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."
I think Kirkuk has lots of un-Kurds too, if I recall.
Thanks sissyjane. I saw it and voted
Do whatever it takes to win is the way I voted.
60.3% current standing.
Still like my poll a little better, However, I do like the Do whatever it takes to win option.
D2
:-)
NO if Bush and congress understood the enemy and what the enemy wants to do our End Troop Strengths would be at least no less than a third stronger. But what do the numbers facts say about it? We are at a 1996 manpower level yet we are at war? Get real Please!
Bush is too busy being Mr Globalist Trade Broker to take the actions needed to win the war and the GOP which is a split party thanks to him as well lacks the fortitude as well. Which leaves us what? A Self Proclaimed RINO POTUS who is more aligned with DEMs that Conservatives on most issues.
From the second night in the war in Iraq it was obvious to many he didn't take us to Iraq for a quick victory or even a miliitary victory. He took us there for a Poppy Legacy a 1000 points of Poppy Liberalism mission but no not for a war as war has been defined throughout history. There is no other way to win at war but to eliminate the enemy or to make the incapable of fighting. Neither is going to happen under the current policies. Bush is building New Babylon for a next thug dictator the Jihad Clerics will in fact install. You grand kids will be fighting the Bush Legacy because of it. A much stronger enemy at that. Why? Because he failed to understand the culture and nature of the M.E.
Read what I posted about war. Do you have the stomach for it? Or do you wish to continue to support a charade that leads ultimately to our defeat and ruin of our nation? At the going rate of the Bush War Doctrine they are growing in population and members faster than we are taking them out. At this rate we witll be there 50 years from now doing the same if we have a military left.
I don't see partitioning happening. Sunni and Shia alike have no intention of leaving the Kurds with Kirkuk and likewise for the Kurds. If the object is to dissuade Iraqis from civil war, partititions aren't the way to go. JMHO, of course.
I just think that you could have included your second statement on your first post...
If I hadn't asked you about what you posted...then kristinn would NOT have gotten his due as being "a good man that means well".
I have always liked and respected you, humble....but words mean something.
I don't mind your "grumpiness"...but the name-calling was not fair, IMHO>
They should have quietly killed Saddam when they found him while he was still in that hole.
SO BE IT.
Could you tell me where we are going to get another 300,000 fighters in America at the wave of a pen?
That's the way I voted also.
A draft. But that would surely be the end of the war.
Kurds are a small majority in Kirkuk. That's why I said East and West Kirkuk. Perhaps I should have said, East, West and North Kirkuk. :-}
You might give Charlie Rangel a ring.
LOL....I agree.
wow!
bump
:-} You bet which is why Charlie Rangel likes the idea. Of course the grunts hate the idea, they don't want guys watching their 6 who have no motivation to be there.
The problem is manning 4-6 more Army divisions when we are just keeping pace with what we have now vis a vis recruitment and retention. Tough nut to crack with 4.5% unemployment rates.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
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