RUMSFELD WARNS THAT WEAKNESS IS PROVOCATIVE

The New Duranty Times reports on SecDef Donald Rumsfeld's farewell address at the Pentagon. Secretary Rumsfeld had a number of important things to say:

“Today, it should be clear that not only is weakness provocative,” Mr. Rumsfeld said, standing at a lectern with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney at his side, “but the perception of weakness on our part can be provocative as well.”

It was a clear parting shot at those considering a withdrawal from war that would define his legacy and perhaps that of the president.“A conclusion by our enemies that the United States lacks the will or the resolve to carry out missions that demand sacrifice and demand patience is every bit as dangerous as an imbalance of conventional military power,” Mr. Rumsfeld said in a buoyant but sometimes emotional speech.

The danger that our enemies will conclude that we are weak when the leftist peaceniks who haunt our government advocate conciliation is particularly clear when you consider the cultural context in which our enemies operate.

As TAB pointed out in an earlier post, the Islamist conception of a cease-fire, or truce, the "hudna," is offered when a jihadist horde discovers itself to be too weak to carry out its religious obligation of holy war.

Thus, when our enemies think they hear us asking for a cease-fire or a truce, they assume that the only reason we are doing so is because we perceive ourselves to be too weak to carry on the battle.

Their response will be to renew and escalate their holy war against us. Let there be no doubt that the leftist politicians who hobnob with enemy leaders (in flagrant violation of the Logan Act) are thereby encouraging more attacks against the United States.