THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume V, Issue # 39, February 25, 2003
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
THE TERRORIST THREAT & THE BUSH II PRESIDENCY:
LIBERAL LEFTIST MAUREEN DOWD HAS A BEFUDDLED THOUGHT
By Paul Walfield
In this article, I discusse the inability of the political Left, even when confronted with indisputable facts, to shake their pathological disdain of the Bush White House and their determination to continue finding fault with the current Conservative and Republican leadership of our nation.
Liberal Leftist columnist and self-proclaimed know-it-all Maureen Dowd had a thought, and she began to write her article "Pass The Duct Tape," for the February 12, 2003, edition of the New York Times.
She seemed to sense that, because Osama bin Laden in an audio tape had confirmed what the Bush administration had been saying all along, that the terrorist group Al- Qa'ida would align itself with the Iraqi regime, maybe the administration was on to something, but, alas, she couldn't put two and two together.
Rather, she believes President Bush has been "rescued" by the mastermind of the 9-11 attack on America. Forgetting that President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell made the case for a connection between the two, she simply scoffs at the evidence pre- sented at the UN about the connection. Ms. Dowd would rather trash the Bush adminis- tration and see Osama jumping into action because America gave him the opportunity.
Ms. Dowd, in all her wisdom, determined that, even though Osama declared his soli- darity with Iraq, she prefers to look at his connections with Syria and Saudi Arabia, with- out explaining why that matters or is relevant to the reality and danger of terrorists sup- porting and being supported by Saddam Hussein.
Forgetting the adage, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Ms. Dowd chooses to lament the former hostility of Osama for Saddam, and the "present" alliance of the two. Rather than expanding any thought of placing responsibility for America's current rela- tions with Iraq or even the al-Qa'ida terrorists with Saddam or Osama, she chooses to blame the American President instead.
While admitting that bin Laden was squarely with Iraq and against the United States, like most folks who can't allow reality to interfere with their "beliefs," Ms. Dowd con- tinues to argue without sound judgment. Referring to bin Laden's own words, she says: "He barely mentioned the Iraqi leader and seemed to be holding his nose when he gave permission to his al-Qa'ida brethren to fight "the Crusaders" alongside Saddam's Baath Party."
Ms. Dowd's befuddlement over the alliance between terrorists and Iraq does not change the fact that this unholy alliance is a fact. So, for the Left, it requires a shift in blame.
Treating the alliance made in hell as a self-fulfilling prophecy of the Bush administration, Ms. Dowd need not admit she was wrong or that the Bush administration had been right all along. Rather, she can point to her preconceived notion that there had never been cooperation before between the two. Maureen says: "Saddam has no proven record of sharing weapons with Al-Qa'ida."
It appears that, for the Left, now that bin Laden admits to allying Al-Qa'ida with Iraq, it is "true," but, when their own government said it, it wasn't.
Taking the word of a terrorist or tyrant is easy for the Left. Taking the word of an American President or Secretary of State is not so easy, unless, of course, he is a Liberal Democrat.
Undisturbed by the setback, Ms. Dowd attacks the Bush administration for exposing the truth. Ms Dowd says: "So the Bushies no longer care if Osama sends a coded message to his thugs, as long as he stays on message for the White House." Ms. Dowd forgot that Al-Jazeera, the Middle Eastern television network, was going to air the tape in its entirety and that America had been put on alert for a planned terrorist attack, the threat level being raised to orange.
Ms. Dowd's pathological disdain for the Bush White House will not allow her to accept that, not only was the Bush Administration right all along, but action against the threats posed by terrorists and rogue nations is a cause worth fighting for.
Rather, Ms. Dowd opines that "Osama might be perversely encouraging America in this war." Explaining that, if we remove the Saddam regime, occupy Iraq, and install a con- stitutional democratic form of government, and thereby bring freedoms heretofore un- known to the Iraqi people, we are simply playing into the hands of the terrorists. Hence, the terrorists win, and we do not.
Speaking of perverse logic, Ms. Dowd believes that, because America and Osama want a regime change in Iraq, with America seeking constitutional democracy and individual freedom for the Iraqi people and with Osama seeking the reverse, we have fallen into bin Laden's trap. So much for Maureen having thoughts.
Finally, Ms. Dowd refers to the democratization of Iraq as a "model kitchen of democra- cy." However, she believes it might get messy and cost a lot. Of course, for Ms. Dowd, having a tyrant with weapons of mass destruction who gasses and tortures his own peo- ple isn't messy enough to do something about.
Ms. Dowd and the White House do have something in common, though. They both see the use of duct tape and plastic sheeting as not being adequate to protect the American people, in the event of attacks by terrorists or rogue nations. However, the Bush ad- ministration plans on taking action, while Ms. Dowd just whines.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
The News Media & Political Bias
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, & Other Leftists
The Middle East & the Problem of Iraq
The Problem of Rogue States:
Iraq as a Case History
The Middle East & the Arabs
The Threat of Radical Islam
More on the Threat of Radical Islam
War & Peace in the Real World
Islamist Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.A.
Osama bin Laden & the Islamist Declaration of War
Against the U.S.A. & Western Civilization
Islamist International Terrorism &
U.S. Intelligence Agencies
U.S. National Security Strategy
Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and post-graduate study in behavioral and analyt- ical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of Houlton, Maine, and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous periodicals and on numerous websites. CONTACT INFORMATION: Email: paul.walfield@cox.net
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity