"They hate our policies, not our freedom"

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-11-30 03:41pm

'They hate our policies, not our freedom'
Quietly released Pentagon report contains major criticisms of administration.
by Tom Regan | csmonitor.com

Late on the Wednesday afternoon before the Thanksgiving holiday, the US Defense Department released a report by the Defense Science Board that is highly critical of the administration's efforts in the war on terror and in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'Muslims do not hate our freedom, but rather they hate our policies [the report says]. The overwhelming majority voice their objections to what they see as one-sided support in favor of Israel and against Palestinian rights, and the long-standing, even increasing, support for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and the Gulf states. Thus, when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy.'

The Pentagon released the study after The New York Times ran a story about the report in its Wednesday editions.

The Defense Science Board, reports Disinfopedia, is "a Federal advisory committee established to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Defense."

'The current Board is authorized to consist of thirty-two members plus seven ex officio members': the chairmen of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Policy, Ballistic Missile Defense Advisory Committee, and Defense Intelligence Agency Science and Technology Advisory Committee. 'Members, whose appointed terms range from one to four years, are selected on the basis of their preeminence in the fields of science, technology and its application to military operations, research, engineering, manufacturing and acquisition process.'

China's Xinhuanet reported that the board's report criticized the US for failing in its efforts to communicate its military and diplomatic actions to the world, and the Muslim world in particular, "but no public relations campaign can save America from flawed policies." The report also takes the administration to task for talking about Islamic extremism in a way that offends many Muslims.

In stark contrast to the cold war, the United States today is not seeking to contain a threatening state empire, but rather seeking to convert a broad movement within Islamic civilization to accept the value structure of Western Modernity – an agenda hidden within the official rubric of a 'War on Terrorism,' [the report states].

MSNBC notes that the report, in a comment that directly goes against statements made by President Bush and senior cabinet members, says the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have united otherwise-divided Muslim extremists and given terrorists organizations like Al Qaeda a boost by "raising their stature."

In fact, Wired News reported the board as saying, the US has not only failed to separate "the vast majority of nonviolent Muslims from the radical-militant Islamist-Jihadists," but American efforts may have "achieved the opposite of what they intended."

Al Jazeera reported Thursday that the board called for the creation of a strategic communication's "apparatus" within the executive branch and "an overhaul of public diplomacy, public affairs and information dissemination efforts by the Pentagon and State Department."

If we really want to see the Muslim world as a whole [the report states], and the Arabic-speaking world in particular, move more toward our understanding of moderation and tolerance, we must reassure Muslims that this does not mean that they must submit to the American way.

As columnist Thomas Freidman of The New York Times wrote Monday in an opinion piece, the lack of planning and a 'clear channel of communication to the Muslim world' means that the US is losing the PR war to people that "saw off the heads of other Muslims."

Wars are fought for political ends. Soldiers can only do so much. And the last mile in every war is about claiming the political fruits. The bad guys in Iraq can lose every mile on every road, but if they beat America on the last mile – because they are able to intimidate better than America is able to coordinate, protect, inform, invest and motivate – they will win and America will lose.

The New York Times reported last Wednesday that although the board's report does not constitute official government policy, it captures "the essential themes of a debate that is now roiling not just the Defense Department but the entire United States government."

Ignore the Defense Department. They are commie Klintoon holdovers that have an agenda against our god-chosen leader. /freeper

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-11-30 03:59pm

Finally, a port of tranquility in a sea of chaos...

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-11-30 04:02pm

So who wants to lay bets on a Pentagon purge?

Because the fact that this report is right on money won't save it from the Bush Team.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-11-30 04:09pm

After all, the best way to deal with a problem is to get rid of everyone who thinks that a problem exists.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-11-30 07:03pm

Yeah, first thing I thought was "wow, whoever directly contradicted a particular piece of Bush rhetoric in a government report has brass balls."

Then my second thought was, "whoever has those brass balls is going to be on the street very soon."

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2004-11-30 07:04pm

Hooray for the Pentegon!

Dark Primus · Post by **Dark Primus** » 2004-11-30 07:19pm

They took their sweet time realizing it. Or they might have realized it but has refused to accept it/deal with it?

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2004-11-30 07:22pm

Or just couldn't actually state it publicly for any one of a number of reasons.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-11-30 07:27pm

Anyone think that if we really did change our policies that would satisfy the extremists? I for one don't, until the US become the Unites Islamic States of America they'll find new justification.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-11-30 07:36pm

Stormbringer wrote:Anyone think that if we really did change our policies that would satisfy the extremists? I for one don't, until the US become the Unites Islamic States of America they'll find new justification.

I love this wonderfully basic black-white view. First of all, this has nothing to do with the fact that Bush's rhetoric is bullshit for dipshits.

Secondly, its abundantly obvious that U.S. policies create resentment that makes the Arab street a more fertile recruitment ground for radical Islam. This is hardly the subject of debate: their leaders have repetatively cited specific incidents as a result of our policy, and the War in Iraq has quite obviously created a new set of homegrown armed radicalism which previously did not exist. To suggest that this group does not exist as a direct result of U.S. policy is utterly delusional.

One could be forgiven from believing that all that exists is al-Queda and the U.S.A., and that al-Queda was born that was if all they were familiar with was your shitty belief system.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-11-30 10:42pm

Stormbringer wrote:Anyone think that if we really did change our policies that would satisfy the extremists? I for one don't, until the US become the Unites Islamic States of America they'll find new justification.

I don't. However, who gives a fuck about the extremists? I care more about the possible millions who think that sawing off heads are sick fucks, but think America is an asshole.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-12-01 02:01am

Was this *not* obvious from the very beginning? Do people really think that your average Arab is a mustache-twirling villian who wakes up one morning and decides to join the local imam in a jihad against America because he hates freedom of the press?

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-12-01 02:16am

HemlockGrey wrote:Was this *not* obvious from the very beginning? Do people really think that your average Arab is a mustache-twirling villian who wakes up one morning and decides to join the local imam in a jihad against America because he hates freedom of the press?

Yeah! God damn Americans! Being able to say what they want in their own country and not affecting me in the slightest! I, Average Arab, and going down to the local imam and joining in a jihad against America! After I trim my mustache!

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-12-01 04:55am

"Damn, those Americans are so fucking free. I hate freedom. I think I'll blow myself up and take some innocnet children with me."

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-12-01 05:10am

Stormbringer wrote:Anyone think that if we really did change our policies that would satisfy the extremists? I for one don't, until the US become the Unites Islamic States of America they'll find new justification.

No more than the fundamentalist Christians in the US won't rest until the entire middle east is pacified and converted to Protestantism. Luckily, their Muslim counterparts would more likely be dismissed as crackpots in their own country too...