De andere kijk (A different view)

And we remember the calling that came to us on that day (9/11, nvdr), and continues to this hour: We will confront this mortal danger to all humanity. We will not tire, or rest, until the war on terror is won.

The images and experience of September the 11th are unique for Americans. Yet the evil of that morning has reappeared on other days, in other places.

Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still others, Islamo-fascism.

A call for terrorist murder against Christians and Jews and Hindus

global, borderless terrorist organizations like al Qaeda … regional groups, often associated with al Qaeda … local cells … more like a loose network with many branches than an army under a single command … Yet these operatives, fighting on scattered battlefields, share a similar ideology and vision for our world

We know the vision of the radicals because they've openly stated it -- in videos, and audiotapes, and letters, and declarations, and websites.

First, these extremists want to end American and Western influence in the broader Middle East, because we stand for democracy and peace, and stand in the way of their ambitions. … They want us to repeat the sad history of Beirut in 1983, and Mogadishu in 1993 -- only this time on a larger scale, with greater consequences.

Second, the militant network wants to use the vacuum created by an American retreat to gain control of a country. … Now they've set their sights on Iraq. … terrorists regard Iraq as the central front in their war against humanity. And we must recognize Iraq as the central front in our war on terror.

Third, the militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia. With greater economic and military and political power, the terrorists would be able to advance their stated agenda: to develop weapons of mass destruction, to destroy Israel, to intimidate Europe (wake up, euroweenies, and smell the coffee, nvdr), to assault the American people, and to blackmail our government into isolation.

Some might be tempted to dismiss these goals as fanatical or extreme. Well, they are fanatical and extreme -- and they should not be dismissed. Our enemy is utterly committed.

Evil men, obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience, must be taken very seriously -- and we must stop them before their crimes can multiply.

The radicals exploit local conflicts to build a culture of victimization

They have been sheltered by authoritarian regimes, allies of convenience like Syria and Iran

and use terrorist propaganda to blame their own failures on the West and America, and on the Jews.

The militants are aided, as well, by elements of the Arab (dit woord had evengoed kunnen weggelaten worden, nvdr) news media that incite hatred and anti-Semitism, that feed conspiracy theories and speak of a so-called American "war on Islam" -- with seldom a word about American action to protect Muslims in Afghanistan, and Bosnia, Somalia, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq

Some have also argued that extremism has been strengthened by the actions of our coalition in Iraq, claiming that our presence in that country has somehow caused or triggered the rage of radicals. I would remind them that we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001 -- and al Qaeda attacked us anyway. The hatred of the radicals existed before Iraq was an issue, and it will exist after Iraq is no longer an excuse.

In fact, we're not facing a set of grievances that can be soothed and addressed. We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world. No act of ours invited the rage of the killers -- and no concession, bribe, or act of appeasement would change or limit their plans for murder.

They target nations whose behavior they believe they can change through violence (dat is er ene voor de Spanjaarden). Against such an enemy, there is only one effective response: We will never back down (never!) , never give in (NEVER!), and never accept anything less than complete victory.

The murderous ideology of the Islamic radicals is the great challenge of our new century

He (OBL, nvdr) assures them that his -- that this is the road to paradise -- though he never offers to go along for the ride.

When 25 Iraqi children are killed in a bombing, or Iraqi teachers are executed at their school, or hospital workers are killed caring for the wounded, this is murder, pure and simple.

Under their rule, they have banned books, and desecrated historical monuments, and brutalized women.

Zarqawi has said that Americans are, quote, "the most cowardly of God's creatures." But let's be clear: It is cowardice that seeks to kill children and the elderly with car bombs, and cuts the throat of a bound captive, and targets worshipers leaving a mosque.

And Islamic radicalism, like the ideology of communism, contains inherent contradictions that doom it to failure.

We didn't ask for this global struggle, but we're answering history's call with confidence, and a comprehensive strategy. Defeating a broad and adaptive network requires patience, constant pressure, and strong partners in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and beyond.

First, we're determined to prevent the attacks of terrorist networks before they occur. We're reorganizing our government to give this nation a broad and coordinated homeland defense. … Second, we're determined to deny weapons of mass destruction to outlaw regimes, and to their terrorist allies who would use them without hesitation.

Third, we're determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary of outlaw regimes.

Fourth, we're determined to deny the militants control of any nation, which they would use as a home base and a launching pad for terror.

Area by area, city by city, we're conducting offensive operations to clear out enemy forces, and leaving behind Iraqi units to prevent the enemy from returning.

Some observers look at the job ahead and adopt a self-defeating pessimism. It is not justified.

By any standard or precedent of history, Iraq has made incredible political progress -- from tyranny, to liberation, to national elections, to the writing of a constitution, in the space of two-and-a-half years. … Progress isn't easy, but it is steady.

And no fair-minded person should ignore, deny, or dismiss the achievements of the Iraqi people.

We've heard it suggested that Iraq's democracy must be on shaky ground because Iraqis are arguing with each other. But that's the essence of democracy

Some observers also claim that America would be better off by cutting our losses and leaving Iraq now. This is a dangerous illusion, refuted with a simple question: Would the United States and other free nations be more safe, or less safe, with Zarqawi and bin Laden in control of Iraq, its people, and its resources?

There's always a temptation, in the middle of a long struggle, to seek the quiet life, to escape the duties and problems of the world, and to hope the enemy grows weary of fanaticism and tired of murder. This would be a pleasant world, but it's not the world we live in. … This enemy considers every retreat of the civilized world as an invitation to greater violence.

The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the militants future recruits by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy and hope across the broader Middle East. This is a difficult and long-term project, yet there's no alternative to it.

Our future and the future of that region are linked.

We're encouraging our friends in the Middle East, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to take the path of reform, to strengthen their own societies in the fight against terror by respecting the rights and choices of their own people.

The time has come for all responsible Islamic leaders to join in denouncing an ideology that exploits Islam for political ends, and defiles a noble faith.

With the rise of a deadly enemy and the unfolding of a global ideological struggle, our time in history will be remembered for new challenges and unprecedented dangers. And yet the fight we have joined is also the current expression of an ancient struggle, between those who put their faith in dictators, and those who put their faith in the people. Throughout history, tyrants and would-be tyrants have always claimed that murder is justified to serve their grand vision -- and they end up alienating decent people across the globe. Tyrants and would-be tyrants have always claimed that regimented societies are strong and pure -- until those societies collapse in corruption and decay. Tyrants and would-be tyrants have always claimed that free men and women are weak and decadent -- until the day that free men and women defeat them.

We don't know the course of our own struggle -- the course our own struggle will take -- or the sacrifices that might lie ahead. We do know, however, that the defense of freedom is worth our sacrifice. We do know the love of freedom is the mightiest force of history. And we do know the cause of freedom will once again prevail.