By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
A group of partisan hacks backing Kerry released a
statement yesterday claiming that America isn't safer than we were before the Iraq war. This is nothing more than political posturing. Here is the opening paragraph:
President Bush asserts that America is safer as a result of the war in Iraq. But, according to recent Gallup, CBS and NBC polls, Americans increasingly feel less secure because of the war. They are right. While the president declared victory in Afghanistan after the major battles with Al Qaeda, it is clear Al Qaeda is still active, and according to senior Bush administration officials is currently plotting new attacks against the US from the Afghan-Pakistan border. Al Qaeda has also worked successfully to help new terrorist organizations and activities around the world - Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Spain -- as well as Iraq.
America is safer, but we are not safe and nobody is saying otherwise. We still have a lot of work to do on the Global War on Terror. These partisans will have you believe that polls of the American people mean something about our degree of safty. There is a difference between the
reality of the level of safty and our
perception of our safty. One would think diplomats and Military Commanders would know that. The rest of the paragraph is nothing more than window dressing. Of course al Qaeda is still active, but they are being persued vigorously. That claim about "new" terrorist organizations is curious too...
In Afghanistan, the US has been diverted by war in Iraq into a woefully inadequate investment of military, financial and political resources - including the leadership needed to mobilize strong international support. Military and reconstruction assistance levels per capita by the US and its NATO allies are about one tenth of that for Bosnia and Kosovo. As a result, security has declined, opium production is soaring (90 percent of world total), Taliban has made a comeback, planned parliamentary elections for October have been postponed, and international assistance workers have ceased to operate in many provinces. After two and one half years of trumpeting victory, we are bogged down. Our enemies are encouraged.
You can almost sense that they want to say quagmire. For the situation in Afghanistan I point the reader to another post
here. These guys are showing great disrespect to the men and women of our armed forces who have made significant and fantastic progress in a country that was ruled by a brutal theocracy not that long ago.
In Iraq, we are also bogged down in insurgency and terrorism. The mission has not been accomplished, despite political changes and a belated role for the United Nations. American and Iraqi casualties continue to mount. Security is highly problematic and the political future is murky. The US Occupation of an Islamic country is seen by most in the Muslim world as comparable to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Muslim fighters flock to Iraq as they once did to Afghanistan. Our friends are discouraged and unwilling to contribute the needed additional resources, even to protect the new UN Representative. Some countries and companies have pulled out, under threat. Our enemies around the world are heartened.
In regards to the insurgency and terrorism we are facing in Iraq, one must question the motivations behind these actions. These thugs do not want democracy and freedom to reign in Iraq. We are winning the greater war in Iraq, but liberal partisans would have us believe that we are losing.
Once more, we return to the "Mission Accomplished" banner. That was the ship's mission that was accomplished, not the President's. The crew put that sign up, not the President. And their mission WAS accomplished; they should be free to celebrate that success. The level of childishness being displayed on the part of these propagandists is astonishing. Rather than celebrate the historic change that is taking place in Iraq, the folks are touting the casualty scoreboard. The only reason why our enemies are heartened is because those who have pulled out have capitulated to terrorist demands; the "Change" these guys seek would place us all in danger because they to would surrender to the terrorists.
Next, they invoke VIETNAM! Did you know John Kerry served in VIETNAM!?
The perception of US military strength is being eroded, as equipment and personnel and budgets are strained to the limit in Iraq. Once again, as in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia, highly superior US forces are now seen as vulnerable to guerilla warfare and terrorism. The deterrent value of US military might has been weakened.
Our highly superior US forces have ALWAYS been vulnerable to guerilla warfare and terrorism. The eight years of the Clinton administration were spent engaged in social engineering instead of combat readiness for the "next battle." If these "diplomats" and "military commanders" really think the deterrent value of the US military might has fallen so much, you might ask them who they suspect will invade us? The United States is still the strongest military force in the world and we project that force quite well. Remember, no other force in the history of warfare went so far so quickly than our guys (Hoo-rah!) did in Iraq. What an insult to our brave men and women in the finest military on the planet.
Iran and North Korea, the other two members of the "Axis of Evil", have not been intimidated by threats of unilateral US preemptive action. Nor have they responded to ambivalent United States diplomacy. As a result, North Korea is apparently producing more nuclear weapons and Iran has continued to develop its nuclear capacity. Due to the situation in Iraq, Iran is also assuming an increasingly powerful regional role.
Notice no mention of the success in Libya.
We're playing the UN/IAEA game with Iran and we are engaged in multi-lateral diplomatic efforts with North Korea. That's what we're supposed to do. Are these guys actually advocating pre-emptive action? What solution do they offer us?
Iran has internal problems with their civilian population that you aren't hearing about. It wouldn't surprise me if that domino doesn't start shaking a bit more the closer they get to getting that bomb (which Israel will never allow them to have).
North Korea's nuclear success is deeply rooted in the Clinton administration. President Bush was handed a fine mess when he took over and has managed the crisis to the best of anyone's ability without giving away everything.
Absent a truly serious visible effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or restrain the aggressive Israeli tactics on the ground, the US is increasingly identified in the Arab world as totally supportive of Israeli PM Sharon's policies. This further exacerbates worldwide Muslim anger at the US over Iraq, undercuts efforts at reform, and increases likelihood of future anti-US terrorism among young people.
And now we turn to anti-Semitism on the part of these "diplomats" and "military commanders." Lest these gentlemen forget to remind you, Israel offered Arafat everything he wanted and he
rejected the deal. Arafat and his ilk want the Israelis dead. That is the what the conflict is about. Sharon has every right to defend his nation. The Arab world does not care about the Israel-Palestine problem or they would have done something about it. The Muslim world on the other hand, has turned to terrorism. I remind the reader that we are fighting a Global War on Terrorism...
In short, progress in the struggle against terrorism has been offset by faulty policy. The overall result is that the Bush Administration's war in Iraq leaves the United States less secure rather than more.
It is time for a change.
It is time for change. And we are seeing all kinds of change in the Middle East. Democracy and freedom (outside of Israel) is finally coming to a region that has never had such liberty ever before. There is no way that can be deemed faulty policy. For far too long, "diplomats" and "military commanders" have resorted stalling tactics that have resulted in more civilian deaths by terrorist action and legitimate retalitory strikes. In the post-9/11 world, that is no longer acceptable. President Bush is doing something about it. "Diplomats" and "military commanders" would rather he didn't. What does that tell you about their intentions for the world and this great nation?
John Kerry Delenda Est!
