FLAIT

Aug. 2005 - Not Published

In an interview regarding the London attacks, 9/11 Committee member Tim Roemer echoed President Bush by saying that in order to win this "war on terror" we have to "spread democracy, freedom and our values around the world."

Huh?

Sticking our nose into the Arab world not only got us into this mess, but it's creating more terrorists (see Iraq). And besides, al-Quaeda didn't attack us because of our "freedom" and "democracy." They attacked us because of our arrogance, hypocrisy and influence in the Mid-East.

Mr. Roemer also said that we had "to fight this war just like we fought the 'Cold War' and Fascism."

Huh?

The Soviets were rational and understood as well as we did that a confrontation between the two superpowers had to be avoided. And we destroyed the Fascists in Europe.

So how does that compare to a handful of terrorists who can meet in a cave in Afghanistan, at an apartment in London or a Starbucks in Toronto, and plan an attack anywhere in the world?

It's bad enough for President Bush to use fear and Republican code words like "freedom" and "democracy" just to keep the GOP base riled up (which goes to show where his priority's lie).

But how can the public look to the 9/11 Committee for answers when at least one of its members doesn't know who al-Quaeda is, why they attacked us, and doesn't have a clue how we should be going after them?

Mr. Roemer and Mr. Bush sure inspire confidence, don't they?