We're at war….
No matter which way you look at it, we are in a cultural/ideological war with a stubborn and patient enemy. Let's not forget totalitarian and bloodthirsty enemy.
I've got a lot of friends that claim they are liberals and democrats…that's fine. I have a problem with the fact that they haven't truly educated themselves as to what exactly that means. I hear some of my best friends call George Bush a Fascist…look up fascist and rethink your accusation. And although I do not tout any party line…my beliefs and values more closely coincide with that of the Republican Party. For one…at least they understand the core rights and values and what it means to stand up to tyranny and the rights of free people. Despite our wanting to believe that we can solve all problems with diplomacy…it's simply not true. It would be nice, but it's not realistic people.
Let's try and get real here. The war did not start when we invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein. It didn't start when we went into Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime that supported the Al-Qaeda terrorist group. For that matter, it didn't even start on 9/11. This is a war that has been going on for around 1400 years. But for many of us Americans that are blissfully ignorant of our own history as well as that of the world, the war really began for us on 9/11. The fact that Islam has been at war with the world for 14 centuries seems to elude us. Probably because for most of our lives for many generations, it was not an immediate threat, so we ignored it. Or we simply were unaware of it.
So let's take a look at our enemy, shall we?
We have an enemy that advocates murder of innocent people. Enslavement of non-muslims. The unanimous acceptance of Sha'ria law….and all that that entails, women as property, all non-muslims as second class citizens…or worse. All the lovely things that western civilization stands for and has brought to us is anathema to them. How would any one of you like to be forced to cover your head in public at all times. How about being forced to grow a beard. Not to mention, praying 5 times a day, bowing on a prayer mat.
Hmmm…
And yet we preach tolerance of an intolerant ideology. How about stoning a woman to death for being raped to protect the honor of her family since she is considered dirty and essentially the one at fault. I don't suppose any of you liberal leftist folks would like to see that happen. Just a hunch…
Now, when 9/11 happened, we as a country united against this threat because for the first time since WWII, we as a country had been wounded…our own country bled. We were shocked, we were horrified that such thing could possibly happen. What happened?
The answer is simple. We lost interest as soon as we no longer felt threatened. We went back to our banal lives and forgot a lesson we so desperately need not to forget. Complacency and arrogance is what brought this catastrophe on us in the first place.
I will admit that I am not very happy with some of President Bush's recent decisions. I do, however, feel that he did what he felt was best for the security of our country. We can look back with clearer vision than we did then and criticize all we want. We can call it an illegal war, we can blur the reality by focusing on one aspect of a larger conflict. But if you believe that Al-Qaeda is the only enemy, you are sadly mistaken. There are numerous extremist groups all over the globe. These extremist groups have also been working to convince the "average" muslim to take the Jihad to the infidels. And they have been quite successful. And what is worse? We have the so-called "moderate" muslims that refuse to stand up to the extremists…and in many cases praise them and help to fund them as well.
Now, do you really believe that American Imperialism is the reason for this? If so you are deluded.
Here's a great anecdote…
When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of 'empire building' by George Bush. He answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return." It became very quiet in the room.
The Federal Government is charged with protecting our interests at home AND abroad. Lest we forget, without the tireless vigilance of our intelligence agencies and those of our allies, it is quite likely more attacks would have happened. Now we play at politics in our government and ignore the realities to advance the power of one party over another.
We are at war people…what do you all not understand about this? This is not just about Iraq or Iran or Pakistan…This is a Global War. A war that was declared on us. Yes, make no mistake, the war was declared on us and we didn't realize it until we were attacked on 9/11. And we seem to have either simply lost our resolve or in our "have it your way right away" society have gotten distracted and forgotten why we really went to war in the first place. I'm not going to get into some ridiculous bi-partisan, mud-slinging argument over this one. The fact is we were outraged and wounded. We responded as America should respond and then we simply fell to attacking each other in our attempt to self-destruct.
The world community is a fluid, fickle and ever changing place. To be successful we need to adapt to situations as they confront us. The situation in Iraq is a perfect example of this. We won the war against Saddam Hussein's regime. We had a decisive victory, but so many of us forget that. What we also forget is the reality of war. War is ugly, war is hell. Our civilization has rules of engagement and rules of battlefield etiquette and rules governing the treatment of the people we've beaten. And how innocent civilians should be treated as well. We destroyed a lot of the infrastructure when we went into Iraq and we also dismantled the military. Had we left when the Hussein regime was vanquished, we would have become worse pariahs than we are now because of what would have happened if we'd left the Iraqis to their own devices. Fact: The strong will always dominate the weak. Period. The hardline fundamentalists would have subjugated the weak and the tribes would have slaughtered each other in larger numbers than they are now…and Al-Qaeda would have taken advantage of the situation…like they tried to do and been granted yet another stronghold. Al-qaeda has suffered defeat after defeat in Iraq because of the atrocities they've committed on the populace. Why do you suppose the militia groups have turned on them and are fighting ALONGSIDE our troops there? Is it because we are the Great Satan? No…they know our ROE and they know the mettle of our troops. We've proven to be honorable and reliable…the military that is. They don't trust our Government any more than most of us do…do you blame them?
