DAVE ROSS

Why it’s important

Nov 14, 2012, 8:27 AM | Updated: 9:20 am

The former Commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Gen. Davis Petraeus, left, shaking hands with Paula Broadwell, co-author of his biography "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus." (AP Photo/ISAF, file)

(AP Photo/ISAF, file)

The Petraeus story has started a big discussion about the conduct of American males. But the problem here isn’t just another powerful man brought low by his libido.

The problem is that this was the man in charge of Afghanistan. This was the man representing the United States of America, the nation that is supposed to be rescuing Afghanistan from radical Islam.

And radical Islam is going to use this to clean our moral clocks.

Associated Press quotes Waheed Muzhda. You’ve never heard of him; I’d never heard of him, but he’s a former foreign minister for the old Taliban regime who’s also been participating in the peace process. He’s now quoted as saying the Petraeus affair is evidence that American civilization is crumbling.

This is from an AP story: “It is shameful” he says, “for a military general with such a big name and authority to violate the rights of his wife. These types of values are totally different from the values of Islam and our culture. If this happens in our country, the punishment is stoning.”

The AP story quotes another Muslim cleric in Kabul: “Such immoral sexual relations take place in societies with no Islamic values…The US has no such authority or dignity to say they want to bring human rights and womens’ rights to the world.”

Of course we know that what Petraeus did in no way reflects our core values as a nation, and I find it hard to believe anyone would buy the idea that stoning is how you fix such things.

But when you’re in a fight to persuade the very conservative people of Afghanistan that we are a superior moral alternative, playing into the enemy’s stereotype doesn’t help you win.

You might also like:

Dori Monson: Do you owe your spouse a hot body?
Don’t misuse the weapon that took down Petraeus

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

Why it’s important