I voted for George Bush

We are a democracy. We don't bomb buildings simply because we don't like someone or because we want to get our way. But we will go to war if that is the only way to defend our freedoms or to stop those who would infringe upon them.

I find it interesting that George Bush was elected by a very slim majority of the electoral vote. And his early "approval rating" reflected that, as people mostly voted along party lines. Those who voted for him approved of his actions. Those who did not, did not. But we still lived in peace with one another, loving one another, willing to help and befriend one another, even when we are in disagreement.

But with the recent events on the East Coast, we have suddenly found the "approval rating" of our president skyrocketing. I read into that not that everything he has done has now become great, but that our country and our people are united in the fact that we will defend against terrorism and do what is needed to prevent further terrorist attacks--not only on the US, but throughout the world. Look at the Senate and House votes when they dropped party lines to say, "Yes" in this fight.

I responded to the thread entitled "East Coast Nightmare" and then locked it, because I felt it had strayed from its original intent and that some could misread several of the statements made by one responder as giving aid and comfort to their cause. I want to assure the terrorists of this world that this is not the case and this is not a divided country. If that is what they believe, they are horribly wrong.

This is a world wide forum. Terrorism is the enemy of the world. And terrorism is world wide. And we are not here to give aid and comfort to the enemy--even if it is misconstrued.

I am sure that there are many choices, options, responses being debated in the "war rooms" of the nations around the world, some of which will not be carried out, many of which will. What we post on this forum will not change those facts. But they will be read by people all over the world--some of whom could even be would-be terrorists.

I would ask that you not post anything that could be misconstrued as giving aid and comfort to these fanatics or that would in any way "justify" their actions in their minds. I would, also, hope that you would not express anger towards any nation or people in the world. We are not at war with any nation. We are not at war with any religion. We are at war with the terrorist fanatics who wage war by bombing innocents in an effort to achieve their goals--whatever they may be.

Leonard Neumann

Very well stated, thank you. In response to one item on the previous thread regarding the source of friction in the Middle East, I would point everyone to Scripture. In Gen 16:12, God promises Abraham "And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." This promise given regarding Ishmael, Hagar's son. Isaac was subsequently born to Sarah & Abraham as the progenitor of the line that would receive the promise of all that real estate and of the "Anointed One", Jesus Christ. So, the conflict is indeed organic to these two great peoples and will not be solved by us. We cannot tolerate lawlessness, murder, and mayhem; but we should understand the history of the conflict.

"First, I want to say that I totally agree with Leonard. Bravo!
Secondly, I received the following in an email this morning. I hope it will help shed a bit of light on what we're up against. It is a bit long & I apologize for that, but I think it is important so I will post it in it's entirety."

The message you then posted was one I, too, received this morning. But, like most of the forwarded e-mail that I receive, I am very skeptical of what it says. I read it over, and I responded to the sender.

Although the person writing it claims to not like Bin Laden or the Taliband, the assumptions of how our country is planning to go about this "war on terrorism" are totaly false and the assumption is that world war III would be brought about and billions die if we do attack him. (Does anybody see a pattern here? It sounds like they are trying to scare us into not attacking him and to scare others into attacking us if we do.)

Our country is already working with Pakistan who has agreed to let us operate in and through their country (so part of the assumption is already false) and has closed off their borders to Afghanistan so Bin Laden cannot flea. Russia has closed off their border to Him. China has closed off its border. Iran has closed off its border. We are working together and the enemy is terrorism, not any individual race, people, or creed.

If we can keep our eyes focused on the goal, the battle can be won. It still will not be fast, quick and decisive, for new groups will always pop up. And it is not just the United States that they aim at. They aim at anybody who does not believe as they believe. It is possible--just possible that this might bring the nations of the world together.

No, I don't believe the lion is ready yet to lie down with the lamb, but I do believe that we can work together so long as we do not believe those who would try to polarize us against one another.

Leonard Neumann

I promised myself that I would stay out of this. I am breaking my promise only to note that the purported author of the email that Nils posted and that so many of us received - - Tamim Ansary, a writer in San Francisco - - was interviewed by Bill Moyers this evening on PBS. He came to the US from Afghanistan 26 years ago at age 16. The transcript of Moyers' interview of him can be read at: http://www.pbs.org/americaresponds/moyers918.html
Disclaimer: I pass this on for information only, only for what it is worth, and not for purposes of in any way disagreeing with, contradicting, debating or undermining the generous and thoughtful host of this forum or any thoughts expressed by him or other contributors to this thread.

On another note:

I didn't vote for Bush (though I can't say I liked Gore much either), but he's my President and I'll stand behind him. Great events define great men. Lincoln had the Civil War, Roosevelt had WWII, Kennedy had the Cuban Missle Crisis and the race to the moon. These men rose to greatness because events around them called for greatness and they were equal to the task. (OK, so I'm waxing poetic). It remains to be seen if Bush will rise to greatness through events.

