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more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive

Now as promised here is the question from the Korensteins:

> 2. What will be the impact on our and Israel's safety of a more

> "sensitive" approach to terrorist countries and terrorist suspects?

The "sensitive" remark has been so oft-repeated that probably few people are familiar with the context:

[Remarks made by Senator John F. Kerry at the UNITY 2004 Conference in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, August 5, 2004]

"I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side and lives up to American values in history."

See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42212-2004Aug5.html for complete statement.

Out of context, I suppose it sounds like Kerry is getting all "touchy-feely" on us. In context, at least in my humble opinion, Kerry seems to be offering a compelling vision, similar to the President's, of how we can take the battle to the terrorists, and "win their hearts and minds", but perhaps with a little less of the torture and naked pyramid business.

Cheney is his commentary (see http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/12/cheney.kerry/) on this added that a "sensitive war will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans" ignoring that the evil men in Iraq were not actually the same evil men who killed 3,000 Americans. (If you are in need of a laugh, check out John Stewart's take on Cheney's commentary. Go to http://www.comedycentral.com/timewasters/dl_general.jhtml?show=ds.)

Finally, to answer the Korensteins question. I think it will help in the fight to capture terror suspects. Someone who thinks he will be tortured will likely fight to the death, whereas someone who believes the Geneva conventions will be applied to him may surrender to US forces.

Cheney makes fun of Kerry for using the word sensitive. (I wonder why they focus on the word "sensitive" rather than reflecting on their accomplishments in office?) Anyhow, it seems that Kerry is not alone in using this term in conjunction with the wars on Iraq and terrorism. 

Just for kicks try to identify the sensitive quote with the sensitive speakers:

  1. "Because America is powerful, we must be sensitive about expressing our power and influence"
  2. "[The Bush administration asks] our troops to go out there and be, on the one hand, very sensitive to cultural issues, on the other hand, be ready to respond in self-defense to a very ticklish situation"
  3. "We recognize that the presence of U.S. forces can in some cases present a burden on the local community. We're not insensitive to that."
  4. "Our special operators offer a seasoned, culturally sensitive war on terrorism."
  5. "we have to be sensitive, to the extent the world thinks the United States is focused on the problems in Iraq, it's conceivable that someone could make a mistake and believe that that's an opportunity for them to take an action which they otherwise would have avoided."
  6. [U.S. commanders are] "sensitive to the importance of troops knowing what the rotation plan will be so they have some degree of certainty in their lives. And [they] are sensitive to the importance of the quality of their lives."
  7. "Everyone from the president to Secretary Rumsfeld right through me were very sensitive, to be sure, that our operations moved ahead in Afghanistan in parallel with what we were doing in Iraq."
  8. "The United States is very sensitive about interfering in the internal politics of other countries."
  9. "The agents and officers who conducted the interviews did so in a sensitive manner, showing full respect for the rights and dignity of the individuals being interviewed."
  10. "[I] was very concerned about…the clash of cultures [brought on by U.S. troops being stationed in Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. must] try to be sensitive."
  11. "I would agree to that [Quote #10]. I think [the Saudis] are sensitive, but we also are sensitive."
  12. "I think we've made it clear we're going to be sensitive to the fact that Ramadan is the holiest month on the Muslim calendar and we will have that in mind."
Answers can be found at the end... (Don't peek!)
From: Joe Magid

I'd probably add a couple of items to your response - brow-beating countries that used to be our allies while we suck-up to the least trustworthy of our friends of convenience will not generate anywhere near the results that true cooperation will. History speaks loud and clear on this.

Daniel E. LOEB, eMail: daniel.loeb at verizon.net
Associated with Amazon.com
Answers to questions above:
  1. Pres. George W. Bush
  2. Gen. Richard Myers
  3. Vice-Pres. Dick Cheney
  4. Chief Master Sgt. Robert Martens (Special Forces)
  5. Sec'y of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
  6. Sec'y of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
  7. Gen. Tommy Franks
  8. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft
  9. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft
  10. Vice-Pres. Dick Cheney
  11. Sen. Trent Lott
  12. Deputy Defense Sec'y Paul Wolfowitz