Thursday, August 10, 2006

Terror Plot

A quick prayer of thanks to the Lord that the individuals who were planning to blow up dozens of planes were stopped. Sometimes the Lord lets such people through, but apparently not this time.

What we need to ask ourselves seriously is whether this plot would exist if we had not invaded Iraq. And Israel must also ask whether the way it has approached Lebanon will have the same effect. And if the answer is yes to either of these questions, then we must admit that we are not able to defeat the forces of darkness strictly by military might. We have to win hearts and minds too to keep the squashing of one enemy from raising up 10 others. And neither the US nor Israel seems very good at that about now.
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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ken
I think you fail to understand that the Islamic Facists have declared war on the US, Israel and our allies. Did we deserve 9-11, I am sure in their eyes we did. Did we deserve the bombing of the Marine barracks in 1983, 1st World Trade Center bombing in 93 and all other terrorist attacks? In their minds we did. They are at war with us, instead of armies, ships, airforces and conventional battlefields, this enemey uses terror focused on innocent people.

These religious wackos are at war with American values, culture and way of life. Their strategy for cleansing the world of evil is not to convert us by evangelistic means, they seek to destroy us, wipe us out and establish the reign of Allah throughout the world.

Can we do something to stop this war and inspire love and goodwill from these servants of Allah. Maybe, we might try bowing down to Allah, institute Islamic law throughout the land, forsake our way of living and allow them to destroy Israel. That might appease them and convince them to live in peace with us. These extremist are on a crusade or jihad, they are at war with the "Great Satan". They were attacking us before Iraq, and yes the escalation of the war was stepped up when we started to fight back and defend ourselves after 9-11.

I am interested in knowing your thoughts on how to turn this around. How do you suggest we stop this war these religious facists are waging against us? I think just asking the simple question, what did we do to provoke them to attack us again assumes we are responsible for their behavior and they must somehow be victims of something we are doing.

8:44 AM
Ken Schenck said...

I am not against our actions in Afghanistan or against Israel going after Hezbollah. Under different circumstances I would not have opposed invading Iraq. I know you would agree with me that is not an all or nothing proposal--pacificism and acquiescence on the one side and total annihilation without regard for humanity on the other. The problem we are discussing is not all or nothing; it is the mix in the middle.

My beef is the way we have gone about things, alienating everyone in the process. I don't believe this was necessary. Sure, many are going to be alienated; it can't be helped. But it's another thing not to even try to take care.

The only difference between you and me on Israel is that I am not convinced, as you are, that Israel has actually shown much concern for innocent life or for the Lebanese in distinction from Hezbollah. An honorable soldier gives his or her life not only for their own, but for the innocents caught in the cross fire. I am willing to be shown otherwise, but I do not see this attitude in the Israelis. And I do not believe it is the approach that many military leaders took in Iraq. It is at least Christian to believe it is more honorable to give your life for someone else than to shoot just in case the other person is guilty.

What do I advise? It will take a generation for us to be respected in the world again as a moral and honorable force. We have no moral credibility. The Cubans are half afraid we will invade them just because Castro is sick. That's the image we have projected on the world. My advice is just to start talking and really try not to bomb so many people. Just start. And maybe in forty years someone else in the world will think Christianity is a religion of knowledge and grace.

9:35 AM
Anonymous said...

Ken

I agree with much of what you say in principle and I do think the invasion of Iraq was unnecessary and unwise. But, the Islamic facist declared war on us many years ago when we were projecting a kinder and more gentle image in the world. Even in the days when Clinton was in office and his reponse to Islamic terrorists attacks was to do little except issue arrest warrants, the attacks did not stop and eventually lead to 9-11, before Bush went on his rampage.

Talking may help, but I doubt it. How many agreements have these Islamic radicals broken in the past? We have tried your way since the days of Jimmy Carter and yet there is still no peace.

10:08 AM
Ken Schenck said...

Yes, I really don't think we disagree as much as it might sound. By talking I don't mean talking to the terrorists--if we can take them out without nasty side effects by all means let's take them out. I'm talking about waging a PR war with those who surround the terrorists. These extremists have mastered the Al Jazeera angle and we (and Israel) just sit by and do nothing. There's lots of talk about insurgent warfare being a new kind of war but this is one part of the equation we haven't got yet--winning over those who aid and abet the enemy.

My way is not Carter's. It is a slightly more aggressive Clinton's. It is what I think Clinton would have become post 9-11. I never voted for him, but oh how I wish he had been in office in 2003! I think America would be in the best standing with the world than at any point in recent history if he had been president then. Al-Qaeda would have been pursued by all and its power would have been diminished in the Arab world while moderates would have gained power. He would have built on the capital we gained after 9-11 rather than waste it on a side war in Iraq.

11:04 AM
Ken Schenck said...

James, several of your comments are exactly what I have been trying to say, and I just can't see how anyone could objectively disagree with them:

"The activites of the USA, UK and Israel over the last few years have been like throwing petrol on a small fire."

and

Our actions have "rallied many moderates to the ranks of the suicide bombers."

and

"Our actions often push moderate muslims into the arms of these extremists."

And by "our actions" I do not mean going after terrorists but the way we have done it with almost complete disregard for those who are standing next to them.

12:17 PM
::athada:: said...

And let's please not keep coupling 9/11 with Iraq. That is the subliminal message that our government is sending to keep the PR good (see Arundhati Roy's "An Ordinary Person's Guide To Empire" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0896087271/103-1740374-7586268?v=glance&n=283155)

The problem with a war on terror is that you can use it to justify any action, almost unended. It is the war that is never over. That's a dangerous concept.

One simple way to win the war on terr: stop being terrified (think about it).

3:24 PM
Anonymous said...

Ken
Your ideas about Clinton are all speculation. He probably would not have done much judging from his previous actions. I think you have been watching to much CNN.

8:51 PM
Ken Schenck said...

I have MSNBC on right now ;-)

9:00 PM
Mike Cline said...

Ken and James,

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this interesting article.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1838437,00.html

Israeli trained soldiers (some of the strongest, best in the world) are even questioning the tactics and might of retaliation.

9:27 PM
Ken Schenck said...

Mike, I found it encouraging if it's true, because it restores my faith in individual Israeli soldiers. So where is the bad information coming from, if this is true?

Whatever the truth, "bogged down" seems to be a good description of where the Israelis are right now... and in fact it's a good description of where we are in Iraq too. I take these as lessons on how not to conduct war.

10:10 PM
Pastor Rod said...

Ken,

When I was reading N. T. Wright talking about how God used the Law to "draw out" and "concentrate" sin, I couldn't help but think of some of the criticism of the Iraq war, that it made things worse and generated even more terrorism.

God used the Law to "make things worse" before sending his Anointed One to fix the problem once for all.

Theoretically, the war in Iraq could have been a wise move, if we only had a decisive way to deal with the terrorists.

A further parallel can be seen, I think. Jesus defeated sin by using an entirely unexpected strategy. He defeated the power of sin through apparent weakenss. It seem that our only hope of dealing with terrorism is to use an apparently foolish strategy, one that doesn't play right into the hands of the terrorists.

Just a few thougths,

Rod

P.S. I'm teaching NT Survey for the first time since IWU adopted your book as the text. Excellent book!

1:43 PM
Ken Schenck said...

And many will be happy to know that it doesn't discuss contemporary politics and it mostly raises the questions rather than telling the answers!

1:45 PM

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