Posted on 03/23/2003 10:24:05 AM PST by waRNmother.armyboots
Welcome remarks and reminder to keep troops in Korea in our prayers. Mention absence of elected officials from a certain political party. Encourage people to do their demonstrating in the voting booth.
I want to tell you something. There are thousands of people across this nation and around the world today who are protesting our actions in Iraq. But there are many thousands more who like you and I, understand that our cause is just and that our troops are defending America and the world from an evil and treacherous man. Many of these anti-war protesters, right here in the US – the organizers in particular – are blatantly anti-American and should just pack their bags and go somewhere else! Many more of them are simply anti-Republican. They would oppose ‘good weather’ if they thought it was a Republican idea – especially if it were President Bush’s idea. But the vast majority of the people protesting the war today are good hearted, red-blooded, patriotic Americans who love this country just as much as you and I do. These people are not anti-American, they’re anti-reality! God bless them, they believe that we just need to “give peace a chance”. That we shouldn’t “rush to war”. That if we just be nice to our enemies, they’ll be nice back. I have a message for those people…
WAKE UP!!! Neville Chamberlain was wrong and so are you! “Peace in our time” only comes when men of good will have the fortitude to stand up to tyrants and tell them “NO!”… And are willing to back that up with force!
Something that these “Appeasement Protesters” seem to forget is that if they lived in Iraq and chose to demonstrate against government action, they would be killed! Crushed like a student in Tienamen square! Now I strongly disagree with the appeasement protesters but I am willing to fight and die to preserve their right to be wrong! Thank God we live in a nation where our right to think and express ourselves is recognized and protected. Thank God for the United States of America!
Today our troops are in Iraq marching toward Baghdad. Today, after 12 years of failed UN inspections… After 12 years of failed UN sanctions… After 12 years of arrogance and lies and broken promises… After 12 years, Saddam Hussein is finally being held to account for his actions. The 12-year rush to war has finally become a 3rd Infantry Division rush to Baghdad. When my President, George W. Bush said, “This is your last chance”, he meant it!
We know that while we’re in Iraq, and after we finish in Iraq… once Iraq has been liberated… there will be some grumbling from some corners of the “world community” but mostly there will be sighs of relief. Pretty quickly, life will get back to normal except that the world will be a safer place. NOT just because Saddam Hussein will be gone but because Nations that harbor and support terrorists will think twice and then follow Nancy Reagan’s advice and “Just Say NO!” Nations that try to threaten and intimidate and trample the rights of their people and their neighbors will suddenly become more amenable to diplomatic solutions. And maybe the French will finally… Aw who am I trying to kid… the French will still be French.
You know the French have reason for concern about our action in Iraq. The French have shed blood in Iraq in the past. Twenty years ago, one French electrician was the only casualty when – totally unprovoked – 8 Israeli F16 fighter-bombers – in a blatant violation of international law – violated Iraqi airspace and dropped 16 large bombs in the middle of a low building just outside of Baghdad. There was quite a commotion down at the UN after that little stunt, I guarantee that… But all of that chest beating and shoe pounding means nothing today. What those 8 planes and those 16 bombs have meant to the world for the past 20 years is incalculable. You see, that building on the outskirts of Baghdad was a nuclear reactor facility that was expected to “go hot” within a matter of days and would have given Saddam Hussein the capacity to build at least 3 nuclear bombs a year forever after. That French designed, French built, Russian assisted, nuclear facility was being constructed for the sole purpose of turning French supplied uranium into weapons-grade plutonium. On June 7th, 1981, eight pilots from Israel and a little bald guy with thick glasses named Menachem Begin said, “NO!” Can you imagine what the Gulf War could have been had those 8 pilots not been successful?
That was 20 years ago. Thank God Menachem Begin had the foresight, the strength, and the political will to stand up and tell Saddam Hussein and the world NO on that day.
A couple of days ago, our president, George W. Bush, stood up and told Saddam Hussein, “NO” again. No more lies. No more last chances. No more false peace. We will not allow Saddam Hussein and murderers like him to hold the world hostage. We have the right. We have the power. And we have the responsibility, to stand up, stand fast, and tell Saddam Hussein, “NO.” ONE LAST TIME!!!
To George W. Bush I say: Mr. President… I stand with you… We stand with you! We support you and we support our brave men and women who are entering into harms way on our behalf. We pray God for their safety. We pray for swift and decisive victory. And we pray for our nation… God Bless you all, and God Bless the USA!
Jeff Knox is a US Army veteran and Jr. Vice Commander of Spokane VFW Post 2218.
Great job, BTW. Despite the cold and the wind a great turnout and I loved hearing all the cars honking at the people on the sidewalk as they drove by.
WE STAND WITH YOU MR. PRESIDENT!
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