STRAW MEN & NONSENSE

Today's letter to The Oregonian:

Jonah Goldberg in "Maybe a Dem Should Win"
(2/19/07), says: "If you believe that the war on
terrorism is real, then you think it is inevitable
(emphasis mine) that more and bloodier
conflicts with radical Islam are on the way . . ."
He then says (falsely) that this view is only
held "by a comparative handful on the left."
Actually, no Democratic leader denies we are
in a global struggle with terrorism, or that it is
deadly serious. That's simply a straw man.

The "inevitable" part is also wrong. An
equitable and lasting settlement of the
Palestinian struggle for justice would end
much of the basis for terrorism in the
Middle East, as Muslim leaders have long
maintained. Further, a working relationship
with Iran (and the U. S.) could not only
help achieve stability in Iraq, but could help
us against al Qaeda and the Taliban. Iran
hates those two as much as we do.
Nothing is "inevitable" except the
consequences of stupidity. We reap what
we sow.

jgoodwin004@centurytel.net