Thursday, July 07, 2005

Superpower?

I listened today with horror as the news media related the events in London this morning. It seems that Terrorism is alive and well in the World and innocent people are still dying and suffering because of it.

We don't know for sure who perpetrated this act of war against our most faithful ally, but a supposed spokesman for Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility. I can't understand why there is anyone alive in the World anymore who would say that they are associated in any way with Al Qaeda. By this point in time, America should have waged such a horrible war on everyone in the region that allowed Al Qaeda to fester that the very thought of engaging us in any kind of conflict would make people weak in the knees.

It occurs to me that maybe America no longer has the intestinal fortitude to win a war against anyone. We have become known around the world as the kid with the biggest stick on the whole playground, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS WE WOULD NEVER USE IT.

The only time in human history that nuclear or atomic weapons have ever been used during a time of war was in 1945, when we exploded atomic bombs over Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan ( the last entity to attack American soil until 9/11), and that use of them deterred attacks upon American soil for decades. During the Vietnam war, however, the World figured out that America would never again use nuclear weapons, no matter what happens, and if there were any doubts in the minds of the enemies of America, these were erased during the months and years following 9/11.
The people who are fighting us have no respect for cowards, and have labeled us as such PRECISELY because we WILL NOT use whatever weapons we have at our disposal to defeat them. They understand strength and power,but they have no use for appeasement and political correctness.
We have become Gulliver, tied down by a million tiny strings. The Lilliputians have tied us down with the strings of fear of world opinion, fear of the accusation of racism, the unfairness of our superpower status, and fear of our own media.
We absolutely have the strength to throw off these bonds and regain our worldwide respect, but we will never do it as long as we remain engaged in an internal struggle over whether or not to do it. Besides, I'm afraid that we have missed the window of opportunity. The time to display American might was immediately after 9/11. If we did it now, we would look like indecisive bullies.
I am not advocating the use of nuclear weapons at this time, but you can rest assured that our enemies would have no qualms about using them if they had them.
This is the very reason why Iraq must never be allowed to develop these weapons, why North Korea must be made to abandon their nuclear program, and why it is a complete disaster that China now has them and the means to deliver them to American soil. (Thank you, President Clinton.)
My fear is that the next time nuclear weapons are used in the world, that Los Angelas or San Francisco will be the target. Maybe when that happens, the American people will get behind the concept of victory instead of appeasement as the way to end wars.
Until then, we will just have to languish in our rhetoric and indecisiveness.

By the way, I would personally like to ask those of you who believe in God to keep the people of Florida and the rest of the Gulf Coast in your thoughts and prayers as we brace for the attack of Hurricane Dennis. Pray that God will steer it away from us if it is His will, and to give us the strength to endure it's onslaught if He decides we should.
Thank You...

13 comments:

Mark said...

(sigh) Perhaps it is time to use the literal "nuclear option", but you know the President would be impeached for that, even if it did end the war.

Mark said...

Tug,
"It seems that Terrorism is alive and well in the World and innocent people are still dying and suffering because of it."

There's that word, "seems" again. I suppose I would do well to emulate your capacity for understatement. Then I would not so often open the proverbial can of worms.

tugboatcapn said...

Mark,
Trying to word things this way is not keeping the worms in my can, so you may as well word things however you want to...

Mark said...

ha ha ha...good answer! (clapping)

rich bachelor said...

But there is no end to this war. Remember the words of Your President. Or remember the words of George Orwell.
And if the nuclear option that you so casually suggest here is used, it's all over, and you know it. Matter of fact, let's all bone up on our Mandarin Chinese while we still have a chance.

tugboatcapn said...

We may as well bone up on it Bachelor, because the Chinese will not tear each other apart over whether to nuke someone or not.
They CAN defeat us because they are unencumbered by hand-wringers like you undermining their efforts to accomplish their national goals and trying to destroy the credibility of their leaders.
You are exactly right. There is no end to this war, because our enemies are not strong enough to wipe us out, and the Left in this country WILL NOT LET US COMMIT TO WINNING IT.
Keep up the good work! I'm sure Osama Bin Ladin and Abu Musab Al Zaquari really appreciate your efforts.

Erudite Redneck said...

Hey, I'll bet it's horsepuckey like this, Tug -- "I'm sure Osama Bin Ladin and Abu Musab Al Zaquari really appreciate your efforts" -- that caused Rich to cough up the "Grand Dragon" reference over at the other place.


If China kicks our ass, it'll be because there's a billion of 'em, and their form of capitalism, which they insist on calling "socialism with Chinese characteristics" -- unlike our own form of it, is unencumbered by scruples.

On the "the Left" is the enemy thing, Rich, should we 'round up some of the remnant of the farmer-labor-type Dems, gun-totin' flag-wavin' union-organizing types, and go kick some right-wing ass? Naaah, that wouldn't shut 'em up. As Mama ER says, they just like to talk to hear their heads rattle.

tugboatcapn said...

I wish you guys would round those types up. THEY usually are reasonable people.
The left that I am referring to is the "Blame America First, Hand Wringing,Flag Burning, President Bashing, Nazi Comparing, Political Process Obstructing, Judge Filibustering, Sore Loser types.
That's what is making my head rattle...

Erudite Redneck said...

Well, then, Tug, call 'em out proper. It's not all of us Dems you hate. It's not even the Left.

It's, ahem, if you'll pardon me, pussy pacifist left-wing we're-all-brothers America-haters.

And I do, too.

But I'm a Dem. And on certain issues, I'm purdy lefty.

But I by God like ALL the commandments -- I mean amendments. The first 'un and the second one. And 3-26, or 27 or however many there are now.

But, holy balance of powers, Tugman, we GOTTA have a loyal opposition in this country, to keep the ones in power, whoever the hell they are, from runnin' amok!

And I dare say that all but one or two Dems are loyal. On the other side, there's quite a few, in my opinion, who couldn't give a hoot in hell about this country.

On the right, the free-traders are blinded by a higher ideology than Americanism. On the left, the UN-first crowd has its own false idol.

Both sides suck in their own way.

tugboatcapn said...

And on that point we totally and completely agree.
We all have to be able and willing to look beyond our own agendas and see what is REALLY best for our Country.
We do desperatly need a loyal opposition, whichever side we are on, as long as they play by the rules and focus on the big picture.

By the way, ER, I really apreciate your input. Your posts and comments are always clear-headed and logical,and I find that Refreshing in this environment.
Glad to know you!!

Mark said...

I agree with you, Tug, about ER, I don't care what anyone says, I like him.

Toad734 said...

I noticed that you list System of A Down on the music section of your profile. Although I don't always agree with everything they say, maybe you should pay a little closer attention to their lyrics some time.

tugboatcapn said...

I don't have to agree with the views of an artist to enjoy their product, Toad. I am a guitar player. I am not really that uptight about things like that...
I don't listen to bands in order to figure out what I should think.