Iraq is more than just an isolated battleground it is a strategic position and when we are successful (my optimism) We will have a very important ally in a very volatile region that influences every corner of the globe. We cannot stick our heads in the sand…we cannot ignore the threat of the middle east. Not just our economy, but the world economy is dependent on the flow of oil form that region. Nothing is simple. You may be inclined to call me on the fact that Iraq is predominantly muslim and this began as a post that is vehemently anti-islam.
Well, let's address this. Every one of us on this planet that belong to the Human species have one trait in common; imperfection. We as a race have so very many flaws and I believe all of us have at least a modicum of goodness somewhere in ourselves. Some of us tip the scale to one side or the other more sharply than the average person. I honestly believe that simply because you were brought up a certain way, does not mean you have to take what you've been taught at face value. I also know that due to our natures the more we deny ourselves the things we naturally desire, the more likely we are to show our imperfection. The average person, man or woman desires the same basic things. We want to live a prosperous life and to provide for our families. We want stability and order in our societies. We also want to be able to indulge in things we enjoy doing without being told how we can do it…Iraqis love smoking…something prohibited in a strict Islamic society. We can sit here and debate how Christianity and Judaism are better than Islam…as far as I'm concerned both are better, but Islam is so central to the culture of the middle east that you can't just take it out of the equation. I have read blogs on all sides of the fence from all sorts of bloggers to include jihadists and casual Muslims. There are plenty of muslims that really don't subscribe to the violent nature of their religion or the strict rules governing dress and behavior that are clearly delineated in the Qu'ran. So what does that tell us? That the average working joe is pretty much the same the world over.
When the average working joe takes charge and gains the freedom to pursue a better quality of life, unsubjugated, you see a more enlightened and casual populace..more religiously tolerant. So…an educated, worldly, tolerant people can cause a revolution in their own religion. Christianity did it. And let's not get startd on the atrocities of the inquisition or other "religiously" motivated atrocities. Because if you want to duke it out between Islam and Christianity, I will do it…but I really don't feel it's necessary.
First of all, I'm a Pagan…of sorts. I was brought up as a Christian and I believe that the core beliefs I was taught have made me a better person for it. But as my own man, I've studied many religions…to include Islam and quite frankly as a free man, it is my right o choose my religion. And so I have. My relationship with the divine is a personal one and I can tell you that I do not call myself a Christian because to emulate Christ is an exercise in futility…for me anyway. I am too human to ever attain a modicum of the piousness of Christ. That being said…I think I'm a better "Christian" than a lot of supposed Christians out there including some I know. So don't think I'm some bible thumping zealot. I am as far from a zealot as you can get when it comes to religion. I simply see the inherent violence and oppression in the religious teachings of Islam and I reject them utterly. They are the imperialists...not us. They seek to impose their tyranny on Europe, Arabia, Africa and Asia. Do you think restoring the Caliphate is the endgame? Not a chance. Islam is about submission to Allah. We've already become a target because we are a strong nation of free people and not slaves. There are some terms you may or may not be familiar with… I think you all know what Jihad is so I won't bother with that except to explain that there are other aspects to this war than the obvious violent war. There is the da'wah or the attempts to infiltrate society and slowly and methodically institute Islam into all aspects of a society. Part of this is also Taqiyyah and that is the practice of deception against the infidels to further the goals of Islam…in other words, Lie.
So for all you complacent, socialist wussies out there…do some research…wake up and smell the coffee. Our petty political squabbles only serve the purposes of the enemy. If you really believe in America and the Constitution, think about what it really means to be an American and think about what our founding fathers endured to give us the freedoms we have. #1 stop trying to dismantle the constitution, #2 stop kneejerk legislation….it only serves to take away more rights from us and pushes us closer to the big brother situation all you leftists claim GWB is bringing on with the "illegal wiretapping" and surveillance of suspected terrorist activities here and overseas. I'm not fond of the patriot act on principle. But I'm also not fond of Gun Control…and personally I find the latter more of a danger to our freedom than the former.
Get a grip people. And before you start repeating bulls**t rhetoric you hear on TV from some politician or journalist, do your f**kin' homework. Make informed decisions and opinions. Educate yourself…your blind regurgitation and ignorance of the facts only hurts us as a people. We need to see the reality and come together instead of bickering like a bunch of kids at recess. Grow up, face reality and take action, demand answers, instead of worrying about your damn welfare check or whether or not the Gov't is going to give you free room and board, go get a job. Don't be a part of the problem.
There was a President of ours…I believe he was a democrat too…If memory serves me right, his most famous quote was this…
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".
President John F. Kennedy said that folks…think about what that means. Do you want to let the enemy through the gates, or will you stand up and defend these gates at all costs.
As for me…well…
I'll die with my boots on.
Just my 2 cents.
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