I often wonder how did we get into the Iraq situation, and just as important, how do we get out? It seems whatever we do will make matters worse. Then I read an email from the Republican Party for fundraising.
“The most important job for the federal government is to protect the American people from harm. And the best way to do that is to stay on the offense against the terrorists and defeat them overseas so we do not have to face them again here in America.”
I have to believe that President Bush believes that we can win a war where the enemy is not an Army but people’s ideas and fears. I remember a quote of Golda Meyer when asked when there can be peace in the Middle East. She said, “When the Palestinians love their children more than they hate us.” This seems to sum up what has happened to us. How can we reason either by words or ammunition to terrorists that will proudly use a child to decapitate an enemy? How can we negotiate with a culture that says Allah wants you to kill the infidels (anyone who believes differently)?
The very people we want to help be free of tyrants and genocide still are victims of sectarian differences. If we leave, surely all we gained is lost. If we stay we lose our sons and daughters. When is enough, enough?
Americans are many things, we tend to be proud and loud, we tend to be naïve and charitable. We most definitely love our children. We may or not believe in an afterlife, but we do believe that doing good while we are on the earth, can’t hurt.
Fear is a powerful motivator. But in our attempt to allay our fears, are we creating doom?