Post by dgriffin on Aug 6, 2009 21:40:57 GMT -5
US outlines anti-terror strategy
President Barack Obama's chief counter-terrorism adviser said the US government is forging a new approach to tackling violent extremism.
In a major policy speech, John Brennan said Washington would no longer use terms like "war on terror".
Nor would it employ interrogation tactics like water-boarding, which he said had only played into the hands of terror groups like al-Qaeda.
He said it was time to use diplomacy and dialogue to solve problems.
Soft power
And, Mr Brennan said that while safeguarding the American public remained Mr Obama's priority, the US would not be relying solely on military might and counter-terrorism operations.
"We will use our power to demonstrate that seemingly intractable problems and legitimate grievances can be resolved through diplomacy, dialogue and a democratic process."
With people who want us dead? Whose religion says we are not fit meat for their dogs?
He said "soft power" would be the focus of the Obama administration.
MORE at:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8188804.stm
Hmmm. Soft Power is cheaper that military power. Do we need the money for social programs? Or more bailouts? Or a clunker Personal Computer Stimulus Program to save Dell? Or a Clunker Golf Clubs Stimulus Program to boost titanium sales, because aircraft production is falling faster than an Airbus 330? Is it the case I might be as likely to die from a softening on terrorism as from bureaucratized medical care?
Or are my worries all in my head, planted there by evil conservatives.
