Is the best way to protect America to go on the offensive, to fight terrorists overseas?

Question

"A key lesson of September the 11th is that the best way to protect America is to go on the offense, to fight the terrorists overseas so we don't have to face them here at home. And that is exactly what our men and women in uniform are doing across the world. "

"The key theater in this global war is Iraq. Our troops are serving bravely in that country. They're opposing ruthless enemies, and no enemy is more ruthless in Iraq than al Qaeda. They send suicide bombers into crowded markets; they behead innocent captives and they murder American troops. They want to bring down Iraq's democracy so they can use that nation as a terrorist safe haven for attacks against our country. So our troops are standing strong with nearly 12 million Iraqis who voted for a future of peace, and they so for the security of Iraq and the safety of American citizens."

Any comment for what President George W. Bush stated, 24 Jul 2007, at Charleston Air Force base in South Carolina?

Answer 1

Well when you posted this I hope that you werent hoping for a right answer, only opinions, cuz there is no right answer. In my opinion I think it is the best way, I just look back on the timeline from September 11th and it has been since 2001 since we have been attacked like that, and they have been threatening ever since, so I figure we are keeping them too busy running, and hiding for them to even plan an attack here again, so yes I think it is the best way. Its like any problem, face it head on dont wait for the problem to come back or flying right towards us. I am in the military, and I stand 110% behind what we are doing over there or at least the idea behind what we are trying to do over there.

Answer 2

The Iraqis (or should I say Muslims) have been killing each other for literally centuries. They will continue to do so for centuries to come. With or without our interference. What is sad is the knowledge that if you ask most Americans who is responsible for 9/11 they answer "Iraq". They are not. Iran is/was. Which will be our next move. This "conflict" (it has never been declared legally a war) will go the way of Korea (conflict) and Vietnam (conflict). We "won" neither. Thousands of men and women are dieing for no reason. They are not keeping me or anyone else free. I sob for their families and my heart breaks for their loss but their child did not die protecting me from anything. I support our troops all over the world and think they should ALL be brought home, NOW! I couldn't care less about Germany, Vietnam (except for the MIA's still waiting for us), Japan, Korea or anywhere else except the USA. Bush is playing president for Daddy Bush and his cronies that Clinton beat back in '92. And of course there is always the Oil argument. The USA has plenty of oil drilling sites. The Great Lakes are a known source. The Northeast likewise. And the tree huggers will ***** about anything even when they don't have the facts to back them up. Now don't get me wrong. I can't stand Clinton (in either form) and my contempt for Bush is staggering. My choices for President this coming election year are pitiful. I consider myself an Independent and have voted that way for the last 12 yrs. I wish more folks would. In short (oops, too late) bring our people home. Today. I would feel much more protected from terrorist if we had some protection on American soil rather than spread out all over the world.

Answer 3

One thing is for sure - we cannot terror-proof our country.
For instance, we presently have 10-12 million people in this country with no documentation - we don't know who they are, where they are, their numbers are only estimates and we don't what some of their intentions may be - nor do we know how many illegal immigrants could possibly be Islamic terrorists.
It is virtually impossible to prevent a terrorist from committing a terror attack and still maintain even a semblance of personal freedom and privacy - let alone safety and security.
It seems apparent that when their own government (i.e. Pakistan Mosque takeover) can't use diplomacy and negotiate with these militants, the Americans who want to talk are idealistic and possibly even delusional.
Defeating this ideology of hatred and domination is not going to be easy but I think we are on the right track in taking the war to them - I doubt we are "creating" more terrorists, I'd sooner suspect that we are simply bringing them out of the woodwork.
I do, however, think the terrorists feed off the present division in this country and step up their terror in an effort to feed the anti-war movement and eventually win the war by default.
It must be very encouraging to them when our esteemed senate leader tells them that America has lost the war.

Answer 4

Our troops ARE brave and ready, but there was little Al Qaeda in Iraq until recently. Thinking we can go to "war" against little groups of terrorists (no matter how big a network they ultimately have) reminds me of how the British troops lost against the Americans during the Revolution--the British marched in formation, and the Americans were willing to resort to guerilla warfare.

The best way to protect America is to strengthen our intelligence network and to work more closely with other countries so that they'll help us go in wherever nests of terrorists exist and take them out--kind of like targeting the cancer instead of amputating the whole limb.

Answer 5

You can't use a conventional military force against terrorists/insurgents using guerrilla warfare (as shown by the US military not being able to stop the terrorists in Iraq for the last 6 years & counting) Israel learned has learned that the hard way after 40 plus years of fighting their war on terror. Good intelligence, Special forces & strong alliances with allies is the only way to defeat terrorism & it can be done "over there" and not "over here".

Answer 6

I completely agree! It is totally ridiculous that America has to do this basically on her own. Where is the rest of the world? I am so disgusted with countries like France. Where would they be if we hadn't taken care of Hitler? If the day comes that we leave Iraq to fend for itself who will be next?

Answer 7

America should've stayed on the defensive.
Do all the intelligence work and sniff the bad guys out.

If the Al-Qaeda tries to crash a plane into the country...
Try doing it with thousands of F-22s on their bottoms.

Answer 8

we should have went to fight in Afganistan.
Why isnt there a complete surge into Afganistan right now??
and pakistan

"we will seek out those repsonsible for 9/11 with every means possible and bring them to justice"

But little has been done compared to how much has been done against Saddam, then with Al Queda, who Bush is saying Al queda is a threat now......
but refuses to explore allmeans and actually go into pakistan for Bin Laden.

"we will hold those who harbor terrorists accountable"
semantics

Answer 9

Not really. Unless Bush could police the whole world, which obviously he can't, there will always be somewhere for people who dislike the US to safely plot against us.

Answer 10

Overt military action won't solve the problem of terrorism. Overt military action just worsens the problem because the terrorists use it as a recruiting mechanism.

The best way to defeat terrorism IS to fight them overseas, but COVERTLY. As in, sending in spies, infiltrating, destroy it from within. Use the CIA