Lt. Gen. Robert Gard on Bush's Terrorism Speech
This week, Lt. General Robert Gard, Senior Military Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, responded to President Bush’s speeches regarding the war on terror. General Gard said:
"The President's remarks reflect the Administration's apparently belated realization that the American people see the occupation of Iraq as a disastrous distraction that has made America less safe and diverted attention away from efforts to combat Al Qaeda and other terrorist networks. In addition, the Administration's refusal to negotiate with Iran is a signal that the President may be on the verge of making the same mistake in that country as he made in Iraq.
Ironically, the foreign policy of the Administration that pledged to make us safer after the tragedy of September 11 has resulted in an increase in the number of victims of terrorist attacks worldwide as well as the number of nuclear powers. With North Korea and Pakistan going nuclear on President Bush's watch, a new nuclear arms race has become more likely.
Platitudes are not planning. I urge the President to reconsider this disastrous foreign policy and seek a solution that is worthy of the trust of American troops and the American people."
1 comment:
AS A PERSIAN LINGUIST LIVING IN OTTAWA (CANADA), I CANNOT BUT SUBSCRIBE TO LT GEN. ROBERT GARD'S STANCE ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S BENIGHTED FOREIGN POLICY, ESPECIALLY THAT WHICH IS APPLIED TO THE MIDDLE EAST.
I DO NOT HAVE THE HONOR TO PERSONALLY KNOW LT.GEN ROBERT GARD BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEAP AT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAIL HIS OUTSPOKENNESS AND HIS LUCIDITY ABOUT IRAN.
IT IS VERY REGRETABLE THAT THE OPINIONS AND WISE WORDS OF FORMER MILITARY DISTINGUISHED OFFICIALS ARE NOT TRULY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY ADVISE ANYONE IN OFFICE WHO OUT OF SHEER IGNORANCE NOURISHES A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS IRAN TO EITHER TRAVEL TO IRAN OR READ ABOUT IRAN'S HISTORY AND THE IRANIANS' PSYCHOLOGY.
THE U.S. DOES HAVE AN INTEREST IN CREATING THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PEACEFULLY SOLVE AN ESTRANGEMENT THAT HAS LASTED NEARLY FOR 30 YEARS!
BEYOND PARTISAN INTERESTS AND PRESIDENTIAL RIVALRIES, THERE SHOULD BE AN AGREEMENT OVER THE NEED FOR REACHING A MINIMAL DEAL WITH THE IRANIANS THAT ALONE WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR OFFICIAL RELATIONS INSTEAD OF BLINDLY PURSUING IN THE PATH OF DEMONIZATION.
ALAS SIGNS ARE NOT DECEPTIVE AND THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT A MILITARY CONFRONTATION WILL OCCUR IN THE PERSIAN GULF AROUND NEXT SPRING (AFTER ALL, ISN'T THE IRANIAN NEW YEAR OR NOW RUZ THE BEST TIME FOR A PREEMPTIVE ATTACK?)
LAURENT CANDAT
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