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Jewish World Review March 15, 2005 / 4 Adar II, 5765 No better friend; no worse enemy By Jack Kelly
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
On Feb. 28th, a suicide bomber killed 125 Iraqi police recruits lined up
outside a clinic in Hilla waiting for eye exams. It was the single worst
act of terror directed against Iraqis since the conflict began.
The purpose of terrorism is to so frighten people that they won't do what
the terrorists don't want them to do. If acts of terror fail to accomplish
this result, they are a failure, regardless of how high the body count.
There was another line of volunteers for the Iraqi security forces the next
day, and for several days thousands of Iraqis in Hilla demonstrated against
the terrorists and demanded that sterner measures be taken against them.
Osama bin Laden recognizes terror against Iraqis has become
counterproductive. That was behind his message last month urging Abu Musab
al Zarqawi, the al Qaeda chieftain in Iraq, to focus on attacks within the
United States.
Though viewed with trepidation by the Chicken Littles in the news media,
this was an astonishing confession of weakness. Zarqawi has little
familiarity with this country, and the FBI is unlikely to let him set up
shop here. And if Osama has to pull his man in Iraq out to wage a struggle
in North America, al Qaeda's manpower problems must be intense.
Since I don't think bin Laden's cupboard is quite that bare, I suspect he
was telling Zarqawi diplomatically: "Cool it, dude. You're hurting the
cause. It's time to fold the tent and slink away."
Acts of terror continue, because there is nothing else the resistance can
do. It has negligible popular support, which diminishes with each new
atrocity. The "insurgents" can't take or hold territory. Getting into fire
fights with American soldiers — and, increasingly, with the Iraqi security
forces — is an express ticket to Allah. If all you have is a hammer, every
problem looks like a nail. But despite the occasional spectacular success
like Hilla, the attacks are diminishing in number and effectiveness. We
haven't arrived at the end, but it is in sight.
Historians will note the turning point in the war on terror was when 8.5
million Iraqis defied terrorist threats to vote, and the terrorists couldn't
make good on their threats. This gave Iraqis ownership of their country and
confidence in the Iraqi police and army, the most visible providers of
security for the election. And it broke the grip of fear the terrorists had
had upon many.
It was the Iraqi example that triggered the burgeoning Cedar Revolution in
Lebanon, and has emboldened freedom seekers in other Arab lands.
Totalitarian regimes rule by terror, and can collapse suddenly when people
lose their fear of their oppressors. That's why there is so much flop sweat
on the brow of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.
There would have been no elections in Iraq if President Bush hadn't ousted
Saddam Hussein, and the Cedar revolutionaries are counting on Bush's support
to get the Syrians out of their country.
It's remarkable how rapidly America's image has improved in the Muslim
world. Three years ago, Arab moderates were suspicious of America's
motives, and doubtful of America's constancy.
That's changed in part because Bush, like Ronald Reagan before him, has
called the tyrants by their right name, and assured the oppressed that
America stands with them. More important, he's proven in Iraq he means what
he says.
Still, most of the credit for the change in America's image belongs to our
servicemen and women. It was an article of faith for Osama and Saddam that
Americans were cowards. Drawing on the example of Mogadishu in 1993, they
assured their followers that if you kill a few Americans, they'll turn tail.
Now, as StrategyPage notes, the highest compliment that can be paid an Iraqi
soldier is to tell him he "fights like an American."
In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, support for bin
Laden has plummeted and support for the U.S. in the war on terror has
skyrocketed. More Indonesians (40 percent) now support the U.S. than oppose
us (36 percent). In 2003, 72 percent were opposed.
The chief reason for this startling turnaround was the prompt and effective
assistance from the U.S. military after the tsunami. Thanks to President
Bush and our troops, many more Muslims now see us as the Marines want to be
seen: No better friend; no worse enemy.
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© 2005, Jack Kelly | ||||||||||
