The Terrorists-Follow-Us-Home Myth

[babylonsister]

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/031907b.html

The Terrorists-Follow-Us-Home Myth

Editor's Note: It's common wisdom that George W. Bush and his neoconservative advisers used false pre-war intelligence to stampede the American people into supporting the Iraq invasion four years ago. But it's less understood that the exaggerations and deceptions have continued to the present.

In this guest essay, the Independent Institute's Ivan Eland assesses one of Bush's favorite current myths -- how a military withdrawal from Iraq would mean that the terrorists would follow us home:


By Ivan Eland
March 20, 2007

The Bush administration, desperate for justifications to buy a little more time with the American people for its failed adventure in Iraq, markets the idea that if the United States rapidly withdraws from Iraq, the “terrorists will follow us home.”

A closer examination of this assertion—like the rest of the administration’s fear mongering—demonstrates it is baseless.

U.S. State Department statistics show that historically, North America has had the lowest incidence of terrorism worldwide. The American public’s shocked reaction to the catastrophic 9/11 attacks was due, in part, to the infrequency of past terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

After the unique events of 9/11, terrorism in North America has resumed its historical modest trajectory.

North America has been a relative safe haven from terrorism for several reasons. The United States is far away from the world’s centers of conflict. Although the United States is roundly hated in the world because of its unneeded meddling in faraway conflicts, most anti–U.S. terrorism is perpetrated on U.S. embassies and military facilities overseas—not on the American homeland.

Terrorists, like conventional armies, have trouble operating in the United States because it is so far from their normal bases of operations. In addition, the United States does not have many militant foreign populations that could provide sanctuary and support for imported terrorists of the same ilk.

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[Eurobabe]

1. Another one of those annoying CON memes

Have heard it alot lately. Fight them over there so we don't fight them here, blah-blah. Even Repukes on committees have been interjecting this pathetic idea into hearings.

[babylonsister]

2. It's all they've got, and how do you prove something that hasn't

happened yet?

[CGowen]

3. What about attacking Iraq, because they would use their non existing WMD's? n/t

[Hieronymus]

4. Zbigniew Brzezinski, being interviewed by Jon Stewart, ..

said the administration must think they'll swim the Atlantic Ocean. :freak:

[oscarmitre]

5. Come on

Think of all those dhows loaded with explosives just waiting to get through the Panama Canal for a sneak attack on San Pedro. :sarcasm:

[CJCRANE]

6. And 9/11 only happened

because it was allowed to happen (and possibly actively facilitated).