War with Iraq

It's Time To Stand And Fight

As this nation moves toward war with Iraq, many are demonstrating for peace, while other informed, enlightened Americans, including columnists at the Derry News, are struggling to make up their minds.

I’m left to wonder if informed enlightenment includes the lessons of history. Surely if it did, recent events would seem all-too-familiar. The world has already suffered the unnecessary slaughter of nearly 6 million of us at the hands of the last tyrant. His name was Adolph Hitler, and he was just as black, just as clever, as the newer model, Saddam Hussein. Many informed, enlightened people struggled with the thought of war then too. Only in the end, the world was forced to fight — to put down a regime that had been left to grow stronger and stronger while diplomats wondered what to do.

Even if you discount the lessons of history, how can any informed, enlightened soul forget September 11th?

On that day some 3,000 of us died at the hands of fanatics — mad dogs who hate so insanely, so intently, that they will sacrifice anything, their own lives included, to see us destroyed. How can any informed, enlightened person have forgotten those terrible, terrible images, those heart wrenching stories of everyday people gone without a good-bye? I haven’t forgotten, and I’m not going to. Not ever.

While you’re scratching your head wondering what the “right” thing to do is, Saddam promises and delivers nothing, all the while growing stronger, moving forward with his own agenda. He supports, and cheers, those who carried out the attacks on our nation. And if he hasn’t already, he’ll willingly supply biological or chemical weapons to those with the will to carry out brutal acts of terrorism. His target? You.

And, in case you hadn’t noticed, freedom is his enemy. Brutality and bribery are his constant companions. He kills his own without thought or regret. He spends millions on weapons while his people live in crushing poverty. He’s clever and cunning, careful to court diplomats and other informed, enlightened souls with empty promises. In truth, he doesn’t care what you, or the world thinks. He’s got his own ideas.

Is Saddam the only sick, black soul in power in this world? No, of course not. We’ve still no shortage of leaders who could be described this way. But as of now, he is the one who has the means, and the will, to do anything, anything, to bring us down.

And while I may not be as informed or enlightened as some, it seems to me that the time has come to stop the fruitless debates and endless chances. We need to stop apologizing for being the only remaining superpower in this world. We have the right to defend ourselves against this very real, very capable threat — no matter what the rest of the world thinks.

For as much as we might consider war a last resort, there are times when war is the only way. You cannot reason with madness, fanatical desire or rabid, inbred hatred. Instead you must fight — fight or die. From what I’ve seen, appeasing a tyrant doesn’t avoid unnecessary slaughter — it invites it.

So, as events unfold, I stand where I’ve always stood, proudly behind our President, our country, our way of life. I’ll do whatever I can to support our troops as they fight to defend me and my family. And I won’t forget what brought us to this grave, terrible place.

I hope that I’m not alone.

So if you must moan and wail about the loss of innocent men, women and children — start with the senseless, brutal deaths of the citizens of your own country. Then, pick up a history book and learn about the other innocent souls who were slaughtered that last time informed, enlightened people didn’t have the stomach to confront a ruthless bully who had the means to destroy at will.