Will America win over or surrender to Terrorism?

Lee Ellis

"Public opinion polls now indicate that a clear majority of the American people no longer support the war in Iraq. 59% want to pull out immediately or on a definitive timetable, and 56% believe the war is 'not worth it'."

Is this the lead in newspaper columns here in the USA? No, it was written for al Jazeera, along with other reasons for the US to vacate Iraq, thus continuing the Vietnamization of this war. ("Vietnamization" means the purposeful changing of the public's attitude by polls, politicians, and pundits so as to invite future surrender).

But is this all coming from the Middle East? No! Joseph Biden and Harold Ford, Jr. are now starting campaigns for an "exit strategy" or a "time table" for leaving Iraq.

According to Fox News, two Republican and two Democratic representatives pushed a non-binding resolution that would require an Iraq exit strategy by the end of this year with implementation beginning by October 2006.

"After 1,700 deaths, over 12,000 wounded and $200 billion spent, we believe it is time to have this debate and this discussion," said Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, who was joined by fellow Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Democratic Reps. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, in offering the non-binding resolution.

On the House floor, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi pushed a separate amendment that would require President Bush to outline an Iraq exit strategy next month.

"The American people, particularly our troops who serve in harm's way, deserve better," Pelosi said.

I agree with Senator Pelosi that our troops need better ---better than her display of weakness and surrender! You can bet that the terrorist regimes would love to see us publish an exit strategy. They are already planning when it will be safe to enter Baghdad to kill all Iraq's new government leaders, to punish those who voted and to put another "Saddam Hussein" in charge of Iraq. Women will again become the property of males. Children, especially girls, will no longer be schooled and the torture and rape rooms can be revived.

Worse yet is that all the Americans who suffered or were killed to bring freedom and democracy to the heart of the Middle East so as to stop terrorism, will have done this for nothing. The terrorists will have the weapons, financing and Wahabi backing necessary to kill and maim the Americans whom they call, "infidels." 9/11 could be a walk in the park compared to what can happen if we prove our weakness with surrender or early withdrawal. Mike Doty, a writer who has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, wrote, "It might even come to pass that Turkey and Syria will attempt a takeover, thereby destroying any hope of Iraqi unity and returning 25 million Iraqi's to the hopeless poverty and enslavement they suffered for over three decades... and what of the people of Kuwait who have so loyally supported our efforts."

I blame all of this on politicians who pander to potential voters by telling them what they think voters want to hear. In other words, too many candidates for higher office or re-election are willing to sacrifice American lives in order to further a career or gain more power!

But, you say, an exit strategy is what the majority of Americans want, is it not? Should not politicians give the majority what they want?

No! If this were true, we would still be under British rule because, at that time, the majority of people did not want a revolution. Further, too many Americans, today, have not had a basic grounding in history or even in our Constitution. Many don't even know how many of our service people died daily in WW II to save America from German and Japanese conquest. Compared to WWII, the causalities in Iraq and Afghanistan are an amazing few!

A nation's leaders should do what is best for the nation's survival, for its continued freedom from attack and for that which will help guarantee the safety and welfare of its citizens. Any government that always vacillates between conflicting positions or courses of action due to popular polls will fail its people both in its security and its economy. The primary definition of the word "Leader" is --- One that leads or guides. We must always elect strong leaders, not weak followers! Remember, evil can never be appeased, only challenged!

If we are to win over terrorism, we MUST prevail in Iraq; we must maintain a strong democracy in the heart of the Middle East!

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Lee Ellis is a retired journalist and narrator, formerly with both CBS and Gannett (USA Weekend). He was also a combat veteran of WWII, having fought in the South Pacific invasions. He had the pleasure of interviewing Ronald Reagan as an actor and then later working to help him become Governor of California. At the age of 80, he is keeping busy writing and doing free lance narrations for radio and television. He is an active member of Rotary and the VFW.

indiolee@dc.rr.com