[.ca] Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism (ISBN 0895261340)

From Amazon.com:
Bestselling author William J. Bennett says he was inspired by displays of patriotism after the September 11 terrorist attacks, but he was also struck by how "some were quick to find us to blame." He worries that this "countermovement of America-bashing" will make the United States lose its resolve: "What I fear is the erosion of moral clarity, and the spread of indifference and confusion, as a thousand voices discourse with energy and zeal on the questionable nature, if not the outright illegitimacy, of our methods or our cause." Bennett cites dozens of examples of professors who decry U.S. foreign policy and pundits who object to so much flag flying. While recognizing that these are minority views, he concludes that Osama bin Laden caught Americans with their defenses down--not just physical and military defenses, but also moral and intellectual ones. "Many of us have forgotten what we once knew about our freedoms and our decencies, and we have forgotten why, time and time again, we have had to rally ourselves to the point of ultimate sacrifice to defend them," writes Bennett, who also appraises Islam and defends Israel on these pages. Why We Fight is short and quickly read--and worthwhile for anybody who wants to be reminded of first principles during the war on terrorism. --John Miller

Why do "they" hate us?:
Read this book and then you'll know why. Bennett's basic thesis is that only the United States has the spine and integrity necessary to lead the world on a righteous, moral path. Considering this comes from a guy who has been preaching morality and virtues for well over a decade, while at the same time being in denial about a gambling addiction, would be very amusing if it weren't so pathetically sad. This is typical proto-fascist drivel designed to drive conservatives into a self-righteous frenzy to fight against and kill the terrible other. In that regard it reads quite a bit like Mein Kampf, instead this time Muslims are the enemy that need to be exterminated in a final solution. Do yourself a favor, get a brain, get a moral compass, and reject this racist trash.

Why so many people hate the Americans:
"Why do they hate us?" In this brief book, easy reading for a short evening, Bill Bennett offers an eloquent, timely and concise explanation of why so many people outside the United States -- not just in Islamic societies -- hate Americans. It's the same reason so many people hate the lager louts of European sports. Both have an arrogant desire to trash anyone and anything that does not share their limited views. Bennett is the poster child of the modern Ugly American, an image created by Eugene Burdick in the 1950s which is even more relevant today. The attitudes expressed by Bennett are precisely why so many non-Americans love to see this country in trouble. When Arab mobs cheered at images of the World Trade Center towers collapsing, they were cheering the symbolic collapse of puffed shirts such as Bennett. But where is Bennett's outrage to the US-financed Catholic terrorists known as the IRA who killed people throughout Northern Ireland and England for half-a-century? "Why We Fight" is full of the usual patriotic platitudes. No one objects to such expressions of loyalty to one's country, or one's team. What is objectionable, to many Americans and almost all foreigners, is Bennett's persistent trashing of everything outside the US as being second-rate or worse to the US. It's similar to lager louts; while other fans find their drunken cheers sometimes amusing, it's when their lager-fueled courage beats up rival fans and destroys their property that foreigners get upset. It's admirable to be proud of one's country, its achievements and ambitions; but, no one makes friends by asserting that anything non-American is trash and second rate. I've been to about 15 - 20 different countries; many people realize the US has many fine qualities, but the don't think this makes their own attitudes and their own country second-rate. It's how lager louts think, and it's the attitude Bennett expresses in this book. Granted, Bennett thinks everyone who doesn't support his views is subversive; he cites case after case of silliness and outright stupidity to prove his point. In a nation of 280 million people, where more than half of the voters picked someone other than George Bush in 2000, it would be bizzare if anyone couldn't find enough examples of stupidity to fill a slim book of this nature. No one has to look far to discover stupidity in ANY society. This book is the evil dark side of the conservative movement, the reverse of the "morning in America" optimism crafted for President Ronald Reagan by speechwriter Peggy Noonan. It's why Reagan was so popular, despite the anomie of evil expressed by a few sorry satraps of silliness such as Bennett. Granted, lager louts will love this book. It says everything just as they want it said, "Rah! Rah! Rah! We're No. 1! You're Doo-Doo!" It will be eye-opening for patriots, who want real answers to the question, "Why do they hate us?" Hand this book to any non-American, and it will validate their reasons for hating this country. The tragedy is that people shouldn't hate America for the jingoism of a few louts such as Bennett. But they do. Bennett gives them good reason.

Why do we fight?:
Do we fight so high rollers like this can yank on slots and spin roulette wheels? Bennett's moral preachings make me sick. While writing this nonesense by day he was rolling up huge gambling debts, to the tune of 8 million dollars, by night. Where is the outcry from Christian Conservatives concerning this modern day Judas?

Moral Miasma:
The terror that blinded Congress after September 11, leading to the sanctioning of an American invasion of Iraq, was not that of the pitiful kamikaze pilots who took out the towers but of vengeful Americans themselves. Not merely the sign of a lack of moral clarity, it demonstrated the absence of logical-semantic clear-headedness as well. What is a "war against terror," or for that matter a war against hatred or some other abstraction, but an excuse to deploy arms wherever American leadership or nationalistic priorities feel it is in our interest to flex military muscle? It's hard for me to believe that Bennett is someone for whom I once reserved trust and admiration--this self-proclaimed philosopher-king who ranks Clinton's sex lie as a greater calamity than our present leaders' costly lies about terror's place of origin. If you wish to know the heart of a terrorist, read Joseph Conrad's "The Secret Agent." If you wish to see with stunning clarity the greater horrors attendant upon those who first dignify terror by giving it a place and then succumb to its horrible grip, read the same author's "The Heart of Darkness."

Either 5 stars or 1 star !:
It's interesting that most reviews on this site are either rated maximum - 5 stars - or the lowest rating - 1 star. The conservatives who probably hold Bennett's views will find his eloquent writing agreeable and give it 5 and the liberal minded - who probably harbor a dislike for Bennett to begin with, will give it one star and berate Bennett in the process. Perhaps the only way to give a true "rating" on this book would be to get an educated adult - who had never been exposed to politics in his life - Perhaps someone who had been raised on a remote island, receieved the finest education, but never was exposed to news coverages......or politics of any kind. You would then give him a history lesson with nothing but unbiased facts. After this hypothetical experimental adult was exposed to all facts, including the attacks of sept 11 through present day..........you would then let him read the book and make a determination. Albeit, this person doesn't exist......but the point is......I don't think he'd rate it one star or five stars.......but his rating of the book would be more based on what IS.....that is reality......than his paradigm of reality.....or how a politically saturated mind PERCEIVES reality. I believe that hypothetical individual would rate the book closer to 5 stars than 1. I believe this because if you look at history....all of history...specifically regimes, factions, sects, religions ....whatever you call them...that have wanted to kill those who disagree with their way of life....as do Muslim fanatics.....and then you look at the only way to successfully deal with this form of evil.....you will conclude that Mr. Bennett's conclusions are correct. Now I know some will say 'they want to kill us because we are imperialistic oppressors who occupies their land, blah blah blah...." And to that I say "just who's side are you on buddy?" Seriously, ask yourself that question....."who's side are you on?"