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In this years election we will have
two candidates that will debate the strategy of our
involvement in Iraq. We know that to some degree, one
candidate will be supporting the general policies on
terrorism that are consistent with policies on
terrorism initiated by the Bush Administration after the
9/11 attack on America. Hopefully since the initiation
of the Iraq war, our military and civilian leaders have
learned somethings that will bring the Iraq war to an
eventual conclusion, which includes the establishment of
stability in the region, and leaving a state capable of
defending its society in the future.
We recognize that the battle is
certainly well beyond the issue of Iraq alone. The
muslim population in the area has been the enemy of the
state of Israel since long before the Iraq war or the
attack on 9/11. The stated purpose of the high profile
terrorist groups of Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaida and the
terrorist states of Iran and Syria, is to drive all
Israeli's out of the area, and kill whomever is
necessary to achieve their aims. This is not
supposition, but a fact supported by their words and
their actions over the last 50 years or more.
The war in Iraq is a focal point for
those that legitimately are against any violence,
regardless of circumstances. History has shown that
there are always people that think this way, and as
Americans, we support their right to their beliefs.
We are not trying to change anyone's mind about war and
violence, or influence anyone's vote in the upcoming
election or any other election.
What we are trying to do is to just
make the point that our freedoms and our rights don't
come without other people's sacrifices, other
generation's sacrifices, and going beyond the inevitable
specter of 20/20 hindsight on the actions of those we
elected or appointed to make the necessary decisions to
protect our country and our citizens. The US
Constitution clearly lays out the protocols of who does
what, the limits of their authority, and the powers of
the 3 branches of our government to authorize, conduct,
and end conflicts.
Therefore, we must examine our
candidates and vote for those that are most capable of
dealing with the survival of our society in a world that
has never been peaceful. Millions of innocent
people have died over the centuries, because of the
action of one form or another of terrorism, against
peace loving people that are not prepared to deal with
or pay the price necessary to maintain their freedom.
Americans have paid the price, from
the Revolutionary War, WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and now
Iraq and Afganistan, and all the "little" conflicts in
between. We have suffered 9/11, the attacks on our
embassy's, the Cole incident, the KAL airline attack,
the PanAm crash at Lockerbie, the TWA plane bombing ,
the Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon, and all the
other unanswered attacks on peace loving innocent
people.
Take a look at these pictures and text
circulating the Internet. They are a reminder of what
histories terrorists are capable of doing. These are not
isolated examples, but reflect the mindsets of the
people that carry these deeds out. No matter who is
elected in 2008, this problem will continue, hopefully
not in the US. One of the most specific clauses in the
Constitution deals with issues relating to defense of
our country. 2008 in some ways will be a litmus test to
see if we today are willing protect what our
ancestors gave their lives for, or we are future
victims, like those pictured below. Think carefully and
be brave. Think of your children and your grandchildren
and all those that will be here after you leave.
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