Winning The War On Terror

I was brought to tears by the president's simple, but truthful approach to building a bridge with the Muslim world. This is the real way to fight terrorism, through open and honest dialogue, where we promote love and destroy hate. We are now witnessing the front line of the battle. The battle for the hearts and minds of the young men who have believed in the hatred spewed by their terrorist leaders is beginning to be won when our president makes speeches like this.

But I couldn't believe that even on CNN the President's trip was met with skepticism. For America to heal the wounds, we must actively work to heal our own hearts. Thank God the president was deliberate, forthright and leading his people in his actions and speech this morning. Now it's time to have our hearts and actions catch up, as this is the way to healing. Let's eradicate Islamophobia. Start now in your own heart and let's really make this a new beginning!!!

Comments

[Mosby12]

The war on terror was dealt a mortal wound when we kicked the crap out of Al Queda in Iraq. We took the fight to them!! General Patreus' model is now being employed by Obama in Afghanistan and Pakistan... YES - PATREUS -Obama, Clinton and Harry Reid all said Patreus's surge would not work ( to this day they are too smug to admit it DID work)

History will be recorded accurately

Obama said in Cairo that Iraq was a "war of choice" and that the world is now a better place without Sadaam Hussein... unless he was lying... the logical conclusion is that the war in Iraq was a success.

[Subterfuge]

A battle does not make the war.

Iraq is just one small battle... a renewed beacon of inspiration and a focal point for the hatred felt by the extremists over there. Even at home the division between the extremists and the rest of the nation threatens to burst into violence.

Timelines of history are much broader than many people choose to look at in their day to day decision making processes. The extremists are not mad at us for some jealous reason. They hate us because of the countries we have consistently interfered with over there. Toppling chosen leaders and installing puppet regimes against the will of the people will breed hatred. Continuing to invade nations and build bases will only breed more hatred. That is what created the terrorist rage against us. As far as they are concerned they are just like our minutemen in the revolutionary war... Desperately trying to drive out the overpowered oppressors.

Saying the Iraq war was a success because the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein is not the logical conclusion. Short-sighted reasoning can be fatal. It has already been proven so in the chain of events that led to 9/11...

[whcjr46]

Russell - well said and thank you.

[American7]

Amen!

[Ergon]

Well and powerfully said.

[Athena123]

This is so true, and so beautifully said. As MLK said, violence only escalates violence and creates more hatred. It's hard to hate when a hand is offered in friendship. This doesn't always work, but it's usually the best way.

[deweym]

Russell, please strop towing the line. Obama did not speak truth to power

[AmericanLeslie]

Thanks Russell! I love the way you use your power and influence to enlighten. There are those living among us who hate much of what America stands for and most Americans. And - unfortunately - many who have been the victims of hate are teaching our children to recriprocate by hating those who've spewed their hate on us AND selecting other groups to hate as a national past-time. This is why we've got Christians killing Christians, Blacks encouraging homophobia, an entertainment industry that is mysogynistic towards women, media folks who cheer the killing of healthcare providers, children who taunt fellow elementary schoolers about their sexuality to the point of suicide, teenage girls setting each others' hair on fire, and a lon list of home grown terroristic acts and attitudes that abound. Winning the war on terror is an admirable goal. Personally, I fear domestic terrorists more than the extremists living in other countries. Perhaps we Americans should start our efforts to end the war on terrorism by confronting the terrorist-like attitudes brewing in our on families, neigborhoods and place of worship.

[EasyEs]

The greatest risk lies in appeasement. If we look at whats going on in Western Europe where no one can say the Muslim immigrants have no bee accommodated in every single demand. And what do they get Riots in Paris suburbs in Rotterdam and Malmo. How much appeasement are you all willing to accommodate? Muslims are expecting action on behalf of Obama and its not in the direction of peace with Israel. They expect him to soften the Wests resolve against Islamic expansion. All you have to do is watch their media and you'll get the pulse of their society. All in all a good start for Obama's Middle East initiative, but giving a speech to Muslims should be easy for Obama, the hardest more difficult test are certainly to come. Time to get real, Obama may be god to many of you, but he certainly isn't to those in the middle east. Many are very skeptical about a man who should have seen the light of Islam but chose to reject it. To those who think we are responsibly for Islamic terrorism really need their head examined go to Algeria or the Sudan and tell them that. Tell my Christian Girlfriend ( Who is Luo BTW and has Islamic family roots) whos had family hacked to pieces by Islamic extremists simply because they were dirty kafirs.....remeber muslims don't worship Obama like you guys do

[monicaangela]

Thank you for your article Mr. Simmons, I appreciate your taking the time to express your feelings about longing for an end to terrorism. I really wish you would go to Washington and discuss this with the congress, they seem to want to terrorize the American public with half truths, and statements that take our mind off the crisis this country is in thanks to the last administration. As a capitalist, you must know that much of this so called terrorist action is predicated on unfair practices by capitalist countries. Unless you feel people are just acting out of ignorance, or picking people to harm for no reason, you must dig deeper than this speech, you must find the causes for the so called terrorism, and address those problems, otherwise, although the speech was wonderful, and gets to some of the issues on our minds today, it will be forgotten by the masses and only remembered by Historians in a really short period of time. Work to correct the problems that governments have created to cause terrorism and you will bring tears to my eyes.

[Ergon]

"Work to correct the problems that governments have created to cause terrorism" ~ beautifully said.
"Terrorism is the actions of the poor against the rich and powerful"~ Bertrand Russell

[Tim303]

This essay was right on.

[hawaii-scuba]

"In this world, hate NEVER yet dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible."
- Buddha

[perspective123]

I respect Russell and all the comments behind him but come on we act like the President is the best thing since Oxygen. I like him and have faith in him but even as he has said he is not perfect but most of the press and commentators act like they are back stage at a concert for their favorite band where there is no imperfection even if he is human. I know we are in a unstable time and we need a leader that is open and thinking.

The effects will only effect the choir he was preaching too that day. I have a few muslim friends and think the world of them and I know that the extremist are outside groups of people that have kill Americans but if you think we can sanction “huge a musim day” or to speak nicely and logically to this group you need to think some more. I would love to be wrong but it is going to take the peaceful muslim people to convince the extremist to stop the terror. We have strong great diversity in our Nation but that alone does not make America, diversity under America is what solidifies us even if our opinions are conflicting. This Nation is the best place to live in the world even if a Middle East Country thinks it or not and over our decades we have helped many Countries and people whom could not help themselves.

[turbowei]

You are totally not getting Obama's point.

He wants to unite the good, peace loving Muslims against the bad, wanna-kill­-people-fo­r-72-virgi­ns Muslims. And whether you are democrats or republicans, you have to admit that this is the only way we can truly solve the terrorism problem.

[Lauren Collier 1]

Thank you Russie. I was also moved to watery eyes after hearing President Obama's award-winning speech. Unity is the best way to go for all of us - not just for Americans, either. After all, we all belong to the same universal family.

[Gregory Thomas]

Russell! You are a very savvy business person and an eclectic person of the world...sure you are not surprised that CNN met the trip and speech with skepticism?

[Muslimhumanist]

Dear Mr. Simmons:

Thanks for the post. It is heartening to see prominent people stepping up after Obama's remarkable speech to speak out against Islamophobia. Muslims are indeed part of the fabric of American history and culture and that recognition, as well as the recognition of the contributions of Islam and Muslims to human civilization, by an American president is indeed welcome. The arc of history indeed moves towards justice.

Salaams. Peace.