WISHFUL THINKING -- ( July 6, 2005 - Anderson Valley Advertiser)
One of Bush's most repeated justifications for going to war with Iraq is that we're attracting terrorists to Iraq and that if we didn't do this, then they would be here in America trying to attack us. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently repeated this refrain by saying, "the reality is we're an awful lot better off fighting against the extremists and the terrorists in other parts of the world than having to do it here at home". Another war supporter, in a recent letter to the SF Chronicle, trumpeted this argument, "America must finish the task at hand in Iraq. Better to fight the terrorists over there than to retreat and allow them to come fight us on our own streets."
I believe these arguments resonate with a large number of Americans, albeit probably fewer now since our casualties keep mounting. Some people will rationalize that since we haven't been attacked since 9-11, then the arguments are valid. Surprisingly, I have yet to hear a rebuttal to these arguments. So, let me try one.
The argument that if we don't attack the terrorists in Iraq, then they will come here to attack us is a fallacy. First of all, no evidence is ever provided for this claim. Secondly, it is based on two questionable assumptions: (1) that there is a limited number of terrorists which will be reduced to nil if we continue actions in Iraq, and (2) that the terrorists are too dumb or lack the resources to flank the Iraq action and attack directly here. But, to believe this is simply to engage in wishful thinking.
Increasingly many Muslims are believing that there is a war on them, thus greatly increasing the number of terrorists. The terrorists are rallying more people to their cause with the easy incitement of the bald truth, namely our occupation of a country that never attacked us.
There is a great deal of truth to the notion that if you repeat a falsehood continuously and ignore those who would expose the lies, eventually most people will confuse it with a fact. We have repeatedly heard black and white arguments from Bush and his supporters. Apparently, many Americans are susceptible to believing them. I am not one of them.
Steve Rubin
Willits, CA.