Some surprising words of wisdom from Pat Buchanan: But Who Was Right – Rudy or Ron?

Rudy Gullianis response to Ron Pauls statements, during their debate, about why Bin Laden is fighting the US was seen in the media as a “strong point” for Rudy. He was seen to take command and stand strong for his country.

Unfortunately, the truth is his actions show a very harmful weakness. For the past century it seems to be assumed that the American public is not able to understand reasoning longer than a few words, especially when it comes to war. You don’t hear anything in the media about WHY Bin Laden wants to fight the US. You didn’t hear about WHY Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The answer is always “they are evil and dislike our freedoms.”

I think this behaviour has it’s roots in propaganda: the more you understand your enemy the more chance you might have some kind of empathy for them. I don’t think that’s true. Most people don’t know that the real underlying reason for the Japanese attacking Pearl Harbor at that moment was because they were effectively under a naval blockade by the US and would soon lose most access to resources. Knowing that fact doesn’t lessen the effect of, or response to, the attack. Facts are facts.

Similarly, it doesn’t lessen the need to stop Bin Laden to know his motivation. It also doesn’t change things to admit he has some valid points. The US, and West in general, treat the Middle East very poorly, take advantage of them, and kills a lot of their people. Admitting that doesn’t excuse the murder of 3,000 Americans or remove the need to bring Bin Laden to “justice”.

But, that revelation allows you to be introspective and perhaps make some adjustments, so that even more Bin Ladens don’t appear. By stubbornly holding the position of “we’re infallible, they are evil and want to kill us because we’re so good” the US is doing more things that will produce more Bin Ladens.

I just hope the American public stops falling for this tired, and very dangerous, line of logic fed from the Republicans.