When the attacks against New York and Washington D.C. occurred on September 11, 2001 many Americans believed we needed to fight back against terrorism. While some initial progress was made in Afghanistan, the mission was overwhelmed by the administration's interest in attacking Iraq, whether or not Iraq had any role in the 9/11 attacks.
So nearly three years later Osama bin Laden remains uncaptured and with the Administration more interested in Iraq and devoting 10 times the number of troops to Iraq the war on terrorism appears forgotten. While the administration likes to pretend that Iraq was involved, the lack of WMDs and the lack of a connection to bin Laden shows little backing for the administration's claims.
Instead of spending $87 billion on Afghanistan to make America and the world more safer, the Bush administration embarked on a misguided war that has turned the world against America and has not reduced terrorism, but rather possibly increased it as new terrorists are developed daily because of their hatred of America. Today, as a result of our action in Iraq, there probably is a connection between Iraq and terrorism as Iraq may have become a gathering point in the war against America.
Bush may believe in the Soviet Union form of foreign policy; take over countries and not worry if the world turns against them. One difference is that the Soviet Union was able to not care because it couldcontrol its friends through force. As a democracy America doesn't have that option and protests in Britain and other countries show the lack of real support for America's war.
After September 11 Bush and America had the opportunity to unite the country and the world in a battle against terrorism. People realized they needed to unite to fight terrorism (even the French were with us!). In the 2000 campaign George Bush promised to be a "uniter not a divider," and he is delivering on that promise, uniting the world against America.
As a result, when we are look for friends to help us in Iraq, we are find few takers. This should come as no surprise as one reaps what one sows and the Bush administration has sowed disdain and disunity. Based on the lack of world support it's surprising that anyone would question Sen. John Kerry's supposed statement that a number of leaders have said the US needs to get Bush.
While other world leaders have figured out that Bush has to go, will America figure that out?
