This sheet fails to mention "justice", "decency", "restraint", and "wisdom" as weapons against terrorism.

How different would the ME be if the USA did not topple an Iranian democracy in 1953 to install a dictator? If the USA did not arm Osama and other Muslim fanatics to destabilize Afghanistan? If the USA did not support Saddam? If the USA were not exposed for arming both the Iranians and the Iraqis to fight each other? If we fought terrorism with police action instead of the blunt instrument of war, that turns cities into rubble, and makes "terrorists" of the deads' kin?

(The leaders of Iran today are the people who grew up under US occupation via the Shah. What do right-wing Americans expect?)

In its competition with the USSR, the USA chose to violate the rights and ruin the futures of many in the "Third World". The CIA expected blowback. Expectations have now been met.

Who has the wisdom and strength to break the cycle of violence? If we don't list it on our "tip sheets", don't talk about it, and don't plan for it, it won't happen. ("Fail to plan = plan to fail.") People need to be reminded every day why we're in our current situation. "Justice", "decency", "restraint" and "wisdom" belong on that cheat sheet.

Posted by: wunsacon | Dec 7, 2007 11:01:00 PM