By Ryan Jones
Nov 13, 2005
For the third time in recent weeks, US President George W. Bush Friday pointed to defense of Israel as a major reason behind American's ongoing global war against Islamic terrorism.
?With the greater economic and military and political power they seek, the terrorists would be able to advance their stated agenda -- to develop weapons of mass destruction, to destroy Israel, to intimidate Europe, to assault the American people and to blackmail our government into isolation.?
So said Bush in a Veteran's Day address, repeating the exact words used in two previous speeches explaining is determination not to prematurely withdraw from Iraq and relinquish his quest to smash the forces of Islamic terror.
Bush noted that while these goals may seem far fetched, ?fanatical and extreme...they should not be dismissed.?
?Our enemy is utterly committed,? the president warned.
While Bush correctly and unashamedly identified the enemy as adherents of Islam, he also attempted to paint that religion as a faith of peace and tolerance which a scattered few killers are twisting and exploiting.
?These extremists distort the idea of jihad into a call for terrorist murder against Christians and Hindus and Jews and against Muslims themselves who do not share their radical vision.?
In holding to this position, the president is ignoring that fact that polls and demonstrations throughout the Middle East regularly show widespread ? frequently majority ? public support for terrorism against the West, and in particular against Israel.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City and Washington DC, for example, Arab Muslims across this region burst forth in joyous celebration. From Cairo to Damascus to Ramallah, candies were passed out to mark Osama bin Laden's successful strike at the heart of America.