Spring Break
In the November election, experience matters
Matt Stevens
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Commentary
During the 1992 presidential campaign, President George H. W. Bush frequently told voters that they should re-elect him because his extensive experience in foreign affairs would serve America well in a changing world. For this argument, President Bush was derided as an out-of-touch elitist trying to change the subject from his lack of ideas for helping Americans through a recession. People were taken with his charming young opponent, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, who they believed was more in touch with their struggles. Governor Clinton went on to win the election, of course. Now, in 2008, as voters find themselves facing an almost identical scenario, the question must be asked: Did the first President Bush have a valid point when he argued that experience counts, especially in foreign affairs?
The presidential election of 1992 was held to determine who would be President of the United States from Jan. 20, 1993 through Jan. 19, 1997. During that period, radical Islamic terrorists struck American targets several times. To this day, the al-Qaida propaganda operation points to these pre-Sept. 11 attacks as symbols of the organization's strength. What is even more interesting about how al-Qaida has "played" these attacks is that the group points out that the U.S. failed to substantially respond to them and uses this to prove to potential recruits that the U.S., if rattled enough, can be defeated quite easily.
In February 1993, in an eerie precursor to the Sept. 11 tragedy, Islamic radicals with Sudanese links and ties to Osama bin Laden set off a bomb in a parking garage below the World Trade Center that killed six people and injured 1,000. Even after the links of the perpetrators were discovered, President Clinton and his administration took no military action to retaliate and complicate the operational capacities of terrorist organizations. Later that year, 18 American soldiers participating in an operation in Somalia were killed following the shooting down of three American helicopters by Somali warlords with links to bin Laden.
The presidential election of 1992 was held to determine who would be President of the United States from Jan. 20, 1993 through Jan. 19, 1997. During that period, radical Islamic terrorists struck American targets several times. To this day, the al-Qaida propaganda operation points to these pre-Sept. 11 attacks as symbols of the organization's strength. What is even more interesting about how al-Qaida has "played" these attacks is that the group points out that the U.S. failed to substantially respond to them and uses this to prove to potential recruits that the U.S., if rattled enough, can be defeated quite easily.
In February 1993, in an eerie precursor to the Sept. 11 tragedy, Islamic radicals with Sudanese links and ties to Osama bin Laden set off a bomb in a parking garage below the World Trade Center that killed six people and injured 1,000. Even after the links of the perpetrators were discovered, President Clinton and his administration took no military action to retaliate and complicate the operational capacities of terrorist organizations. Later that year, 18 American soldiers participating in an operation in Somalia were killed following the shooting down of three American helicopters by Somali warlords with links to bin Laden.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Conservative
posted 10/07/08 @ 11:27 AM EST
mccain also argues for continued engagement in iraq, expanded engagement in afghanistan, cowboy posturing against iran, and unconditional support for israel. (Continued…)
Webby
posted 10/07/08 @ 1:38 PM EST
Nader really is the best choice for this country. It's a shame that no one will give him air time and people are too blinded by -D or -R to listen to a person that really is the smartest choice. (Continued…)
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