There has obviously been a lot of hand wringing over the invasion of Iraq. Regardless of the reason for going to war, I believe that it was the right thing to do.
As I have said before, I would rather have al Qaeda fighting our professional army in Iraq than attacking our soft targets in the US.
It seems like al Qaeda has taken George Bush’s bait and has chosen to make their Last Stand in Iraq. While we are now fighting a better trained and equipped insurgency, they (al Qaeda) they are losing the battle of “hearts and minds” as they are blowing up scores of innocent Iraqis in their wake.
The Iraqi people (except in the extreme Sunni areas) are finally understanding that al Qaeda/insurgency are not going rebuild power stations and water treatment plants, build new schools or allow free thought and speech.
I have heard mixed reactions from the returning members of the 1st Infantry Division members here in Germany on their return. It mostly depends on where they were located in Iraq that has determined their outlook. Those in the south and north seem to be optimistic about Iraq, those in the Sunni areas would just as soon deplete our stocks of daisy cutters and MOABs on the Freakin’ Place
WHEN we win in Iraq ( I say when because even the goofy left like Joe Biden admit whe have to win there) its going to be a large serving of Crow for some people.
Democracy is spreading around the world. Even the darkest of places are seeing a glimmer of light. Much like Regan got the lion share of the credit for the collaspe of the Soviet Union, in 15 years time, who will get it for peace and democracy in the Middle East?
Amazing things are happening there now. Some are baby steps, but some are huge strides as well. Saudi Arabia has had elections for some of its councils, Syria is removing troops from Lebanon, Jordan has held historic elections, Kuwait has a directly elected assembly, Egypt is moving towards reforms, Israel is in the process of withdrawal from Gaza and there seems to be a shaky truce that is still holding.
What of substance was done in the Previous Administrations 8 years of influence? That was a boom and bust economic ride where the veneer of ‘we care’ was covering over the building up of “the US is exploiting us” and the creation and plottings of al Qaeda.
EDIT: I am sorry that I forgot that the previous administration was responsible for Somalia and Kosovo. I applaud Bill C for smaking down the Serbian despot dictator (who was not as bad as Saddam and had no WMD). Europe did not have the balls to take him on and left it up to us.
So while some of us may deride the current President as a ‘liar’ and that he is ‘ruining our military’ (what, that huge social welfare system is actually fighting a war?), History is going to be painting a drastically different picture.
Back to the trenches
