Why do Repub politicans like to quote terrorists so much?

Question

I mean, they refuse to actually have dialougue with Iran or Syria, but during the debate in the House last week they just loved using that quote from Ayman al-Zawahri about how important Iraq is as a front in the war on terror. I've heard that same line about 100 times from Bush and Tony Snow and all the Repubs in Congress ... they all say something like "it doesn't matter why we are there or whether we should have gone. Now that we are there it is a vital front in the war on terror. Even al-Zawahri, bin Laden's number one deputy in al-Queda says that Iraq is a crucial front ..." I've got to be honest, it is driving me nuts. Since when do we even care what their views are? If we are listening to what they are saying, why can't we open dialogue? I'm not saying we should negotiate a truce with al-Queda, but if we can use al-Quedas quotes for our own political gain, can't we at least negotiate with some of the insurgents and slightly unsavory elements?

Guerilla - "The rag-heads have been offered many deals in the past, but they always reneg on any promise they make. Negotiation hasn't worked in the past and it won't now."
Do you know what you are talking about at all?
Is it not actually the US who renegs on its promises? If you think the answer is "no," go ask an American Indian... if you can find one.
Also, I clearly said I don't think we should negotiate with al-Queda, so I also clearly do not think only whites can be bad... I'm sure you didn't mean I'm an imbecile... though you should refrain from using the imbecilic slur "rag-head," lest someone mistake you for a piece of garbage.

Airborne - Not a bad shot but I'm going to respectfully disagree. Sure, we should be listening to what the terrorists are saying... that's called intelligence. But it seems to me like the administration only listens when the terrorist says something that can be used for political advantage. It is true that Al-Queda would love to get its hands on Iraq, but in fact if America left it would be Iran, a mortal enemy of al-Queda, that would gain influence and the Shia, not al-Queda's Sunni sect, would control Iraq.
And you are selling the dem politicians short. you might be right about the Quran, but militarily they are being very cautious, moreso than the typical American. The dem politicians are not even trying to withdraw at this point, they just don't want to surge more US troops into Iraq. They'd rather send any extras to Afghanistan.

Peace - What difference does it make if Iran recruits more troops? We aren't at war with them, so they are going to have time to recruit troops whether we talk to them or not. At least if we talk there's a chance to avoid fighting it out.
And again, I agree it is important to know what your enemies are thinking, but it seems we ignore the stuff that could actually be used to our advantage, like when we knew they wanted to use planes as weapons in September, 2001, but we pay attention when it can be used for "political advantage." The priorities are backwards.
Also, American Indians had nothing to do with my original question but seriously, yeah some tribes were unbelieveably cruel but the more peaceful tribes managed to survive until the whole "Sea to Shining Sea" thing. And the most horrible excesses of the Apaches and Commanches were reactions to the invasion of Europeans.

MSI - I already know bin Laden is a sick twisted MFr. I agree you have to know everything you can about your enemy. Read my question again, I'm not saying to negotiate with Queda. My opinion is that they latch on to one comment like that and repeat it over and over but that is the limit to our intelligence in the Mideast. The whole operation produces some sound bites for rationalizing the whole thing but our leaders never gain any real knowledge for all their searching. They still don't seem to know that it is our supposed friends the Sauds who have done the most for al-Queda and the Wahabbi ideology behind it.

Liberals_R_Treasonists - I saved you for last but let me reply now. Let them search. They will find that I am an upright citizen who loves this country. That was part of the oath I took as an Eagle Scout. I love the people of this country despite the flaws all of us have -- in your case, the flaw of being afraid of everything and angry at those who take a different approach than you to confront the problems that both liberals and conservatives share.
I'm sure you'd like it if everyone with a different point of view than you was tried for treason. Thankfully, people with your opinion will never be able to destroy the freedoms we enjoy in this country.
I reprimand you for spreading fear. You are behaving like a Nazi. I reserve judgment on you as a person. I don't know what drove you to be so consumed in fear. As for your actions, commenting in this way not just to me but to many other posters, you are behaving in a very un-American way and you should correct that.

Answer 1

After all these cases of idiotic ideas and comments from bush and his followers, you still wondering about what they're saying ? THEY HAVE NO CLUE, and still continuing the nonsense !

