"Reports from all over the intelligence community have repeatedly confirmed Paul's point, as if we needed express confirmation of what in normal times would be a matter of simple common sense. The CIA's Michael Scheuer, who is by no means antiwar, told CNN: "We're being attacked for what we do in the Islamic world, not for who we are or what we believe in or how we live. And there's a huge burden of guilt to be laid at Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton, both parties for simply lying to the American people."
Now I can already hear the other objection: Islamic history and theology provide ample pretext for jihad violence for anyone who wants to find it. Supposing the truth of that claim for the sake of argument, what exactly is it that makes them seem to want to find it? Are we to ignore the countless reports showing how the dumb belligerence of the current administration has increased the ranks of the radicals? And why does Osama bin Laden bother producing recruitment tapes detailing atrocities against Muslims if all he really has to do is point to the Koran and send the suicide bombers on their way to America? The rest of the world, hearing Paul's remarks, will doubtless be relieved to know that there are still at least a few Americans in public life who are able to process information at higher than a sixth-grade level, and whose understanding of international affairs isn't cartoonish and delusional. But being a conservative today, of course, means that on principle you don't care what the rest of the world thinks - what are you, some kind of commie? God bless America!" http://www.lewrockwell.com/woods/woods68.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
