April 13, 2008
Bush Throws First Pitch, Fields World Fast Balls
As President Bush strode to the mound several weeks ago – to throw the first pitch opening the first game in the Washington “Nationals” new baseball stadium – he was accorded a respectful round of applause.
However, there were some boos also. Nincompoop liberals have no concept of place, time, surroundings, or common courtesy.
He smiled, wound up his right arm, and heaved a ball described tactfully by the Nationals catcher as “high heat.”
The President formerly was part-owner and “managing partner” of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club in 1984.
Thus, Bush has taken a lot of political heat – at home and abroad – and knows how to play hardball on any one’s field.
WORLD “SINKER”
Iran threw him a “sinker” last week with announcement it was installing 6,000 more uranium-enrichment “centrifuge” tubes to produce explosive for nuclear weapons. 
Those carefully machined tubes are in addition to a thousand such parts previously sold to Iran by Russia – plus long-range missiles (and, maybe, refined uranium) by North Korea.
United Nations Security Council sanctions governing nuclear programs -- recently adopted to curb nuclear proliferation – now decorate the Middle East ashcan.
Thus, it is worthwhile to review past terrorist attacks against the United States to gauge what can be expected.
TERRORISM TRIGGER
Terrorists had bedeviled Europeans for years after World War II, but American tourists were accidental victims. However, the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 woke up the United States.
An explosive device was sneaked aboard the Pam Am flight to the United States by Libyan terrorists at Britain’s Heathrow airport. The bomb exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland.
The death toll was 270 people from 21 countries – including 189 Americans.
U.S. warplanes bombed two Libyan cites harboring terrorists. Thereafter, Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi paid reparations for the Pan Am bombing, made nice to everyone and a few years ago was admitted to the United Nations.
WHOLESALE DEATH
Nevertheless, the Lockerbie bombing seemed to stimulate other terrorist attacks against American allies -- and, finally, American homeland institutions.
1990 |
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Iraq invasion of oil-rich Kuwait by Saddam Hussein. The first President Bush – with United Nations encouragement – drove back Saddam’s Royal Guards. However, Bush the elder stopped short of victory. |
1993 |
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First World Trade Center bombing – 6 civilians killed. |
1995 |
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Truck bomb at U.S.- operated training center for Saudi National Guard – 5 Americans killed. Also, Bombing of the U.S Federal Trade Building in Oklahoma City -- 166 people killed. |
1996 |
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Khobar Towers U.S. military housing at Saudi air base bombed – 19 American servicemen killed. |
1998 |
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U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed simultaneously – 11 Americans and scores of local embassy employees killed. |
2000 |
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U.S.S. Cole bombed in the port of Aden, Yemen, while refueling – 17 Navy sailors killed. |
2001 |
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Massive suicide bombings of the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon -- by four passenger airliners hijacked by terrorists – nearly 3,000 innocent Americans killed. |
DEMOCRACY GAINING
Following the deadly attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush declared war against terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan led by Osama bin-Laden.
Iraq ’s butcher, Saddam Hussein, was captured forthrightly and hung – to the satisfaction of grateful Iraqi citizens.
The people of Afghanistan drove bin-Laden and cohorts into the rugged mountains bordering Pakistan.
Alas, bin-Laden continues to harass all Asian nations with democratic leanings. His announced goal is to establish an Islamic super-state to eliminate “infidels.”
He has destabilized Pakistan, involved India, and has his sights trained on Iran, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Indo-China and Philippines.
THIRD WORLD WAR
A third world war is already underway – abetted by a useless United Nations and by peace-at-any-price numbskulls.
One thing is sure – we will not be able to wish away the Islamic world movement.
The United States quashed the Communist threat during World War II -- and “Cold War” following – with the implied threat of a “nuclear umbrella.” That is, a displayed intent to protect ourselves and our best friends with nuclear weapons.
However, the United States today is not alone – or nearly alone – with nukes. (Click here to see related Sunday Morning Report of December 9, 2007)
India is believed to have 70 nukes, Pakistan 55. Neither likes the other a little bit and have been fighting an on-again off-again war since 1947 over the Kashmir region.
The great danger, of course, is that a religious madman some where in Asia – with his finger on the nuke button -- might seek Global Armageddon in the belief his nihilist brand of the Here After would emerge victorious.
As Edmund Burke, British Member of Parliament stated in 1774 -- supporting American Independence:
All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.
By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist
