Cross-posted to Tondee's Tavern.
Reading Mike Luckovich today on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution blog, I came across a very interesting comment. I find it a microcosm of the warped attitudes of rightists here in Georgia.
AL-QAEDA leaders in Iraq are planning the first "large-scale" terrorist attacks on Britain and other western targets with the help of supporters in Iran, according to a leaked intelligence report.
Let's hear a realistic PLAN from the Democrats as to how we should deal with this threat. Now's the chance for the intellectual wizards on the Left to show us what you've got! I'll check back later for your brilliant solutions. Note: Sending Pelosi over to sip tea with Ahmadinijead is not a plan.
Most of the subsequent banter is name-calling and accusations, as is typical for the AJC blogs, but I find this immediate response to the cited article/accusation to be telling. It seems the author--and others like him who support this demand in subsequent comments--is willing to simply assume that accusations of threats are accurate--despite plenty of evidence that many are not authentic--and immediately demand that others create "a realistic PLAN" to respond without first determining the nature of the threat.
The demand for "a PLAN" is based on the meme that Democrats don't have a plan, which is of course simplistic and inaccurate. Clearly our country faces the threat of Islamists who wish to do us harm, but after 4 years of a failed operation in Iraq wouldn't it be wise to be just a wee bit more discerning this time around? I'd say the words of the British, who recently recognized that the phrase "war on terror" may do damage by uniting disparate groups under a common identity, should be given some consideration. We should also consider that--maybe, just maybe--our militant approach is giving us a bad name in the Middle East due to its very nature, and that bad name may fuel resentment that will be left behind no matter what year we choose to disengage.
Though the "Surge" is still underway, results are suspect--and long term, a new strategy is needed. How do we get past the reactionary response to each terror threat, and get to a place where we can act as a nation not still terrified of Osama Bin Laden?