OK, I've worn a hole in my soapbox for tonight.

I find that interesting, Peter, because the very same forwarded e-mail I received the same morning attributed those same statements to a LADY who had been in this country for 40 years! Interesting, isn't it? (And then it goes on to say 35 years. Well, maybe a few years slipped by.)

It is for these very reasons I don't trust ANY forwarded e-mail without checking its source. I get two or three bogus forwarded e-mails a day, it seems. I just got another one this morning from my daughter referring to...well, it said it was checked out by many sources. But it was not true. I checked one of the sources myself. Hmm.

In the e-mail post that I deleted I was very much bothered by the assumptions that we would have to fight other countries who are standing with us in this effort to combat terrorism.

We are not at war with Afghanistan or her people or her ruling factions. Nor are we at war with her neighbors. We are at war only with the terrorists. And they are at war with the world. These are the truths. A coalition is now being formed of all nations to fight against terrorism. The bordering and neiguboring countries to Afghanistan have already closed their borders against Bin Laden. That includes Russia and China and Pakistan and Iran. The noose is tightening. These are the truths.

This e-mail that was suppposed to be forwarded to the world made like we would be attacking all sorts of countries that are standing with us and that suddenly it would be East verses West. That is the lie.

That may, indeed be Bin Laden's dream, but the way this was written it almost looked to me like it was one of his own followers who had written it. I read it as a threat that we had better not touch Bin Laden or billions of people will be killed. And Bin Laden would win. I don't want any part of that kind of threat or propaganda.

I will be happy to send you a copy of the e-mail I got for you to compare for yourself. But this is the reason I decided to delete it.

The truth is: Our country is working with the other nations of the world, especially the Arab Nations and with the United Nations to eradicate terrorism and terrorist groups. Although the current focus is on Bin Laden, it won't stop with him. There are terrorist groups in the US that need to be flushed out and will be. There are terrorist groups in other nations that need to be flushed out and will be. And it is not going to play out Bin Laden's way.

Leonard Neumann

Those scum haven't seen Hell yet, but it's coming.

I can't imagine any President doing this, past or present.

I didn't vote vor Bush for many reasons which I won't delve on here but his lack of foreign policy experience was one of the major detriments. He also lacks the polish of the better communicators we've seen in the past, i.e., Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton.

GW certainly started off on the wrong foot by virtue of his unilaterist policies. As we see now, we need the cooperation of our allies and some of our foes for this campaign to conclude successfully. I have many friends from other countries who literally cringe when they reflect on how he was ever elected - which many of us still do not believe he was.

Whatever bin Laden's true motives may be however, you certainly don't put them into practice them by brutally murdering 5,000 civilians (of which perhaps 1,000 were non-Americans). That he gravely underestimated the backlash and resolve from this country and many others may be his undoing.

Steve; I see no problem with Bush's policies myself. America has been taking care of the world for decades. Why? Nobody cares, nobody appreciates it, and nobody ever thanks us. We will be hated no matter what we do or don't do. For every good thing this country does for another; there is some other that will view our actions in a different light. Our country has existed for only a fraction of time compared to many others; yet we are expected to babysit them. Why? Let the people who have been fighting each other for thousands of years decide their problems themselves. This may seem simplistic in today's 'global community', but to me it reaks of common sense.

Thank God I voted for George Bush.

I also watched the speech tonight and liked what I heard. This is indeed a time to come together as a nation. But this struggle will not last forever. Once it is over, we are going to have to repair an economy which is now in serious trouble. Remember GWH Bush after the Persian Gulf War?

Whatever your opinion of the most recent former pres., he did leave office with one of the highest approval ratings ever. I'd gladly overlook a few personal flaws for another 6-8 years of unparalleled peace and prosperity. Thankfully, I'm not unemployed yet but have had that misfortune more than once during my working career.

Before you pass me off as another kooky liberal, I hail from 4 generations of career military men dating back to the Civil War and have lived abroad. I broke that career tradition by serving only 5 years active and another 5 reserve (all post Vietnam). Speaking about Vietnam, I believe Gore volunteered to serve in that theater while you-know who took an extended (unauthorized) 18 month sabbatical to who-knows where. This was after using his family's influence to get an ANG slot in the first place. Ask Sen. John McCain how he feels about Bush's committment to duty while he was in a POW camp in Hanoi.

I'd rather not discuss my full feelings or misgivings at this particular time since this forum is not the place and the time is not particularly appropriate. All I hope is this situation is concluded in a quick and satisfactory manner. All of us want to avenge the losses in DC and NYC. Remember though, Pakistan is a bitterly divided Muslim nation who posesses nuclear weapons. If India jumps into the conflict...

Doug Moon