Boy, people sure like jumping off of the bandwagon. They expect everything to be nice and easy. Of course, I want it that way also but sometimes it's not. In Iraq that's the reality. It's not easy and the cost has been high. But the question is, why did we go there in the first place?
There were many reasons given but the reasons I supported (and still support) the effort is that Iraq was a terrorist state that was a haven for bad guys. They could get training there and funding. Iraq was a major source of arms for the Islamic government in The Sudan that has been terrorising Christians. Saddam also used to give money to families of Palestinian homicide bombers. On this basis alone, that's reason enough for me. I do believe there were WMDs and some of them are probably in Syria. As time passes more WMD evidence will be found.
Now, the left didn't make a big deal out of Kosovo and actually supported it on a humanitarian basis, yet Iraq was a far worse place but they can't even support this effort on that basis.
Now, more than ever, we must continue to win the peace in Iraq. There are some areas that are not won over yet. Terrorists are coming across the borders to fight against the allies. If we fail in Iraq then any hope of bringing freedom and democracy will pass. The way to a more lasting peace in some of the Middle East is through freedom and democracy. I do think even that is a far-fetched dream but it is wrong to just accept the status quo.
The fight for freedom and democracy cannot end at our borders. We must continue to be proactive.
Posted by Tim at September 17, 2003 09:32 PMThe left has been hypocritical vis a vis Kosovo simply because a good outcome in Iraq strengthens Bush and his political agenda. Lest we forget, the war in Kosovo was conducted without U.N. support (Russia and China would have vetoed).
While I do not believe that Iraq was the nexus of terror in the Middle East, I do believe that it is the center of gravity when it comes to resolving Israel/Palestine and heading off a potential Clash of Civilizations ala Huntington.
Unfortunately, the left would deny freedom and a better life to millions in order to prevent the reelection of Bush and the possibility that corporate America might profit from our efforts.
