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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 2, 2004 The bottom line: War on Terror is a loser By Charles Kehoe Ashland There are very few undecided voters. Yet we each know a few thoughtful Republicans or independents who have lingering doubts about both candidates. They center on the president's war on terror, the issue of our nation's safety in the years ahead. The bad news is this: the United States can neither win, nor afford, a war On terror. We must, however, take the lead in marshalling a worldwide effort against a very few mass murderers among the billions on our planet. That will require money, patience and diplomacy. There's no chance that this administration has the resources to take on this task. The president and his team have squandered the world's good will, extended universally after 9/11. They have committed hundreds of billions in the years ahead to a foolish, not to say immoral, military half-conquest of Iraq that has killed tens of thousands who were not terrorists to start with but may well be on their way. Our administration's cynicism toward the U.N. and anyone who dares question a clearly bankrupt strategy is well documented. But the will and the technology exists to make the world safer and someday defeat terrorists. Our satellite imagery, (virtually) infinite computer and communications capabilities and the planet's strongest military (ours, held in reserve) will enable us to isolate and destroy murderous no-nation thugs. We simply can't do it alone, or with the "coalition of the willing" alone. We must build a strong, international intelligence alliance that includes the developed and undeveloped world. Third world countries with fragile governments in Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas have as much to fear, and gain, as we do but this alliance will take patience and community will toward those nations who balk initially. Sanctions and the wary eye of the world will quickly bring any renegades into line since being wishy-washy on terrorism is indefensible and will not be tolerated. Renegade regimes will be isolated and crushed, most likely without a shot fired. This ambitious plan will require U.S. leadership and a new diplomacy. Nothing less will make us safe. The jingoism of our fighting "'em there instead of here" is more than wishful thinking. It's simplistic and dangerous. True conservatives understand the money issues involved. They are clearly appalled by the cost of our war on Iraq. They fear, with good reason, that the combination of unprecedented debt, the balance of payment crisis, the looming Social Security/Medicare insolvency, and our new national policy of preemptive war will bankrupt the nation in short order. So that even if it were possible for the United States to win a "war on terror," we will run out of money first. We already have. Thoughtful people have a clear choice. They can continue to support President Bush's war or they can vote for John Kerry. A new administration can begin rebuilding the diplomatic collapse of the last four years and lead a war on terror by the world, for the world, with the world paying for it. In such a war, bin Laden, and other fanatic mass murderers have no chance. Tell confused friends and bring them aboard. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams