The War In Iraq: Editorial I -- The Conflict Begins
By Robert J. Rutkowski (03/23/03)
With the armed forces of our nation deployed to free the oppressed people of Iraq, there are minions of the anti-war left who chose not to support our troops, instead, they prefer to cause civil unrest and disturbance in the streets. These dissenters have no creditability, mind you, none, but insist on spouting their misguided, baseless claims. At a local anti-war rally, today, many signs read: "PEACE NOT WAR."
Of course peace not war! Nobody wants war, nobody looks forward to war, but certainly nobody looked forward to September 11th either, and the need to disarm Saddam Hussein is an important aspect of the war on terror. Who wins without war? Saddam does, not the United States.
Listening to some of the speakers at the rally today, it was amusing to to hear just how disingenuous their suggestions are. One woman, wearing a shirt which read: FIGHT AMERICAN IMPERIALISM, suggested that our military is simply attacking a weak nation -- a non-threatening nation -- for financial (oil) gain. This is a feckless argument, purely, and shows the lack of legitimacy and moral integrity of these anti-war protestors. If their mission is for truth and their goal is equality, why do they continually fail to criticize Saddam Hussein. Indeed he, not President Bush, is the villain. It was Saddam how ordered countless deaths. It was Saddam who gassed a region of his country, leaving thousands dead. It was Saddam who diverted billions in Iraqi oil wealth into his own pockets, while nearly 60% of his population is dependant on international food aid. How about fighting Iraqi imperialism! Larry Miller, in his Daily Standard column "No Proof Would Be Enough," from February 25, 2003, wrote, "I know facts don't matter to people whose favorite hobby is shouting..." Perhaps instead of vacuous shouting, the protestors' time would be better spent reading about the topics they purportedly despise.
At the conclusion of the 1991 Gulf War, a ceasefire was signed, that brought about an end to the hostilities. The anti-war folks seem to think it was the United States, this last week, who broke that ceasefire, when, indeed, it was Saddam Hussein who broke the ceasefire only days after it was signed. The man is evil and soulless, and fosters the same in the people around him. As Tomahawk Missles and JDAM bombs rained down upon Hussein, his sons, and other cronies, the liberation of Iraq had begun, and had begun with vigor.
Now, with troops taking fire, traitors throwing grenades at their fellow soldiers, brave men dead, and reporters unaccounted for, the time is at hand for people, the world over, to discard their petty complaints and show their support for all the brave soldiers, reporters and photographers in the Middle East, fighting for the freedom of nation and the eradication of a tyrant.
The United States, unlike Iraq, does not prohibit its citizens from leaving, instead it allows us to pursue our goals, determine our path, and live a free life, without fear of government interference. It is this freedom that allows these people to be critical, so, perhaps, if the nation is so unlivable, perhaps they would be kind enough to find the nearest airport, and buy a one-way ticket to Iraq, and stay there.
www.rjrutkowski.com supports President Bush, the Commander-in-Chief, and our troops -- brave servicemen and servicewomen -- called to duty to free the people of a nation. They are fighting a war with the worthiest ambition: freedom, and as such our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with them for a timely resolution to their campaign and a speedy return to their families and their nation.
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