Smart Security

Yesterday I was reading about how the Bush Administration wants to go into Iran. This shouldn't be a surprise - they have been saber rattling for years. First they tried the same argument as they did against Iraq - "They are about to have nuclear weapons." But the public was tired of that. We didn't do so well trying to prevent Iraq from developing their sand into plutonium.

Now they are squealing about how Iran is the cause of Iraq's civil war. Unfortunately they are gaining traction with this argument. When will the public awaken to how much less secure the Bush Administration is making us? This aggression towards "rogue" nations that only servers to make us look like bullies. Going into Iran will launch us into another mind boggling expensive quagmire. It won't be long before they tell us that we will be welcomed with open arms by the Iranian people... parades & roses & all.

Smart Security means making friends in the world. Instead of invading at the drop of a hat and chasing after non-existent enemies and weapons, we should be focusing on stopping the real threats. We should focus our energy on Afghanistan - where the real threat is. We should be rebuilding and providing for the poor & needy in nations where terrorists take hold. If we provided medicine to the sick, food to the hungry and clean water to the dry, we'd have many fewer enemies in the world. Bin Laden would have a hard time recruiting suicide bombers if the majority of Muslims owed the bread on their table to America.

Smart Security is not alienating other nations. It is building coalitions. It is recognizing others viewpoints and finding common ground. It is working with, not talking down. It is researching and respecting other societies and countries. Our way works well for us and most other cutlurs find that their ways work well for them.

We need to ask our presidential candidates how we are going to leave this wasteful path of war and implement Smart Security solutions.

I think Bill Richardson has a good grasp on what this means:
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/speeches?id=0016