Zbigniew Brzezinski calls War on Terror a narrow and extremist vision

[Douglas Carpenter]

The ultimate cold warrior himself, Zbigniew Brzezinski, the National Security Advisor under President Carter takes a contrary view regarding the war on terror and has no truck with those calling for a new war against Islamist fundamentalism.

link:

http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2003/10/brzezinski-z-10-31.html

snip: "This phrase in a way is part of what might be considered to be the central defining focus that our policy-makers embrace in determining the American position in the world and is summed up by the words "war on terrorism." War on terrorism defines the central preoccupation of the United States in the world today, and it does reflect in my view a rather narrow and extremist vision of foreign policy of the world's first superpower, of a great democracy, with genuinely idealistic traditions.

snip:" That failure was contributed to and was compensated for by extremist demagogy which emphasizes the worst case scenarios which stimulates fear, which induces a very simple dichotomic view of world reality. "

snip:" what is the definition of success? More killing, more repression, more effective counter-insurgency, the introduction of newer devices of technological type to crush the resistance or whatever one wishes to call it -- the terrorism?"

snip:"And if we take preemptory action we will reinforce the worst tendencies in the theocratic fundamentalist regime, not to speak about the widening of the zone of conflict in the Middle East."

snip:" Palestinian terrorism has to be rejected and condemned, yes. But it should not be translated defacto into a policy of support for a really increasingly brutal repression, colonial settlements and a new wall. Soon the reality of the settlements which are colonial fortifications on the hill with swimming pools next to favelas below where there's no drinking water and where the population is 50% unemployed, there will be no opportunity for a two-state solution with a wall that cuts up the West Bank even more and creates more human suffering. "

read full speech - link:

http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2003/10/brzezinski-z-10-31.html
_______________

and while on the subject of Mr. Brzezinski here are his thoughts regarding Iran:

link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-brzezinski23apr23,0,3700317.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

snip:"likely Iranian reactions would significantly compound ongoing U.S. difficulties in Iraq and Afghanistan, perhaps precipitate new violence by Hezbollah in Lebanon and possibly elsewhere, and in all probability bog down the United States in regional violence for a decade or more. Iran is a country of about 70 million people, and a conflict with it would make the misadventure in Iraq look trivial.

Finally, the United States, in the wake of the attack, would become an even more likely target of terrorism while reinforcing global suspicions that U.S. support for Israel is in itself a major cause of the rise of Islamic terrorism. The United States would become more isolated and thus more vulnerable while prospects for an eventual regional accommodation between Israel and its neighbors would be ever more remote."

read full article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-brzezinski23apr23,0,3700317.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions



http://www.dontattackiran.org

[rodeodance]

1. thanks, Yes, the War on Terror gudes most of the gov. does (and does

not do--or is not allowed to do due to lack of funds).

[teryang]

2. Franks: GI deaths is the cost of security

Nice psywar headline complete with bad grammar for the bonehead target audience.

Franks once again equates war in Iraq with the war on terrorism, the Big Lie repeated ad nauseum.

Here it is:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060521/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/franks_iraq

AP story by Colin Fly.

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. interesting article -- I just saw this poll from Harris

link:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-29-2005/0004240417&EDATE

"-- Forty-one percent (41%) of U.S. adults believe that Saddam Hussein had
"strong links to Al Qaeda."
-- Twenty-two percent (22%) of adults believe that Saddam Hussein "helped
plan and support the hijackers who attacked the United States on
September 11."
-- Twenty-six percent (26%) of adults believe that Iraq "had weapons of
mass destruction when the U.S. invaded."
-- Twenty-four percent (24%) of all adults believe that "several of the
hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11 were Iraqis."

However, all of these beliefs and others have declined sharply since the
questions were asked in February 2005. For example:
-- Those who think Saddam Hussein had strong links to Al Qaeda have fallen
from 64 to 41 percent.
-- Those who believe that Iraq was a serious threat to U.S. security are
down from 61 to 48 percent.
-- Those who think Saddam Hussein helped plan 9/11 are down from 47 to
22 percent.
-- Those who think Iraq had weapons of mass destruction are down from
36 to 26 percent.
-- Those who think Iraqi hijackers attacked the United States on 9/11 have
fallen from 44 to 24 percent.

Although public support for the war in Iraq has been waning, a 56 percent
majority of all adults believe that "the Iraqis are better off now than they
were under Saddam Hussein." However, this has also fallen from 76 percent
since February."

[teryang]

4. 56 percent believe the Iraqis are better off?????

The ignorance is unbelievable.

Thanks for your post. The numbers are very revealing.

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. I wonder what their news sources are?

I bet that would be very revealing too.

[formercia]

12. Propaganda is what propaganda does.

create a population of syncophants. If it is repeated often enough, the 'truth' sinks in.

Catapault the propaganda.

perception is reality.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. one more recommendation? anyone?

[Mr Rabble]

7. Thanks for nothing Zbig. Grand Chessboard my a&*!

[Douglas Carpenter]

10. Uncle Zbigniew would not be one of my favorite folks either

He's only a slightly more endearing allie than Pat Buchanan.

Nonetheless to stop America from sliding into and perhaps driving the world into catastrophe - we can use all the allies we can find. We have to remember that there are powerful forces even within the Democratic Party who are trying to push this insanity. If they succeed in duping America into a waging all-out war against Muslims and Arabs; America, The Middle East and perhaps the whole world could be plunged into darkness.

I will take any allie who will oppose this madness no matter where they are coming from.

[Mr Rabble]

11. I suppose so. I just cant help but to consider him complicit...

in all this madness.

I dont see him loudly proclaiming, "I was wrong!" and for that I consider him to be a dubious resource.

This is less helpful than Francis Fukuyama's mea culpa.

At this point anything to stop the madness would be helpful, I agree.

However, the enemy of my enemy is not my friend.

[happydreams]

8. Terror should not be fought with a "war" but with an

investigation. But then it isn't a declared war anyway. :crazy:

[Vincardog]

9. If it isn't a declared war anyway where does aWoL's unlimited power come

from? I know it is a bastard theory anyway but if he is not the WAR TIME oRESIDENT where the FK do they think he gets his authority to shit on the Bill of Rights?

[grytpype]

13. article is from october 2003

[Boo Boo]

14. This speech is from '03, and one interesting thing that has changed is

that back then he was saying "failure is not an option," and now he thinks we should announce a date and start preparing to withdraw.

[ConsAreLiars]

15. Brzezinski thought inflaming and arming fundamentalist fanatics was wise

From http://www.counterpunch.org/brzezinski.html

Brzezinski: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter: We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire.

Q: And neither do you regret having supported the Islamic , having given arms and advice to future terrorists?

Brzezinski: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war?

Q: Some stirred-up Moslems? But it has been said and repeated: Islamic fundamentalism represents a world menace today.

Brzezinski: Nonsense! It is said that the West had a global policy in regard to Islam. That is stupid. There isn't a global Islam. Look at Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers. But what is there in common among Saudi Arabian fundamentalism, moderate Morocco, Pakistan militarism, Egyptian pro-Western or Central Asian secularism? Nothing more than what unites the Christian countries.