Our prayers are with our troops

The Capital (Annapolis, Md) ^ | 3-21-03 | Editorial Staff

[BobP]

HometownAnnapolis.com
Opinion -

Our say: Our prayers are with our troops

SO, THE FIGHTING HAS finally begun. As with most Americans, our feelings are painfully mixed: apprehension for our troops, hope that this war will be short and successful, and belief in the essential rightness of America's cause.

This country does more agonizing over war, and resorts to it more reluctantly, than any major power in world history. Some even go to the opposite extreme and argue that "war never solves anything." That's an incredibly silly remark to be made by anyone with even slight familiarity with history - but the fact that it is made, and by intelligent people, reflects a deep yearning for a world free from the need to depend on force or the threat of force.

We're far from such a world. And we were never further from it than on Sept. 11, 2001, when thousands of Americans died because of a few simple holes in our security and the crazed fantasies of a group of terrorists.

This tragedy forced a twofold obligation on America's leaders: First, to track down and punish those responsible. Second, to prevent another massive terrorist attack.

So the Bush administration was put on a collision course with various depraved regimes that are developing these weapons, and could easily sell or give them to terrorist networks, or try smuggling them into our country themselves. Not surprisingly, Iraq - whose weapons programs violate not only decency, but the armistice agreement made a dozen years ago - was at the head of the list.

As this war starts, we're not concerned about what happens to Saddam Hussein. He's a sadist and a mass murderer. As far as sheer evil goes, he ranks with the worst foes this country has ever confronted, and he deserves whatever he's going to get.

But it is a tragedy that Iraqi soldiers, out of fear or deluded loyalty, are going to die for a monster who doesn't care about them. It's a tragedy that the only way to get rid of this threat to America is to send America's fighting men and women into harm's way.

But what else can be done? Sanctions don't work on a leader who would gladly let half his country starve. Weapons inspections can't work on a regime determined to subvert them. And the United Nations doesn't make the final decisions for us on matters relating to the safety and security of America.

As war starts, the arguments at home should be muted. What matters now is the safety of our troops. We join Americans across this nation in hoping for a short and victorious war that brings those men and women safely home to us.

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Published March 20, 2003, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2003 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

[BobP]

On to Baghdad!

[Smartass]

The winter will lose its cold,
as the snow will be without whiteness,
The night without darkness,
the heavens without stars,
the day without light,
The flower will lose its beauty,
all fountains their water,
the sea its fish,
the tree its birds,
the forest its beasts,
the earth its harvest -
All these things will pass before
anyone breaks the bonds of our love,
And before I cease caring for you in my heart.
May your days be happy in number as flakes of snow,
May your nights be peaceful,
and may you be without troubles.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS