Jogging Your Memory

A head of state reminds us…

Can I remind you that the murder of 88 Australians in Bali took place before the operation in Iraq.

And I remind you that the 11th of September occurred before the operation in Iraq.

Can I also remind you that the very first occasion that bin Laden specifically referred to Australia was in the context of Australia's involvement in liberating the people of East Timor. Are people by implication suggesting we shouldn't have done that?

When a group claimed responsibility on the website for the attacks on the 7th of July, they talked about British policy not just in Iraq, but in Afghanistan. Are people suggesting we shouldn't be in Afghanistan?
When Sergio de Mello was murdered in Iraq -- a brave man, a distinguished international diplomat, a person immensely respected for his work in the United Nations -- when al Qaeda gloated about that, they referred specifically to the role that de Mello had carried out in East Timor because he was the United Nations administrator in East Timor.

Now I don't know the mind of the terrorists. By definition, you can't put yourself in the mind of a successful suicide bomber. I can only look at objective facts, and the objective facts are as I've cited.

The objective evidence is that Australia was a terrorist target long before the operation in Iraq.

--Australian Prime Minister John Howard

And a blogger reminds us…

Let’s not forget the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro, during which Abu Abbas murdered Leon Klinghoffer - before taking refuge in Iraq.

Let’s not forget the taking of American hostages, in 1979, held for 444 days.

Tell us some more how terrorists are only responding to regime change in Iraq, and how if only we would obey the “insurgents” there and leave Iraq, all of this would end. Tell us that some more, Mr. Galloway, tell us that some more, ladies and gentlemen of the press. Tell us all about it you tired, phoney, so-called intellectuals and sophisticates. Tell us how terror that has existed for decades is all the fault of George W. Bush and his poodles Tony Blair and John Howard.

Thank God for these men, who understand that giving in to terrorism today will not make us safer tomorrow.

--The Anchoress

…that Iraq isn’t the reason why they hate us.

It’s ridiculous that anyone needs to be reminded of this.

(Thanks to Ace of Spades and Trey Jackson)