Stardate 20011130.0948 (On Screen via long range sensors): Charles Krauthammer makes a telling point that the predicted uprisings of the "Arab Street" which were expected because the US attacked a Muslim nation, and then because the US continued to attack during Ramadan, haven't materialized. He points out that the reason why is that Arab anger at the US is a constant and that what varies is contempt and respect, and that our apparent victory over the Taliban (in such a dramatic fashion) gives us an unprecedented opportunity to use the new-found Arab respect (and, leave us be frank:
fear) of the US to accomplish our goals elsewhere.
I'm rather surprised that Krauthammer misses something so important: this isn't a side effect of the war in Afghanistan, a lucky happenstance. It was the goal. One of the two primary purposes of the war in Afghanistan was to demonstrate both US resolve and US military capability in as graphic and impressive a fashion as possible, precisely to create both fear and respect in the minds of those elsewhere who would consider opposing us. And there's every reason to believe that it's already working, too. (discuss)
