out mass murder against civilians in the streets of Baghdad because it wants a more equitable distribution of oil revenue. Its aim in Iraq isn't to get a seat at the political table; it wants to blow up the table -- along with everyone seated at it."

This statement gets to the fundamental nature of the war on terror. Terror is not just a tool of Al-Qaeda, it is a system of governance that is diametrically opposed to the democratic and parlimentary systems that dominate the world. Teror prevents individuals from rallying to together, demanding individual freedoms, and governing with the consent of the governed. Consequentially, it is not in Al-Qaeda's interest to negotiate - and there is no indication that it will stop at Iraq if we leave there, and every indication that it will continue to be a national security threat for our country. Winning the war on terror is imperative for us

The problem is that many folks, including apparently Joe Lieberman, confuse winning the war on terror with subduing Iraq, or Afghanistan, or killing terrorists around the world. This is a new type of war, one that will not be won by the capture of a nation's capital, or the installation of a puppet government. Rather, this war is won simply by not being lost. Terror cannot exist in a vacuum - it is viral in nature, and needs to spread as it destroys its host. We don't have to occupy Iraq and hunt down every terrorist to win. We simply have to ensure that there are stable forces in that country that operate outside the zone dominated by terror. Granted that is easier said than done, but neither does it require a large military occupation, or even a continued offensive by our troops.

In Memoriam

Ross Alameddine was a 20 year old English and French major from Massachusettes.

Jamie Bishop was a 35 year old German teacher, a former Fulbright scholar, and a husband.

Brian Bluhm was a 25 year old Masters student in Water Resources, and active in the Baptist ministry.

Ryan Clark was a 22 year old Georgia native finishing a triple degree in Psychology, Biology, and English with a 4.0 GPA.

Austin Cloyd was an 18 year old freshman who spent significant time helping rehab homes in the Applachian communities.

Jocelyne Couture-Nowak was a French teacher and is survived by husband, also a faculty member.

Daniel Perez Cueva was a 21 year old from Peru who is survived by his family.

Kevin Granata was a 46 year old Professor who studied biomechanics and had a family.

Matthew Gwaltney was a 24 year old Masters student in Civil and Environmental Engineering from central Virginia. Voted "best guy to take home to your parents" in highschool.

Caitlin Hammaren was a 19 year old sophomore studying French and International Relations

Jeremy Herbstritt was a 27 year old graduate student in Civil Engineering.

Rachael Hill was an 18 year old freshman, studying Biology.

Emily Hilscher was a 19 year old freshman known for her love of animals.

Jarrett Lane was a 22 year old senior, and valedictorian of his highschool class.

Matt La Porte was a sophomore with aspirations to join the Air Force.

Henry Lee was a sophomore from Vietnam, survived by his parents and nine siblings.

Liviu Librescu was a 76 year old Professor and Holocaust survivor. He blocked the door of his classroom to prevent the gunman from entering.

G.V. Loganathan a 51 year old native of India and longtime Professor.

Partahi Lumbantoruan was a 34 year old graduate student from Indonesia. His family sold property and their car to finance his education.

Lauren McCain was a home-schooled devout Christian with a passion for languages.

Daniel O'Neil was a graduate student in engineering, who wrote his own songs and posted them online for the enjoyment of his friends.

Juan Ortiz was a 26 year old graduate student in Civil Engineering from Puerto Rico.

Minal Panchal was a 26 year old Masters student in Building Sciences who wanted to be an architect like her father.

Erin Peterson was an 18 year old freshman and a devoted Redskins fan.

Michael Pohle was a 23 year old senior studying Biology and a great athlete.

Julia Pryde was a 23 year old Biology graduate student doing independent research in Ecuador.

Mary Read was a 19 year old freshman just getting used to life on campus.

Reema Samaha was an 18 year old freshman and passionate about dance.

Waleed Shaalan was a doctoral student from Egypt who came to the US to work with G.V. Loganathan, also killed in the shooting.

Leslie Sherman was a sophomore who had plans to travel to Russia in the summer.

Maxine Turner was a senior studying Chemical Engineering, who planned to graduate in May.

Nicole White was a 20 year old junior who liked swimming and had been a lifeguard.

"We must be the change we wish to see"
-Mahatma Gandhi

Thoughts

Finals season is here, and I'll be underground for the next few weeks studying for exams. Oddly enough, historically it seems that I post more during these times than I do when I have more free time. Anway, a lot has happened recently in the world, and so I'd thought I would start out my posting resurgence with some quick thoughts on.....

....the Democratic contenders for President. At this point I have not yet formed an opinion regarding who I'd support for the Democratic ticket, especially since the policy stances of the candidates have yet to be clearly defined. I must say at this point that I would choose Obama or Edwards over Hillary. I have a lot of respect for her policy acumen and her service to the country, but I don't think she is capable of uniting the country the way the other two candidates could, and the way the Democrats need to move.

....the death of Kurt Vonnegut. One of the greatest writers and moral commentators of the 20th century, Kurt Vonnegut combined piercing insights with a very dark humor, creating a prose that was impossible to put down. His books have resonance and impact on young and old readers alike, and his ability to cross boundaries and appeal to to everyone marks him as one of the best in his field. This might be a good time to revisit Slaughterhouse Five.

....on the discovery of the father of Anna Nicole's baby. Thank god this is over. Let's pray this man will be a good father, and was not just in it for the publicity.

....on Google buying DoubleClick. From what I know of this area of technology, this was a very good move for Google. The media and advertising industries are strongly relationship driven at the top, and DoubleClick has those relationships. Google has successfully gone after the long tail, but if it's going to get the head of the industry then it needed to get DoubleClick's customers one way or another. Was it worth 3.1 billion? Only time will tell.

....on taxes. Mine are done and mailed. Are yours?