Interesting Iraq War Editorial...

[NineseveN]

Probably not going to be terribly popular here, but it's interesting nonetheless...

AS I SEE IT
by ROBERT D. FORD
End scare tactics and bring troops home
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

I'd rather fight them over here. Think about it. They certainly would be
a lot easier to spot. And just where would they get all their vehicles
and artillery shells for their suicide bombs? And how would they
purchase, prepare and supply several meals a day? And how would they
safely communicate with one another? And where would they hide when they
are not fighting?

But my big question is: how are they going to get over here in the first
place? And here is a good place for another question. Don't you think
that if they really could get here to attack us whenever they wish, they
would have done so long ago? And how about this: if you believe they
really could just "follow us here" if we brought our troops home, aren't
you then admitting that despite all the casualties, and all the billions
spent, we cannot even protect our borders?

Am I the only one who just doesn't get this whole "war on terror" thing?
We were originally attacked by a squad of Saudi Arabians who were
allowed to roam around the country at their leisure, a successful attack
causing death and destruction on a scale that surely even they could
never had imagined, but one nevertheless carried out by a mere handful
of religious fanatics, and then only successful because the hundreds of
people aboard were largely unaware of their impending fate.

As we saw over Pennsylvania, those who eventually learned of their
intentions took steps to deny them. Does anyone believe there will ever
be another similar hijacking of an American plane? I certainly don't.
Now that everyone is aware of what we are dealing with, no matter how
many people aboard, there will be more than enough who will never allow
another airliner to be used as an instrument of attack. If you don't
believe that, you shouldn't be flying.

And of course we had to go wherever it took to bring those responsible
to justice. That is what everyone, including the majority of the rest of
the world, fully supported. But what has been the result? And what have
we done to ourselves in the process? We attacked and occupied a country
that had nothing to do with 9/11, and now are mired in a civil war
between warring tribes which began over a thousand years ago.

I recently wrote that the idea of democracy in Iraq was one of the
dumbest things ever to come out of Washington, and that still holds. But
the ever-persistent notion by those who want this war to continue that
somehow, if we leave Iraq, "they will follow us home" is the most
ridiculous segment of the propaganda effort to keep the public
frightened enough to not question why, and for what purpose, are we
still spending $2 billion a week, and sacrificing our bravest citizens
every day?

After five years of war, the government recently reported we now control
less than half of the city of Baghdad, and the general who seemingly is
the only person who now can determine success or failure in this war is
the same general during whose first tour in Iraq was responsible for
training and equipping the Iraqi army to take over the fight. How did
that work out?

As an old rodeo bull-rider, I know that bravery and competency are two
different things. One doesn't equal the other, any more than smearing
the questioner answers a question. THE PRESIDENT has already proven "you
can fool some of the people all the time," but the rest of us have every
right to demand an end to the double-talk "scare-tactics" about this
war. Let them follow us here. We will squash them like a bug! And maybe,
just maybe, some of those who are so fond of this war could actually see
some of their family and friends participate. The fact is, neither will
ever happen.

My auto inspector told me recently that his son, an infantryman in the
Pennsylvania National Guard, has orders for Afghanistan before
Christmas. Their joy over his return from his tour in Iraq was
short-lived. They don't care who follows him home. They just want him to
come home. And so do I -- the sooner the better.


ROBERT D. FORD of Perry County served as director of Selective Service
in Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1974

[vic2367]

excellent read,,i agree with mr.ford,,

[MarcS]

gets my vote....but you probably figured it would.

[Penguini66]

Well written piece.

I recently wrote that the idea of democracy in Iraq was one of the
dumbest things ever to come out of Washington, and that still holds.

Its sad but this is true. They don't understand democracy. They understand a dictatorship run by fear and oppression. When "W" retires after the next election we should appoint him dictator of Iraq and let him rule just like Saddam. With fear and oppression.

[SteveXD]

I would feel a lot safer if they used that 196 billion for homeland security and secured our ports and borders.

[Rule10b5]

Great article, thanks for posting.

[mikepro8]

Amen to that. A little common sense seems to go a long way. Then again, so does hype and propoganda that plays on citizens' "safety."

Bring em home.

[Cheeseybacon]

Its sad but this is true. They don't understand democracy. They understand a dictatorship run by fear and oppression.

You know, this thought has crossed my mind before and I ponder it to this day. Did Saddam rule with such harshness simply because he was a cruel heartless bastard, or because it was necessary? Anyone else think that Saddam may have ruled the way he did because the general populace was so wild and unruly that no other method of governing was effective? Perhaps like an unruly little child that can't be reasoned with at all and the only way to get your point across is through a good swat to the rear end?

[jsb889]

The only part I don't agree with is that they can't do their suicide bombings. They can get a rental car, get some type of explosive (shouldn't be too hard, they're loaded with money, even black powder would work). Like Steve said, if we put all that money into homeland security, we wouldn't have to worry about them even being here...

[brewguy]

The only part I don't agree with is that they can't do their suicide bombings. They can get a rental car, get some type of explosive (shouldn't be too hard, they're loaded with money, even black powder would work). Like Steve said, if we put all that money into homeland security, we wouldn't have to worry about them even being here...

I agree they could. I mean before we went on a spending spree we were having them daily, I hope we don't go back to that..

They could be doing that now if they wanted. If that was truely their goal I assure you they would be over here. While blowing up a humvee looks great to them.. Blowing up a humvee IN AMERICA looks even better.

I don't think they really want to come here.