Bunch of
Posted on 12/06/2002 4:41:09 PM PST by Gore_ War_ Vet
Dear Editor:
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction. Papa says, "If you hear it from the White House, it's so." Please tell me the truth: Does Iraq have weapons of mass destruction?
Virginia O'Hanlon
Virginia,
Your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They think that nothing can be which is not proven.
Think of the wonderful things we learn from the White House. We hear of an immediate and inevitable attack by Iraq; of its nuclear capabilities and links to al-Qaeda. While no proof has been offered, does this mean their rhetoric was invalid?
Not believe in weapons of mass destruction! You might as well not believe the president politicized the war on terrorism. While no one yet sees evidence of these weapons, that is no sign that there are none. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you or your papa ever see Ken Lay slip millions in stolen Enron funds to the Republican Party? Of course not, but that's no proof that he did not do so. Do Iraqi officials work with al-Qaeda? Again, it may not seem true to a child such as yourself, but on Sunday mornings Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleezza Rice will tell you that this is so.
Sweet princess, in this magical world we may hear Saddam Hussein has no nuclear capabilities, yet months later we are told that he does. Although our government shows us no evidence and offers no proof, we cannot question what we are told when officials assure us what they say is true.
No weapons of mass destruction? Poppycock.
Virginia, we can agree that Saddam Hussein is a very bad man, and he may very well possess terrible weapons. Our Republican and Democratic senators and congressmen all hope this is so, for it helps them avoid facing America's domestic difficulties. Why, wouldn't you agree it is far simpler to fight an evil enemy than clean up our environment or foster renewable energy sources? Certainly! This is why even if Hussein complies or U.N. inspectors cannot locate these weapons, this news will be most unwelcome. So in a twinkle, we'll discover that our reasons for war have changed and our history of justifiable military defense is no longer a prudent policy. Why do we do this? Ah, that is a mystery to children and adults alike.
We cannot debate; we cannot inquire; we cannot expect to be shown evidence. When a popular president and his secretaries and our wise old attorney general tell us to have faith in what we are told, so we must afford them our faith.
Until then, Virginia, believe in weapons of mass destruction. Believe, child, or you and any others who ask questions will be branded un-American.
Gary McKechnie lives in Mount Dora. The preceding is based on the 1897 editorial in the New York Sun that declared, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."
Copyright © 2002, Orlando Sentinel
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
This editorial has done it, I am finally convinced that our impending attack on Iraq is justified.
I no longer feel left out for thinking that we should have justification or provocation for attacking a sovereign country on the other side of the world. Gone are my conservative bonds.
I must confess that for some time I have felt like a FRINO, but now I am so overcome with globalism that I am excited and hope to help select the next country for us to attack. Proof, Smoof. Kill'em all and let God sort'em out.
Gotta go write my list to Santa.
FReep on!
... for attacking a sovereign country ...Sovereign ideed. And sovereignty trumps human rights. (Yet more Saddam apologetics. When did the political left become so enamoured of tyrants?)
Better late than never.
I was wondering what that smell was.
If you hang a picture, expect people to look.
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