War on Terror (someone pressed my button!)

I received a lovely email yesterday about the so-called 'war on terror'. I tried ever so hard to ignore it - I counted way past twenty. In the end, though, I just couldn't help myself. Once I'd finished venting, I thought it may be worthwhile putting it on here as a blog, so here you go.

Original email:

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?

Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from the nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in Afghanistan .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blows themselves up in search of
Nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:

I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and 'fed special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts:

I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,

I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.'

I have another quote that I would like to add, AND.......I hope you forward all this.

One last thought for the day:

Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The British Soldier.
3. The Canadian Soldier.
4. The US Soldier, and
5. The Australian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM.
AMEN!

My response:

In response to the email above (beware - I have gone on a bit!):

Our armed forces ARE fighting a ‘war on terror’ (not that ‘war on terror’ really means anything at all or is helpful in the slightest) but it was not brought to our shores on 11th September (or indeed 7th July) by Islamic people. It was brought to our shores by Islamic fundamentalist terrorists representing a radical and tiny proportion of the Islamic population both in the world and in the Middle East.

And yes, you are supposed to care that a few Taliban were tortured by the US, the UK and other governments. The US claims to be the ‘land of the free’ and is founded, more than any other country, on a strong foundation of law through its constitution. Key within that is that people should be treated according to due process which has certainly not been followed by the US etc. The US and other governments have colluded in torture and kidnap, and have suspended the rule of law to the extent that it has to site Guantanamo Bay outside the US to be beyond the reach of its own legal system.

None of the people subjected to torture have been through any sort of trial process and so there are almost certainly innocent people being subjected to this inhuman treatment. It has also been proved that people subjected to torture provide highly inaccurate information that is rarely of use. However, this entirely misses the relevant point.

When supposedly advanced nations give up the moral high ground by participating in torture and other illegal actions, they give up any justification whatsoever for being able to take the type of action currently taking place in Afghanistan and Iraq. They also diminish themselves - what are they fighting for if not the rule of law that they embody through their constitution and legal system? The strength of our societies (including our legal systems) is measured by how we treat our enemies, not just our friends.

It is ironic that the person who wrote the email above claims to be a Christian. The faith claims to be based on principles of forgiveness, tolerance and understanding, all of which are not present in the views of the author below. A Christian person should understand very well the different factions that exist in an organised religion, ranging from moderate to extremist - the Christian church certainly has both as does Islam.

We are not going to resolve the tensions that exist between the Islamic world and the West by grouping all muslims together as fanatics or by providing as many excuses as you like for ill-informed people to hate the West. And, believe it or not, we are not going to resolve them through purely military means. At some point, we are going to have to reach a political solution and that is going to be made far easier if we have conducted the war justifiably and according to international law.

The author of the email makes cheap points that reflect a lack of understanding of the issues affecting the situation and entirely fails to follow the tenets of his/her own faith. A little more thought and a little less ranting would hopefully help them to make better and more considered points.