Here in America, oh how we love to misoverestimate our enemies ...
We know that the jihadis are committed. I mean, you need commitment to sign up for gigs that end (often) in your own death. A good portion of them seems happy to die as martyrs. This presents both challenges and opportunies, of course, but that is a discussion for another day.
However, the geniuses fighting the new Iraqi government and our own troops in Iraq are somehow managing to lose the public relations war on both fronts: 1) in the Arab world, and 2) in the world at large.
First, let's look at what is becoming a common image in the sovereign Iraq: People standing around a pile of concrete in Fallujah that used to be a storehouse for weapons and terrorists. Said terrorists are now under the rubble, and the people in these pictures look on with some degree of amazement at the precision and deadliness. Plus, the crowds must know that Iraqis are ratting out these terrorists, which makes staying in one place in Iraq and planning new attacks somewhat difficult. Additionally, this type of precise, deadly raid continues to reinforce to the Arab world that -- in spite of our pullback in Fallujah and elsewhere to facilitate the turnover of Iraqi security to Iraqis -- we maintain the ability to find and destroy terrorists suddenly and without warning. With terrorists, aggressive brute force and playing offense works. You can't score unless you are hunting for them.
Second, the jihadis continue their beheading campaign, which seeks, I suppose, to prove the immorality of the occupying infidels. However, continuation of this barbaric practice reminds us again each time -- as with the apparent discovery of a beheaded Bulgarian hostage over the weekend -- of just what we are up against. This is not patty-cakes. Some, such as the Spanish Socialists and the weak-knees in the Philipines, may cave with their small forces, but most of the civilized world is seeing over and over the justice of our cause. And our new and true allies, such as Bulgaria and Poland, are staying the course along with one of our oldest and best, Great Britain.
Speaking of old friends ... I see that Lance Armstrong is doing it again, prevailing in France, much to the dismay of the supicious French. And thus we are reminded why we love Lance so. First, he is just plain the best at what he does. Plus, he tirelessly prepares and competes. But, perhaps most importantly, he annoys the French.
So, in light of the foregoing ... here is a bumper sticker that the commander-in-chief should consider using in the campaign, though he probably can't:
"ANNOY THE FRENCH. VOTE BUSH"
Here's a question for your undecided friends in swing states? Just why does France, that ally of old but de facto adversary in the War on Terror, support John Kerry?
