Befitting its subject, The Longest War is a very long book, a comprehensive examination of the struggle that began slowly and surreptitiously in the early 1990s and continued—at least until Osama bin Laden’s killing on May 2. His death may not bring the demise of terrorism, but it has given President Barack Obama a justification for winding down the “war on terror” that (...)
July 15, 2011
Books
Bin Laden’s Legacy
The Longest WarThe Enduring Conflict between America and Al-QaedaPeter L. BergenFree Press, $28, 473 pp.
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One reason Muslim terrorists hate the U.S.A is the arming and large dollar aid that we give to Israel. Instead of treating Palestine and Israel as equal siblings, we make it possible for Israel to dominate and even kill their sibling. This then fuels the fire of hatred we have experienced; and it is an attempt to use force that is both costly in lives and trillions of dollars. Yes, Bush retaliated without thinking of the consequences. But the bigger problem just might be our arming Israel to the hilt. With belligerence we call Iran and North Korean leaders names and without the slightest bit of credibility tell them that they cannot be like us and Israel (and all of European and Asian countries) where nuclear weapons are concerned. We pay our politicians and president to negotiate. But it seems all we ever do through them is make more wars.