Three Questions Posed and Answered
A Liberal once wrote a piece that was obviously against the war. In it, the writer asked three questions:
Where in our constitution does it say that the purpose of our military is to invade sovereign nations for the purpose of deposing their leaders and changing their political system?
Truthfully, would you have supported this invasion if you had been told back in 2002 that the mission was to bring democracy to the Iraqi people, even though we had not been invited to do so?
Finally, if you believe in this mission, whatever it really is, are you willing to die or send your children to die for it?
Good questions; very thoughtful questions as they get to the heart of how one feels about their political system and especially about the mission and purpose of this country and how it applies to someone at the personal level. I was compelled to think when I read it (although, to be sure, some of it was a bit in anger given how the questions were phrased) and in formulating my answers.
The way I responded was....
Where in our constitution does it say that the purpose of our military is to invade sovereign nations for the purpose of deposing their leaders and changing their political system?
Yes, to protect Americans.
The purpose of a military, in the end and under civilian control, is to break things and kill people. It is raw, unabated, naked force unleashed. It is not pretty and that makes many people squeamish and wish to quickly move onto other topics.
Fortunately, the intended use of our military is as a last resort to dissuade those that would do us harm. Failing that dissuasion, it is their mission to protect us by killing those that have harmed us and stop others from emulating them. In the Global War on Terror, they are hunting down those that have done us harm over some number of years now (e.g., the bombing of the US embassies in Africa, the killing of our diplomats, the bombing of the USS Cole, the TWO attacks on the Twin Towers - I can supply more examples) due to their philosophy.
Who are "they"? "They" are the Islamic jihadists whose bent is establishing a single world rule under Islam, a caliphate, where Islam controls every action of everyone's life. I prefer my freedom - the same freedom that allows Liberals to denigrate our current policies to maintain that freedom.
Truthfully, would you have supported this invasion if you had been told back in 2002 that the mission was to bring democracy to the Iraqi people, even though we had not been invited to do so?
Yes, I would. Democracy is the panacea.
This is a much different war than what we have ever fought before. There is no single State or uniformed military. We fight against an embodied philosophy of "our way, or death"; if you do not convert or cower, then die (Proof: Google Bin Laden’s manifesto). Example: life as imposed by the Taliban (remember the video of the a woman shot in the head on the soccer field?). Also, recall recent stories from Iraq that illustrate where Zarqawi’s thugs showed the same type of brutish rule; beating men simply because of Western dress and women killed just for walking unescorted. Where the Left complains about our treatment of prisoners; I continue to see pictures in my mind of the bodies of those that jumped to their death rather than dying in the fires of the Twin Towers. Yes, Democracy is the panacea.
If one reads the entire Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq (October 2, 2002), you can plainly see the support for Democracy in going to war, passed by both liberals and conservatives: "...Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime..." Can it be clearer?
I'll even add a follow on question: Do I care how the U.S. is viewed in the World because of the actions to keep us safer? Yes, but only to a point. We have our national interests; they have theirs. Frankly, ours are more important to me than theirs. I am NOT a citizen of the world at large; in terms of this world, I am an American.
Finally, if you believe in this mission, whatever it really is, are you willing to die or send your children to die for it?
For me, the “Big Three” are my faith, my family, and the ideals and security of my country. Yes, I would be willing to go to ensure that my family and friends would not. I have never served in the military nor come from a military family. But I know that our freedom, at times, needs to be repurchased with blood and sacrifice.
Many Liberals seem to forget one thing. We are SO blessed in SO many ways that many Liberals believe that they only have to discuss a topic (sometimes to an illogical end) to resolve conflict with anyone. This is unlike what many in other parts of the world know - debate works only with reasonable, thoughtful people. As long as there are those that wish to dominate others (from petty purse snatchers to murderous tyrants), there will be times when the only answer is FORCE; one cannot debate them to convince them to renounce their actions - the only answer and way to stop them isFORCE.
The second (and false) premise contained in this question is that adult parents deliberately send their children to die. No one sends their children to die – that is a foolish statement to make. I marvel at the example of the Greatest Generation - they were not sent, they just went. They stopped the Nazi fascism that was as deadly as Islamofascism is today. They intuitively understood what was at stake; none of this ruinous chatter that we are the problem, we don't understand the enemy, why do they hate us, our government is always bad, and many other empty platitudes. They believed in the promise of the American way, they were proud of their country, and they were willing to sacrifice for it.
So no, my son is not "sent" by me. He just went - he went to Iraq in the good company of other U.S. Marines, did his duty, and (thankfully) returned (and yes, my heart goes out to those parents and families whose loved ones gave the ultimate sacrifice). Not sent - went!
I have now answered these questions. Now I ask Liberals to please answer mine. I am attacking that straw man that the Left often throws up: I AM questioning your patriotism as for I have seen no evidence of it. Ms / Mr. Liberal, for what ideal or cause are you willing to die for?
My question to the Reader - how would you answer either the Three or the One?
