ON THE ISSUES, PART 3: The War On Terror

A current hot button political topic has been the Iraq war and what political motivations underlie the prosecution of this war. The war in Iraq has been likened to Vietnam; the war effort has been criticized as being motivated by a lust for oil, or motivated by monetary reasons. 

For some reason, the left recognizes the legitimacy of military action in Afghanistan but American efforts in Iraq, at least now, are somehow suspect. I would venture to say that the Bush administration's successful prosecution of the war in Iraq has most to do with the current criticisms from the left. In any case, the criticism offered by the lefts intellectual pygmies hardly bear up under even cursory critical evaluation. Let me begin by dismissing the three preceding questions, which simply don't merit much in the way of response. Any comparison of Iraq to Vietnam is infantile. In terms of theatre of operations, casualties, and objectives (or lack thereof), there are no corollaries. Any financial motives for the prosecution of the Iraq war seem preposterous, given the extent to which the financial resources of this country have been expended. Almost as ignorant as the foregoing, are the arguments concerning a maniacal lust for oil. Simply consider that the U.S. military has not engaged in the confiscation of oil sites, equipment, or mechanisms of distribution in Iraq. We have not, as a conquering imperialist army would, pressed the natural resources of the Iraqi's into our service.

Iraq is about taking the fight to the enemy. It's about nation building, about the establishment of two democracies in the heart of Islamic fascism. Since the events of 9/11, we have suffered no further terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. We have enjoyed this period of respite because the enemies of this country, of our way of life, are too busy scuttling about in caves or dogging sniper fire, or bombs dropped from invisible stealth aircraft to plan and execute their evil deeds in this country. That is the plain fact of the matter. The Bush administration is doing, successfully, what governments are instituted to do, which is to protect its citizenry by engaging and exterminating threats to its population. The liberals oppose the current administration and must, therefore, vilify its successes; no matter that the left gives aid and comfort to the enemy and demoralizes our military, all in the pursuit of political power. 

In the final analysis, Afghanistan and Iraq are about the disruption of the totalitarian Islamic hegemony in the Middle East, the destabilization of those who would relish our destruction. The policies in play are global in nature and historic in scope. Those who argue otherwise do so out of ignorance, stupidity, or sympathy with the enemy.

by John

***John McCain [and Sarah Palin] believe it is strategically and morally essential for the United States to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people. He strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before that has occurred. For further information, you can refer here to the Mcain/Palin website.