[IWE] Gary Shandling - Strategic Thinker.
D. Scott Katzer
iwe@warhead.org.uk
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:56:38 -0400
I didn't see him on Maher, but a reader gives his impression on
Sullivan's blog:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/is-bin-ladens-s.html
"Last night on Bill Maher, the comedian Gary Shandling, of all people,
synthesized the connection between our current economic crisis and 9/11
and the Iraq War in a way I have not heard:
On 9/11, Al Qaeda had no expectation of a traditional military victory
against the United States. The point of the attack was economic -- to
draw the U.S. into expensive and protracted foreign wars that would
deplete our resources and destabilize our government. By invading Iraq,
George Bush became the happy idiot to assist Al Qaeda in this goal. Now,
Sarah Palin and John McCain take the leaders of Al Qaeda at their word
when they say Iraq is the major front in the war on terror.
[...]"
That's certainly a possibility that people should be considering.
I personally don't think that bin Laden thought we would attack him in
Afghanistan in a serious way. I'm sure he suspected cruise missiles and
the like, but didn't expect an invasion. But, he and they were quick to
adjust to the changing circumstances.
There's no doubt that being tied down in Iraq is weakening us
strategically. McCain's and Palin's talk of "victory" shows that they
haven't, or can't, think about the big picture in anything other than
mid-20th Century terms.
Cheers,
Scott.