I Am An American

Dispatches From The American Front | February 24, 2003 | James Benton

[Master Zinja]

DISPATCHES FROM THE AMERICAN FRONT
February 24, 2003

I Am An American
By James Benton

I am an American.

While I was born here, my family descends from Eastern European immigrants who arrived here a hundred years ago. Mine is the second generation born in the United States. I love my country and all that she stands for, and I will defend my rights and the rights of all other Americans to the death, if need be.

I am an American.

I recognize that my country has been at war for the past eighteen months. I also remember why we went to war in the first place, and when I close my eyes I am still haunted by burning, collapsing buildings and people jumping to escape the flames, by the thought of innocent people terrorized on airliners, unwittingly becoming weapons against their own countrymen. I can also see the probable course of future attacks against us, and what will happen if we allow Saddam to continue to build his arsenal and allow it to get on the open market to other terrorists.

I wonder at our former allies in France, Germany and Russia. Do they remember September 11 the way I do? I wonder if they have thought of the "what-ifs" as I have. For example, what if those planes had been French planes slamming into the Eiffel Tower and other buildings in Paris? What if an Iraqi chemical weapon is detonated in Berlin? I think two things would've happened: the victimized countries would've immediately declared war as we did, and the US and the rest of NATO would've been standing with them immediately, no questions asked.

I also wonder what will happen when France becomes insignificant on the world stage after vetoing the next UN resolution, then suffers a terrorist attack of great magnitude. Will they ask us for help? Will we be there for them? I would've said yes to both questions six months ago. I'm not so sure now.

I wonder at those Americans who so vehemently oppose the liberation of Iraq, who by their utter opposition to war automatically support a dictator who has tortured and killed his own people, who defies at every turn the very United Nations those who embrace peace hold in such high esteem. And I wonder something else: if the coming war is not the answer, then what is? If their solution is so good, then they have a moral obligation to put a plan on the table for discussion. There are any number of people in the UN who would jump at the chance to sponsor such a plan if it's a good one, to be a legitimate peacemaker - France, for example.

The problem with this is simple: the anti-war movement has no plan. There are those marching who oppose any war for any reason, but they are a tiny minority. Most anti-war activists marching now are strictly anti-American, against anything the United States stands for, except for (obviously) freedom of speech. They have no plan because it doesn't take a plan to hate.

There is only one answer to the chants of the anti-American activists, an answer already given by our own president some months ago:

"Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."

I am an American, and as such am amazed at those who would forget history so quickly, the Clinton apologists who blindly follow a leader whose "containment" policy hastened our entry into this war. The containment policy did nothing more than show the world the false face of a cowardly America unwilling to defend itself against any attack, egging on those would do us harm, and eventually costing us thousands of lives and billions in damage on September 11 as well as causing the war this policy was supposed to prevent.

However, if Osama and others misjudged America before based on the lies and cowardace of the previous administration, then they received a rude awakening in Afghanistan as to what a united America can do when angered - a lesson Saddam did not get, but is about to.

I am an American.

I have a family, a home, a job, duct tape, plastic sheeting, freedom and the uniquely American optimism that says no matter the events of the next few months, we'll come away with a somewhat better world for all involved. I can't bring myself to think any other way, despite the what-ifs, because optimism has always been synonymous with liberty and freedom.

Because I am an American.

[Master Zinja]

Comments and opinions always welcome.

[error99]

Did Ted Nugent write this?

[Master Zinja]

Nope, all mine.

Zinja

[TxBec]

Well said!

[palmer]

As I have pointed out before, this focus on rogue countries probably had something to do with 9/11. There were a bunch of terrorists in training in early 2001, we had warnings about them but essentially ignored those warnings to focus on Iraq.

Iraq's WMDs might be a threat someday too, but I have yet to see a specific threat. Instead I hear the same lame rhetoric from before 9/11, that Iraq isn't complying with the U.N. resolutions. Why do we care so much about these U.N. resolutions? They are a dime a dozen. We need to do what is best for our security interests which, IMO, is to go after terrorists like we did in Yemen, like we should have done in Tora Bora instead of letting them go.

[HankReardon]

"There is no substitute for victory." Gen. Douglas MacAuthur. The great General was speaking of North Korea 50 years ago. He was and is proven so right. And for Iraq let's allow our military to achieve victory, and then there will be peace.

[buffyt]

"Most anti-war activists marching now are strictly anti-American, against anything the United States stands for, except for (obviously) freedom of speech."

And I think the reason they hate conservatives, including all of us and Pres. Bush, is partly because Reagan called for the Berlin wall to come down. Communism fell in Russia then. These people who organize these anti-America anti-War anti-Military protests are Communist groups who want the New World Order with Communism as the One World Government. I don't know whom they think they could get as the leader of the entire world... who would be a good leader, above corruption, above evil, above doing anything dishonest or bad? I don't think anyone could handle that big of a job without making major goofs, IF they ever got their wish for World Communism. But I think they want Bill Clinton to head up the UN while Hillary Mistress of Darkness is President. And I think they like Hussein and bin Laden and Chirac and Kadafy and Castro.....

[nyconse]

The cold war is over? Russia was defeated. However we made a deal with North Korea-next we contained them. Now North Korea has nuclear weapon capable of reaching the continental United States. McArthur was correct. One must crush the enemy- not make deals. North Korea, Iraq continue to cause the USA trouble. In Vietnam millions are dead because of our "peacemaking". The united states should never involve itself in any conflict unless it intends to obtain a clear victory.

[HankReardon]

Gen. MacAuthur's statement "There is no substitute for Victory" is being proven correct just by the fact that 50 years later we still have to deal with North Korea. And Ayn Rand has something to do with this in what way? To have nuked the NK's and the Chinese would have been wrong, I agree, but this does not make the General's statement wrong. There really is no substitute for victory. For instance,the Israli- Israli Arab conflict. It'll be over when there is a victor and a vanquished, not until.

[HankReardon]

Also China is the enemy of the United States, never doubt this. They have been preparing for the Chinese-American war for over a decade now. The cornerstone of this nation is continuing advancement and protection of individual human rights and liberty, any nation who does not participate in this cause is not only different, but our enemy. Commerce and prosperity or not. Do you think it is a good thing that North Korea has been "contained" for all these decades at such a cost of suffering to the North Korean populace?