During the raging debate over the strategy that led us into Iraq, one could at least take some comfort in the belief, expounded by Vice President Cheney on his annual “Meet the Press” interview, that at least the Jihadists were fighting the U.S. military “over there” rather than killing U.S. civilians “here”. Now, President Obama, Secretary of Defense Gates and Attorney General Holder have turned that war strategy on its head by encouraging Jihadists to attack U.S. civilians.
If you are saying: “Hey, did I miss something?” The answer is yes; you missed The Law of Unintended Consequences 101, a course that seems to befall every grand liberal scheme and program.
On November 13, 2009, the Obama Administration granted the September 11, 2001 mastermind and co-conspirators a trial in a civilian, U.S. Federal court. On the same day, the Obama Administration granted the USS Cole attackers a military tribunal. Consistently, during the Bush years, the Democrats have pushed, for political purposes – and I mean relentlessly pushed – the notion that only in civilian court could one expect a Jihadist to get a “fair” trial, a major platform in their campaign plank of accusing Bush of torture and unfair treatment of the “nice” Jihadists at Guantanamo. This propaganda did more to discredit the U.S. effort against terror internationally than either Abu Ghraib or rendition (started by Clinton).
To satisfy their left-wing fringe base, you know those that actually bought the “Afghanistan is the Right War” and we must close Guantanamo, the Obama Administration is sending Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his buds to New York to stand trial. Attorney General Holder essentially suggested that we can afford to give them a civilian trial because we know we have enough evidence against them, as if that makes for a fair trial.
The real message sent by the Obama Administration to Jihadists is: “Attack U.S. civilians and we’ll give you a ‘fair’ show trial and extensive media coverage in civilian court where anything goes, anti-American lawyers abound, and who knows, you might even win or get a dismissal or mistrial. Worst case, your lawyer will get a bunch of top secret documents so, at the least, you’ll be helping the Jihadist cause. On the other hand, attack a military target, like the USS Cole, and you will get an ‘unfair’ military tribunal without the legal grandstanding, attendant media coverage, or access to top secret documents – with a commensurate reduction in manufactured propaganda.” So, fellow Jihadists, what targets would you seek out?
Under those rules, Jihadists (you know they are all Ivy League-educated) will choose to attack us, like us, like here. Who wouldn’t choose civilian targets if those are the outcomes? When President Obama campaigned on Hope and Change, some of us knew that would mean ‘Hope’ for the Jihadists. I don’t think anyone suspected it would mean a ‘Change’ in the targets Jihadists would be encouraged to pursue. Bush and Cheney proffered military targets in Iraq. How could the Obama Administration not see the incentives they have provided our enemy to kill us where we live?
And what does all of this have to do with Obama Care? This Administration, obviously naïve about the Law of Unintended Consequences and its application even when it comes to something so simple as understanding the incentives they just gave the Jihadists to attack us here in the U.S., are the same people that believe they can somehow create 100 new Federal agencies with a 2,000 page healthcare plan and have things work out just right. Predicting Jihadist behavior is simple compared to the exponentially greater difficulty of predicting market behavior in 20% of the largest economy in the world. But, no problem, right?
My advice for the next three years – pray a lot. The naiveté and hubris of this Administration is a toxically lethal combination, and it will hit you right here, at home.
Paul Porter is the host of The Paul Porter Show on WFOY AM 1240 (3 – 5 pm) in St. Augustine, Florida, a show that hopes to Bring Back America One Day at a Time by educating the audience about the spiritual principles that underlie the US Constitution.