Posted on 11/24/2006 6:46:08 PM PST by kristinn
I'm reading an astonishing number of comments on Free Republic these days by posters who have joined the ranks of the anti-American left in calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Some claim to have military experience, some claim to be patriotic Americans and some claim to be smarter than the rest.
These posters are joining the Murtha-Rangel-McDermott treason caucus. Oh, they say they love the troops, but their decision to abandon them in the field speaks otherwise.
Three years ago, the United States led an international coalition to rid the world of one of the worst regimes on the planet. Saddam Hussein was an international terrorist: He financed terrorism, he trained terrorists and he harbored terrorists. He waged war on Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Israel. He waged war on the people of Iraq, including genocidal campaigns against the Kurds in the north and the marsh Arabs in the south.
Saddam successfully subverted the Oil-for-Food program and was wearing down support for continuing the sanctions keeping him in check.
He had numerous contacts with al Qaeda over the years. He tried to assassinate a former U.S. president. He maintained research capabilities to implement nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as soon as the sanctions were lifted. There is evidence that some of these programs would have been operational within a year even with the sanctions in place.
The decision to remove Saddam and his regime as part of the Global War on Terror was correct.
Three-and-a-half years after Iraq and the world were liberated from Saddam and his terrorist regime, there are those on Free Republic who are clamoring to give up, surrender, cut and run, stab the troops in the back, betray the Iraqis, betray our allies in the GWOT, spit on the graves of our fallen heroes and join Cindy Sheehan, Medea Benjamin and Ramsey Clark in bringing about America's defeat in the GWOT.
It's only been three-and-a-half years--only six months since the freely elected government in Iraq was formed. In that time, what has been called a mini-Marshall Plan of construction and reconstruction has come to fruition. The Iraqis have held three national elections, they have held numerous local elections, fourteen out of eighteen Iraq provinces are relatively peaceful and stable.
Six months ago, when the Iraqi government was formed, the experts said the war would be taken to Baghdad because our enemies in the region could not abide the example of a free, democratic society in the Middle East. For once, the experts were right. The battle of Baghdad has been a prolonged Tet Offensive style operation of headline-grabbing attacks intended to sap the morale of Americans and Iraqis alike.
From what I've been reading on Free Republic lately, a lot of Freepers have fallen for the enemy's ploy and are howling like barking moonbats for our immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Some of that talk is couched in talk of 'we're fighting a PC war like Vietnam!' The soldiers I met in Iraq recently told Debra Argel Bastian to pass on a message to the Vietnam vets criticizing the war: With all due respect to your service, this is not Vietnam. It is not being fought like Vietnam. Please let us finish our mission.
But our enemy is playing the Vietnam ploy to great benefit. They know they can count on the American and world media to broadcast their propaganda. They work with leftist Americans to sabotage the war effort at home. They know these leftist Americans have allies in the Democratic party. They know they do not need a military victory--only political and psychological victories are needed to defeat America.
You guys are playing right in to their hands. Congratulations.
There are those who argue that murder and dictatorship is the mindset of the Middle East and that will not be changed by our actions. Funny how those who smugly denigrate the Arab peoples' capacity for freedom forget the wholesale slaughter of millions of Westerners by Westerners at the hands of Western dictatorships just a few generations past.
I hear complaints that the Iraqis aren't standing up. Yet, to use one common example, when police recruits are slaughtered in bombings, Iraqis line up the next day at the same recruiting center. The insurgency is small in number, but they are able to do enough damage on a daily basis to stretch out the time it will take to secure the whole of Iraq.
At this time of our testing, the American people are starting to go wobbly. Sadly, many Freepers are too. Our troops and their Commander-in-Chief are not, thank God. It's only been three-and-a-half years. The progress made has been phenomonal. Throw in the towel now, and you'll just have the terrorists follow us home. Everyone knows that, including you. I'm not willing to pay that price, not now, not ever, but you are.
Let me close by offering similar sentiments recently offered by two men 'in the know' on the situation in Iraq who are not giving up. First, Kurdish Regional Government Prime Minister Barzani: "When I was in the United States recently and read the negative news in the Washington Post, New York Times and in the network TV broadcasts, I even wondered if things had gotten so bad since I had left that I shouldn't return."
Next, Gen. Abizaid: "When I come to Washington, I feel despair. When I'm in Iraq with my commanders, when I talk to our soldiers, when I talk to the Iraqi leadership, they are not despairing."
My son was in Iraq from the spring of 2003 to the spring of 2004.....in Baghdad mostly.........and he said that every single Iraqi he met loved them and was glad that we had freed him.
That's what keeps me from believing the MSM that has swallowed you up, Wormwood.
Let me guess, anyone that disagrees with you is a "dope"?
You may have to get busy on that 'Report Abuse' link as you'd likely have better luck getting them banned than them just "leaving".
Although, calling folks names like "Fleepers" and such might just work considering how well name calling convinced so many folks to help the GOP hold on to congress.
It's early yet. ;-)
Dolt! You don't know what existed when Saddam was in power because all protestors are in those mass graves over there.
If we could just get the mass grave thing down, all would be simpler.
As Rangel sees it, “normal people” would more likely balk at going to war
SOB, so now our troops are not normal.
If it is lost, this is no longer a conservative forum.
so what is relevant, other than your own opinions, of course.
Words so seldom mean what they seem.
We are fighting on two fronts - the liberal, secular left and the Islamo-fascists. We are fighting as if in response to a chronic infection, when the only path to victory will require radical surgery.
Criticizing our strategy now usually reflects a misunderstanding, wide spread in western society now, of our situation, and what must be done. And it usually serves as a proxy for weakening our ability to gather the strength and resolve that we will be called on to wield, in time.
I trust you speak in good faith. But I think you are more wrong than you will realize, for some time to come.
Nope. But you may well be.
That also remains to be seen depending on how dopey your responses continue to be......
Go Buckeyes. ;)
LOLOL!
okay...I wasn't there...what "orders" were kritinn giving?
Was he being an organizer??
I can't believe that a majority on Free Republic, presently don't support the war in Iraq. Maybe JimRob should do a poll.
Yes.
If I hear one more person mouth that phony line, I support the troops, but ...
They don't.
But I still think sanity will return.
And I agree with your suggestion that Mystery not read this thread with her previous boy over there.
Thankfully, no.
He does good work and means well.
He rubbed a few folks wrong down in these parts though.
I am in 100% agrement. However, most officers become politicians and yes men as soon as they make O-6. They're busy trying to make that next star, or positioning themselves for a civilian political job after the hang up the green (or blue, white, khaki) suit. If you want to find the truth, talk to a crusty old bast**d of a First Sergeant, or some Captain who has to write a letter to the parents of a young PFC in his unit that just became a casualty to the "religion of peace". I'm so thankful I don't have that job.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
They've stolen a bit of more of our language from us, Ohio. Speak clearly, stand strong, persist. The Truth will prevail, but the battle will never end.
I hate every single death of a military person or contractor over there..
But, you do remember that we lost 3000 people in HOURS on 9/11????
This war has been going on for going on 4 years...and less than that have been KIA in Iraq.
These people being slaughtered over there are the Iraqis...some of them just trying to live their lives..
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