Answer 2

They are using the words of our enemies in an attempt to show the Dems that pulling out of Iraq would be the same as victory for the terrorists. See Democrats are continualy saying, "The war in Iraq has no bearing on the war on terror." And yet the terrorists are saying, "Iraq is a crucial front..." A front in the war... the war on terror... and that is what the Republicans are trying to say. Yes Iraq is important, it is important because if we pull out the terrorists already have plans to turn it into a training ground for their suicide bombers and madmen terrorists. They will gain the Iraqi oil revenue to support these goals, and it would be seen as a great victory on their part if the US pulled out. They would claim, "See Allah has given us a great victory over the great satan, and if we can beat them here, then we can beat them elsewhere." Or something along those lines.
For some reason however the Democrats do not believe any of this, even though the terrorists are saying that is the case, that is their plan, those are their goals.
Go figure...
As for negotiating, you have to understand the mindset of the practicioner and believer of fundamentalist Islam, there is no peace with the enemies of Islam, there is only victory or defeat. Granted they will negotiate a truce, the reason for this given in the Qu'ran is that times of truces allow them to rebuild and re-equip their militaries and jihadist supply, then once it has reached significant levels where the war can again resume they will break the truce (after all it is with infidels so there is nothing wrong with breaking such a truce) and resume attacks.
I would dare say that 99.9% of our politicians have never read the Qu'ran and haddiths in their historical, and gramatical context; if they've even read them at all, and so they have no idea of how our enemies think...

Answer 3

Why should we have dialougue with countries that simply want to use said dialougue to buy time to arm and recruit more troops? Iran and Syria are sending terrorists into Iraq to kill our soldiers and innocent Iraqi civillians. And I don't believe that I've heard any Republican state that they "care" what UBL and Zawahri's views are, but their tactics, strategies, and goals of warfare are indeed important, at least if you wish to win.
Sun Tzu said, "Know yourself, and know your enemy and you shall find victory in every battle."
One reply stated that this is propiganda used to cause fear in Americans, that may be somewhat true, but no less so than the left using global warming to do the same thing in their crowd. And as for the American Indians being treated unfairly by the young United States, in many instances the American Indians were offered money for their lands, and agreed to the sale, but then they refused to leave the land, and were thus forced off. Not to mention many of the Indians were doing far worse to one another than any white skinned American did to them. Yes there were instances where the U.S. renegged, but there were also instances where the indians renegged, but who is called the bad guy and villain?

Answer 4

The rag-heads have been offered many deals in the past, but they always reneg on any promise they make. Negotiation hasn't worked in the past and it won't now. The members of al-queda are as low as Hitler and the Third Reich. Of course imbeciles who have been indoctrinated will disagree, because in their weak brainwashed little minds, only white people can be bad. Its a fact. If you want to save America, vote Michael Savage in '08.

Answer 5

Airborne has it absolutely right. They are quoting terrorist leaders like Ayman al-Zawahri to demonstrate to the American public what the terrorists believe about our war in Iraq and the greater war on terror. When al-Zawahri says fairly plainly that Iraq is the major front in their war against Zionists and Crusaders, he is saying that they view the conflict in Iraq as a major front in their overall war with us. Having the United States military leave Iraq now would surely be seen as a victory for them over us.

Also, it is always wise to know what your enemy thinks about you and what your enemy says about you. It is wise to know what motivates your enemy and what sustains their hatred. We can also see what lengths they are willing to go to defeat us. What they are willing to do to achieve their goals. I will use a quote from Osama bin Laden to illustrate my point "There is a major difference between the United States and us; they value life, we value death." Bin Laden is saying that he believes the value we place on the lives of others (whether they be civilian or our own military) will inevitably make us quit our war on terror and the fact that they do not fear, but actually want, death shows the lengths they are willing to go to win.

If you look at this in the context of Iraq, the fact that those we are fighting do not value life and are willing to kill anyone, even themselves, to further their goal makes them a formidable enemy. The value we place on human life will eventually cause us to leave Iraq and they will take over. That is what al-Zawahri is telling the world.

Answer 6

It is hard to debate with those who say whatever is convenient rather than what they truly believe. Americans are considered 'little children' by Arabs because Americans lack the sophisticated skills in haggling.

Republicans quote what the Islamists say to the Muslim crowd, demonstrating how those leaders motivate terrorists.

If the world had paid more attention to what Hitler said to motivate his own crowd rather than what he said for the global press, Neville Chamberlain might not have been so easily fooled.

Answer 7

Because they are their role models. They are using terroist tactics to make the population fearful.

Answer 8

KEEP ON BELIEVING THOSE DEMS. THEY ARE TRYING TO SELL OUT OUR COUNTRY. AND THEY WILL SELL OUT EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR THEM! THEY WANT TO STOP THE TROOP SURGE AND SEND THE TROOPS TO AFGANISTAN INSTEAD? SURE! YOU CAN'T TALK TO TERRORISTS. THEY JUST WANT 300,000,000 MORE HEADS FOR THEIR COLLECTION! AND THE DEMS WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEM!