RateItAll: The Opinion Network

What Eschew and tboneya seem to be forgetting is that these countries have been dealing with terrorism for decades and have learnt that to go and 'bomb' the hell out of these organisations doesn't work, as much as we would like it to. Britain suffered for years from the IRA bombs supplied by donations from good folks of the USA, who weren't aware of what their money was for. It is also true that the authorities were constrained against just going in there and sorting out the ringleaders/ much as we would have liked. For years, British Governments resolved to never give in but in the end we had to engage them (the perpetrators) in talks. When anyone's opinion (however skewed and dreadful) is ignored, they will do anything to demand attention. Hence the terrorist. I have often wondered why the police are constrained from removing Muslim terrorists that spill their vile hatred for the country they are in...until a policeman told me they are in a better position to watch their activities and form intelligence allegiancies they otherwise could not do if they were immediately deported. This may be why European countries often seek to negotiate and not make matters worse by blindly going in, guns blazing; especially into a place that has nothing to do with the terrorists purportedly behind such atrocities.(ie Iraq) We're trying to learn from our awful mistakes in the past and we know that this just creates more terrorists. We are well aware of the agenda of the Muslim fundamentalists which all of us, everywhere, needs to address. Maybe a balance of the two approaches can be reached?...that's what all countries of the world need to work out amongst themselves, not sit opposite each other and say 'our way is best'. Spilling out the hatred for other countries as given in some posts is a perfect example of why you are losing allies,; the initial point of the posting. UPDATE: If you want an unbiased and accurate account of what happened on both sides of the argument, and why we ended up divided, it is worth reading the American book: Allies At War (over Iraq) by writers Gordon and Shapiro.

I could swear we tried that and the allies decided kickbacks were better.

Is the threat of violence perpetrated by islamofascists a common problem of our allies? Well then where the hell are they? You can't work with someone when you only talk to his back as he is fleeing for his life in fear. Germany, France, Spain, Russia (well, not anymore). Where the hell were they when we took the lead? Oh, they didn't see terrorism as an immediate problem. I see, my mistake. It's obviously uniquely an American problem. Oh, they thought you could fight these barbarians with more sensitivity. Right. That would make the battle more brief and less violent. Maybe John Kerry can enlist them all to arms with his Vietnam medals. The US certainly seems to rally behind him in unison. Keep looking for your real leader. UPDATE: TBone: go to a neutral corner, let me give him the standing eight count. Daccory, you seem to believe that these terrorists want attention. This is jihad. They've killed 3,000 innocent US citizens in a vicious, unprovoked attack. They got our attention. Clinton showed us how to receive more and progressively more deadly attacks from these people: do nothing, don't respond. The only thing he didn't do out of your playbook is meekly ask if we can talk. Bush is taking the war to them, and I have noticed (maybe you have, too) a marked decline in their attacks on the US mainland. I know it goes against the more experienced Brit response to the IRA but if you wind up with another problem like you did with Hitler, some years back, I know who you're gonna call to solve that problem. We've made that call.

Ah, the lost art of diplomacy.

Agreed, but I feel the Bush administration has been doing this quite effectively since 9/11. For that matter, we have consistently defended our allies since Pearl Harbor.

Sure. Who are our allies? France and Germany turned their backs on us. What the hell is he suppost to do? Bush did his damnest to get support. I don't care what John Fairy says.

America is the leader of the free WORLD. If we continue to ignore and alienate our allies, we won't be the leader for very much longer.

The key word being with. I agree. That would be an improvement over dictating to them.. which is what we've been doing.