Making it a War On The Infidel

John Dean discusses the evolving Bush strategy (shared by Bin Laden) of characterizing the struggle between civilization and terrorism as a struggle between civilization and Muslims.

We have gone from the non sequitur of the "war on terrorism" (A war on "the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce for political purposes"?) to the neologism of the "war on Islamic fascists." Or, depending on the speaker, on "Islamofascism." Why the new rhetoric?

The answer is simple: Pure politics.

Bush has done very little right in his response to terrorism from the very beginning. He continues to make matters worse with his ham-handed "bring-em-on" rhetoric. He is Bin Laden's primary recruiter. How there can be 39% of the American people who still support this little man, I cannot comprehend. There are four states (Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska) where he still has majority support. And two others (Texas and Mississippi) where more support him than not. I suspect Bush's radical rhetoric has bolstered his standing in his base a bit, but it has increased his freefall among the moderates. For that little bit of political juice he is risking a real clash of civilizations by further alienating the non-violent Muslim majority.

Read John Dean's excellent analysis. (What a shame Nixon wouldn't listen.)
Dean again:

It is ... too soon to know if the Bush Administration can again play the American voters for fools, and deceive just enough of them to squeak out another victory at the polls.