Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Friend or Foe?

Are Senator John Kerry and DNC Chairman Howard Dean aiding and abetting our country's enemies?
We are currently in a global war on terror. This war has been taken to the places where the extreme elements of Islamic fundamentalism manifest themselves the most. Afghanistan and Iraq. The US troops stationed in these areas need our support and encouragement because they are risking their lives for us and the Afghan and Iraqi people. What they don't need is politicians back home saying things like "the war cannot be won" and that they (our troops) are "terrorizing women and children".
I would like to address these two distinguished gentlemen as follows:

Senator Kerry, for your information, dangerous terrorist infiltrators that hide in residential areas still need to be pursued and captured. This means that searches sometimes have to be made in these residences for possible hiding places. Occasionally this has resulted in the annoyance of the local populace. Your comments that they are terrorizing women and children is an over-exaggeration just to gain some cheap political points at the expense of our troops. This is just another one of your comments that negatively impact on our country.

Doctor Dean, your comment about "the war not being able to be won" can only be described as "classic defeatism" which will result in lowering the morale of our troops. It also sends a message to our enemies. The message? Stay the course, the will of the American public to fight terror is on the wane.

The USA needs every friend it can get these days but with friends like these, who needs enemies?

7 comments:

Fahd Mirza said...

Roman its a very contentious issue. Let me tell you the views of us here in Pakistan regarding Iraq and elsewhere in very short words.

We abhor terrorism and the forces igniting it. We love peace, freedom and knowledge.

We welcome anyone helping in creating the peace, but we dont want any unwanted stale guests.

Sam!! said...

I agree with the above stated comment and adding to it i would like to request all to not do stereotyping plz, good n bad people are everywhere in every part of the world. If few muslims are going in the wrong ways that doesnt mean that all r same. We all do luv to have peace in the world, we r also against the terrorism n thats wat our religion teaches us.

roman said...

Fahd Mirza and Samrina,
I understand your concerns. Many of my neighbors, friends and co-workers who are devoted followers of the Islamic faith are also very sensitive to this issue.
Note that I described the offending terrorists as "extreme fundamentalists". I know that many of these individuals are not even religious but use the religion of Islam as an excuse to try to get what they want. We, here, in the USA are very conscious and aware of this and try to make this distinction every chance we get.
Yes, our troops stationed in Iraq have probably overstayed their intended departure time. The problem is that we have disrupted the government of Iraq and need to make sure there is a functioning government in place before we leave. We would be very irresponsible if we just left and let the chaos get even worse. Our stay there is very costly to us in lives and resources and our departure would be a cause for celebration throughout our nation.
It is my sincere wish that the new government of Iraq takes over the responsibility of keeping order as quickly as possible and that our troops can be redeployed back home.

1:15 PM

Fahd Mirza said...

Roman, thanks for the understanding. I have few friends in US and they have the same views.

Everybody talks about Iraq and very few about Afghanistan. As that country is our nieghbor. What Americans are exactly doing there is not to stabalize government but to hunt down Osama. That hunt is costing Afghans their lives, limbs and lands.

America has every right to defend herself, but it has no right to forcibly use other nations to defend US.

Again, people are united and understanding, but governments are not.

Vman said...

I think the war in iraq can be won but not with guns and bombs.

roman said...

vman,
OK, I'm ready for suggestions on how the war can be won without the use of guns and bombs. When the enemy uses guns and bombs somehow I find it difficult to comprehend any other way to win.
Without resorting to force in order to maintain law and order, Iraq would quickly fall apart in a factional civil war between the Sunni and Shiite communities. Remember that this strife predates our intervention there by hundreds of years.
The balance was barely kept in a brutal and oppressive way by Saddam. The coalition of the willing is trying to keep this nation together by encouraging and implementing conditions which will allow the formation of a Democratic form of governance. The forces of despotism and tyranny ( funded by oil rich states) are funneling "soldiers" in the form of terrorists into Iraq in order to stop this process. Make no mistake about it, this is a modern version of war that is going on.
I kind of doubt that the leaders of these insurgents want any kind of dialogue to gain peace. If they do, they certainly have kept that a secret.
Sure, I would like to see the coalition forces pull out as soon as possible. If we pull out too soon, the sovereign nation of Iraq will cease to exist and a kind of Balkanization will take place. Iran and Syria would start to exploit this situation and attempt to gain control over time. If you think there is violence there now, I can assure you that it can and will get much worse if our pullout is too early.

Fahd Mirza said...

I agree with roman that wars cannot be won without weapons. You cant stop somebody, who is hell-bent on demolishing you, with smiles and negotiations.

Saddam is ousted, a bannana government is there, shitti+kurd army is in making. I believe that after that US should call it a day and that should take 2 or 3 months more at maximum.