I wonder, if Kerry is elected into office, this would give a green light to the insurgent forces within Iraq and Afghanistan to cause as much death as possible. If the US people elect Kerry, who in their view is that it will be a retreat by the American people, and all the insurgents have to do is keep the death toll extremely bloody in order for them to leave. The intensity of the assult of on the people of Iraq will become even greater.
However, even though president Bush, who is less diplomatic, well spoken and smart than his opponent has become a symbol of defiance to terrorist activities, would be deal a demoralising blow to insurgent hopes as it becomes clear the US people cannot be swayed or beaten in its misson. Wouldn’t these kind of people hope to God that he’s be booted out of office?
Heres an opinion of an Iraq blogger of what he expects when Bush is booted from office
Lets get it clear that I’m no fan of Boosh, but if this is the case in what Iraqis perceive and you vote Kerry in, it seems to me that the Iraq conflict will become even more of a mess.
No, I don’t think so. If you accept that the insurgents, of whatever stripe, have as their primary concern simply getting the foreign occupiers out, and secondarily getting their own piece of Iraq under control, then a Kerry victory might let them back off. If they see that the withdrawal will be sooner rather than later, they’ll have less reason to try to make the occupation untenable. Bush, we all know, will keep doing what he’s doing until there’s no more way for him to pretend it’s working or will work. Even as it is, there are large and growing regions of the country that the US/Allawi forces cannot enter. What was Santayana’s definition of “fanaticism”, btw?
So, if Kerry wins, they’ll expect (rightly or not) at least a partial withdrawal of the US forces, and can save their manpower and equipment for the ensuing civil war.
Personally, I suspect that Bush is more a symbol of what they see as American oppression and jingoism than defiance, exactly, but in the end I don’t know any terrorists, neither, presumably, does the OP, and thus assigning specific stances as to which US presidential candidate they favor seems an exercise in pure speculation.
Anyway, I 've seen nothing in particular indicating that the insurgents are holding anything back right now. IMO they are causing just as much havoc as they can possibly manage at present, and will continue to do until they run out of C4, RPGs and suicidal volunteers, or until the US pulls out of Iraq, whichever comes first.
Likewise, I believe one could just as easily argue that if they do have anything in reserve, they would increase the pressure on a renewed Bush government, if we assume they are sure, as they supposedly are, that it would take more such pressure to oust the US troops than under a Kerry government.
Even if I don’t agree with the OP… I do agree that insurgents might read a Kerry election in wierd ways. Still I am impressed by how many times I see americans saying the insurgents will waver or weaken… at the same time they say that America mustn’t give in or waver. I feel the insurgents have much more to lose than America does if they quit… why should americans feel they are made of tougher stuff or stronger will ? Its a battle of prides and religion without purpose on both sides.
Just think how much less substantial your involvement could have been if your partner’s message hadn’t been, “Fuck you all. Are you with us or against us.”
Or, “your people” could be pissed because they were lied to by their own government as well as mine. But nah, that can’t be it. It must be all the negative attitudes…it sure can’t be the bald-faced screwjob both nations have gotten (along with Poland, et al).