Dear Editor,
This is in response to Dean Burress & the ETSU Student Democrats’ response to Seth Bartee’s article concerning terrorism in the April 1 issue of the East Tennessean.
Burress makes quite a strong claim that “there is not a country in the world, even in the Middle East, which has inhabitants that welcome terrorism.”
Well, that seems to be quite evident, as even al-Qaeda would hate to have its own locales suicide bombed.
But, do these Islamic extremists have to worry about Americans and Britons using their own time-honed techniques against them?
The very idea is ludicrous and makes no sense.
No one wants to be terrorized, but who are the two nations taking the much-protested steps to insure this for all the peoples of the world?
Now, the peoples of these nations may not want terrorism, but with militant Islamic governments, what the people want is of their least concern.
You don’t see nations like Iran or Algeria cracking down on their terrorist cells now do you?
In fact, those responsible for killing our troops in Iraq are even crossing the borders of Iran and Syria to make those attacks.
To say that these nations don’t want terrorism any more than we do is ridiculous at best. At worst, it’s downright insulting.
Burress also takes time to point out the polarization and fear that is apparently gripping the nation.
The terrorist alert scale is being used to allow Americans to understand the level of caution that the government recommends at any certain time.
I, for one, have clearly not encountered any gripping fear on the average American citizen. The level of fear is, certainly, nowhere near the level that developed after the events of 9/11.
To claim that the Bush administration is pandering fear to the American people is laughable and, if it is the case, does not have any major discernible effect that I can see.
If Burress has seen any fear, certainly it’s the fear in the “Demoncrats” as they ponder an uncertain presidential campaign that is shaky all the way to the core.
The people of Spain made the wrong choice in allowing al-Qaeda to dictate to them who they should vote for.
However, the reason that the United States has yet to undergo any terrorist attacks in this election year is for the simple reason that Bush has shown that he is not a man to be trifled with.
We have already been attacked.
We are on alert.
President Bush will not step down and succumb to the terrorist demands.
Bush has already shown this, not only through words, but also through action.
Say what you will about his policies, his speaking ability and his intelligence, but he has ACTED while the other nations of the world have simply moved their claptraps back and forth.
As for lies about Iraq, shall we ask General Wesley Clarke who, before the House Armed Services Committee hearing in September of 2002, stated that “There’s no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat. Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He’s had those for a long time.”
I think the quote speaks for itself.
Gary Huff

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