Sorry, I realize this is not my discussion but I think a long while back I mentioned that this "War On Terror" really was all about semantics. David has introduced semantics into our discussion again and I'm enjoying the reading but then the F-word came up...and it was used in the worst possible way...which is of course as an excuse.
I just want to say that in the sense that the word is being used in this instance rapes it of all meaning.
Bushco did not make any of it's decisions based on preserving our FREEDOM. In fact while it sounds nice in a speech freedom doesn't some into play in this WAR at all. We didn't set out to FREE the Iraqi's from Saddam...Osama & Co didn't crash planes into buildings because they wanted to impinge on our freedoms...it was revenge...to teach us a lesson for what they believe to be pretty much (and Bush I think would like this reference) the rape and sodomy of their people through our support of Israel and policy in the Middle East. Now for the most part we don't look at the big picture from that aspect here because it would probably be frowned upon to actually try to understand the motives of Osama and Co. It's easier just to say they are bad...like Saddam was bad. What do you do with bad people...make them go away.
Anyway, back to FREEDOM...it's an interesting concept to say "Bush is preserving freedom" but it's very vague and really just a bumper sticker. The Bush administration preserves freedom how?
They did not preserve our freedoms by attacking Iraq...and by all accounts there are more terrorists now in Iraq than there ever were before...as they coordinate attacks on our troops. Hmm...I think you may as well say Bush is preserving love. Makes about as much sense but it sounds funnier.
The thing is America is not a country that can have it's freedoms lost through the acts of terrorists or other countries...our freedoms can only be eroded from the inside. And really...the freedom that seems to be thrown around in discussions these days is all about money. Believe me there is far too great an investment in this sort of freedom in America (and in our relationship with the world) for us to lose any of it to a terrorist act.
So, it's a nice slogan but overall just untrue.
