Posted on 04/30/2004 9:16:18 AM PDT by Check_Your_Premises
As an avid supporter of the President's Iraq policies, the last few days have been difficult for me. The number of casualties seemed to reach a "critical mass" for me. I found myself simply not caring to sacrifice anymore of our brave soldiers for Iraqi independence and democracy. Screw 'em.
I was not sure why I began to feel this way. As I said I am an avid supporter of the plan to bring an oasis of freedom and liberty to the 12th century toilet that is the middle east. It seemed to me that if we are to end terrorism we have to destroy the sources, which are the failed states and ideology of that region.
Why not? We have succeeded at such things in the past. We transformed post war Germany and Japan into thriving and peaceful democracies. Unfortunately, we have also failed at such things in the past. Of course, I am speaking of the war that Teddy Kennedy's brother got us into.
The one problem I had with liberating Iraq from Saddam's clutches is that we were removing one of the most important steps to the forming of a successful democracy. The successful overthrow of tyranny is a process that produces the type of leaders that are required to bring the successful transition from tyranny to liberal democracy. By liberating Iraq, for the Iraqis we were not allowing their "Founding Fathers" to become. It is of course worth noting that such leaders may never have been produced.
It seems to me now that the war in Iraq suffers from the same fatal flaw as the war in Vietnam. I may be speculating here, but it seems we simply cared more than the South Vietnamese, that their nation remain free. No American should be expected to die defending the home of another not willing to do the same. In the same sense we seem to care more about the freedom of the Iraqi people than they do themselves. This is why I don't really care anymore. If they truly cared or understood their fate, they would be dying ten to our one. And in that case I think the American people would support them steadfastly. God knows I would.
So what was different about our success stories, Japan and Germany. Well we basically bombed the entire nation back into the stone age. I think their civilians were probably so glad that we weren't going to execute our own "final solution" to the "Japanese and German question", that they were willing to do whatever we said. It is also worth noting that in annhilating their armies we effectively removed any person who would be opposed to our efforts. As George Will put it recently, they "knew they were defeated".
So the question is if:
1) we care more about the freedom of the Iraqi people than they do (something we could only have known in hindsight), and
2)we are not willing to wage total war until all opposition is removed,
than how can we possibly win there?
Well I think you see where I am getting at. General Sherman would probably agree with me. However since we do not have the will to fight this way, it is clear that we cannot win until that fact changes. What could bring such a change of will about? Unfortunately, I think we are victims of our own success in preventing further terrorist attacks. Until every man, woman, child, and leftist acutely feels that they are in grave danger of death at the hands of these murderers, America will not be ready to do what she must to win this war.
Until we are ready, maybe we should hold off on any further "imperialist" adventures in the world's excretory regions.
Semper Fidelis
MDP
We are in Iraq in particular and the Middle East in general for a far greater reason than imposing democracy on Iraq.
Regardless of the outcome in Iraq, we will be in the ME for a long time to come.
That's exactly the point . . . the problem is that a substantial number of Americans think it is. The United States was never in danger of "losing" this war -- but the odds have always been very high that we would lose interest.
I do appreciate the input from those who actually read the thread instead of just reading the title and assuming from there.
No I don't think we can pull out of Iraq, nor should we. And I did fail to mention the wonderful side effect of removing Saddam, and that is that we are getting to kill all sorts of wonderful people.
No, I am not going wobbly. I have no problem with another Hiroshima. I am just pointing out that to many other people are.
We have already succeeded in what we originally set out to do. The regime of Sadham has been eradicated.
If "critical mass" has been reached in your thoughts then you should rethink what "critical mass" really is.
Considering that there is a minute fraction of these, so called, militia compared to the number of Iraqi people AND considering that a goodly number of the, so called, militia are probably from other arabic countries I don't think that you can really say that we care more about their freedom than the Iraqi people do.
They have been ground down for so long that it may take some period of time before they realize that their future IS in their own hands.
Of the garrison of 32,000 Japanese, only 1000 soldiers survived, and 22,000 civilians were also dead. The US casualities were high; 3,426 Marines and GIs died.
The reputation of our country is on the line. Those entities who wish for our demise learned the propaganda game from what happened in Viet Nam. The 4th branch of government, the media, learned it as well.
The president knows this and he is committed. We, the American people who have the vision to support the president need to suck it up and not succumb to the media blitz of nothing but BAD NEWS.
Just listen to words of a Marine officer in Iraq in a letter published recently in frontpagemag.com:
"That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are fight the lies of the enemy. Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us too much," "That part of the world is just too messed up," "It's our fault anyway," "We're to blame," and so forth. Whether you're in middle school, working at a 9-5 job, retired, or a stay-at-home mom you can make a huge difference! There is nothing more powerful than the truth. So, when you watch the news and see doomsday predictions and spiteful opinions on our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the everyday lives of Iraqis and the rest of the Arab world than the American Armed Forces. By making this a place where liberty can finally grow, we are making the whole world safer. Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception. So I'm asking you as a fellow fighting man: Do your duty. Stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are. You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side. Together we will win this fight and ensure a better world for the future.
God Bless and Semper Fidelis, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq
I will honor the good Lt's request. Will all of you at freerepublic do the same?
Semper Fi, Devil Dogs, the American people support you!
That is what makes this whole thing so preposterous. How can an elected government like ours possibly make plans for a 30-year war if it can't even be certain today that it will even be around to execute these plans after January 2005?
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