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Let’s Stand United
By Frank J. Marchion, Canton
Is it me, or are we Americans a fickle bunch? Just a few short months ago, way back in 2002, the American people were ("according to the polls") approving military action against Iraq if needed. The UN Security Council approved plans and voted unanimously for a new resolution for Iraq, saying basically that it must cooperate and give up its weapons of mass destruction or face the consequences. Things were all set, in place, ready to go should the situation require it.
Now, all of a sudden, thousands are protesting against war against Iraq, or—maybe even more to the point—protesting against President Bush. The liberals, politicians, celebrities and the like are taking every opportunity to take any shot they can at him.
The president doesn't have the luxury of shifting his policies every time the wind shifts. We made a decision. It was backed by the U.S. Congress, the UN, and (according to polls) the American people. Plans were set in motion. Our people in uniform made their preparations, said their good-byes, shipped out—and now they don't have our support?
Have we forgotten about September 11 already? I'm sure the families affected haven't. Have we forgotten about the U.S.S. Cole, the bombing of our embassies, the North Korean ship bearing Scud missiles headed for its eventual destination of Iraq, Saddam gassing thousands of his own people, etc.? Must we wait until Saddam launches his chemical and biological weapons, which everyone knows he has, against our allies or us? Will we then back our president for the efforts and resources he has committed?
Saddam is a liar, a tyrant, a brutal dictator who cares for no one, not even his own family; nothing except his own self-interests. Can we doubt that he would not even blink an eye about killing any one of us if he had the chance? Is there any doubt he would sell any of his deadly chemical, biological or nerve gas weapons to the highest terrorist bidder, and maybe even give them up for free, if he knew that they would be used against U.S. citizens?
It seems to me that there was another fanatical leader back in the late '30s and early '40s in Germany whom everyone laughed off as just an unimportant "nut" until he killed over 6 million innocent Eastern Europeans, Jews and non-Jews, and almost as many European, Russian and U.S. troops, destroyed most of England, France, Italy, Russia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and on and on. Do we need to replay that scenario before we believe that Saddam's Iraq is a serious threat?
It's not just about oil, although there are many who would have us believe just that. It's about our well-being, our way of life, our freedom, and our loved ones' freedom as well. It’s about the liberation of an oppressed Iraqi people. It's about starting to rid the world of those who just don't get it! The "it" that makes life worth living. The "it" that barbarian actions against innocent people will not be tolerated by a civilized world.
As a Vietnam-era veteran, I can tell you that it was no fun being thousands of miles away from home, serving our country, knowing that I wasn't the least bit appreciated by anyone but my family. I ask that we don't do that to our present men and women in uniform. For their sake, for the sake of our country, our world, our freedom, ourselves, let's support our president so that he and our uniformed men and women don't feel like they're doing it all for nothing. No sane person likes war. No peace-loving American wants war. It is a hideous, tragic, violent act. But when we must defend ourselves, and I believe we are indeed defending ourselves, then we must.
I pray that war can be averted, that the other countries in the Middle East can persuade Saddam to step down or at least give up his weapons of mass destruction. But when all else has failed, when all alternatives have been exhausted, if it comes to war, then we must do what we must do. There would be no greater threat to our freedoms than to allow terrorism and terrorists to think that we are afraid to stand up to them. That would embolden them even more, and heighten the possibility of being attacked again, not lessen the threat.
Let's not be fickle. This country was built by determined, principled, tough, freedom-loving people. Millions have given their lives in earlier wars so that we can enjoy life here in the best country in the world. We elect our leaders to make the tough decisions that must be made every day to govern and protect this country. Let us let them do the job they were elected to do, and let them do it with our full support. United we stand, divided … well, you know the rest.
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