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OKIE
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I posted this on another thread, but wanted everyone to see it...long, but worth it.
This was written by a friend of mine that lives in NYC. He is an Army Ranger and is currently attending Law School while in the Reserves. He is a Major and served time in Bosnia. I thought I would share this, not only because it is well written, but also because it is from the viewpoint of someone who has and will risk his life to serve this country.
I think that it's great that we live in a country that not only respects the fact that we have the right to express all of our opinions but cherishes and protects that right. So, it is in that spirit that I write to you today. The people of Iraq are not our enemies. It is the regime that controls Iraq that is our enemy. They are not just the enemy of America but of peace, justice, freedom, and decency. The regime in Iraq wasn't democratically elected. Sadam Hussein seized power in the country through murder and military force. He rules the country not by the rule of law but by terror and violence. He has killed tens of thousands of his own people. He has killed men, women, and children. He has set up rape camps where women dissidents are taken to be raped and tortured. He tortures children in front of their parents to punish the parents for disloyalty. I urge you to take a few moments to look at the CNN.com website to view some of the pictures of the horrors that Sadam has wrought upon his people. If we, as a nation, are a people of justice and liberty. If we believe at all in basic human rights, then we would support a military solution upon those grounds alone. How can we turn an eye to such suffering? Regime change in Iraq will free the people of Iraq from this murderer and his ilk. America, from its beginnings, has stood for freedom and liberty. Let us not now shrink from this latest challenge to humanity. It is our responsibility to act.
Secondly, Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. Sadam has used these weapons to murder his own people. What makes anyone believe that he won't use them against us? He associates with terrorists. He currently harbors Abdul Yasin who built the bomb that exploded in the World Trade Center in 1993. He has contacts with Osama Bin Laden. It is a matter of time before he puts a massive weapon in the hands of such men. The results of an attack with a weapon of mass destruction would make 9/11 seem like child's play. One liter of Anthrax released in the NYC subway system could kill as many as 20,000 people: men, women, children. Small Pox would do even more harm. Should we wait for him to act before we defend ourselves? War is a terrible thing. It should be, and is, the last resort. Iraq has defied the peaceful intentions of the world for 12 years. He has had every chance to comply with the U.N. resolutions and avoid this conflict. He has chosen not to. We must act. American soldiers might have to die to end the reign of this tyrant. It's hard to deal with such sacrifice. However, for those of you who feel like this sacrifice is too much I ask you to remember your high school history classes. This country was born because brave men;farmers, shop keepers, teachers, and lawyers, waged war against tyranny. Millions of African-Americans were freed from the chains of slavery because men went to war. Millions of Jews were spared from gas chambers and ovens because we went to war. Hundreds of thousands of Albanians were spared from genocide because we answered the call to action with force. So, war is hell, but sometimes it is absolutely necessary to bring about peace and justice. Where would we be today if the generations before us failed to stand up to evil and injustice?
On September 11, 2001, I came home from ground zero at about midnight. I spent all day recovering dead bodies and helping wounded people. I came home to find Stephanie terrified. She had spent all day treating the wounded from NYC. She was so upset. She was crying and asked me "What are we going to do?" I can't adequately explain the emotion in her voice except to say that she was terrified. Looking at her that day I decided that I would never want to see that same expression on my daughter's face. I never want to see your children have to worry about Anthrax. I never want you to have to explain to your children why 10,000 people in L.A. were killed by a radiological bomb. We should support the efforts of the President and the Armed Forces to make sure that you never have to."
This was written by a friend of mine that lives in NYC. He is an Army Ranger and is currently attending Law School while in the Reserves. He is a Major and served time in Bosnia. I thought I would share this, not only because it is well written, but also because it is from the viewpoint of someone who has and will risk his life to serve this country.
I think that it's great that we live in a country that not only respects the fact that we have the right to express all of our opinions but cherishes and protects that right. So, it is in that spirit that I write to you today. The people of Iraq are not our enemies. It is the regime that controls Iraq that is our enemy. They are not just the enemy of America but of peace, justice, freedom, and decency. The regime in Iraq wasn't democratically elected. Sadam Hussein seized power in the country through murder and military force. He rules the country not by the rule of law but by terror and violence. He has killed tens of thousands of his own people. He has killed men, women, and children. He has set up rape camps where women dissidents are taken to be raped and tortured. He tortures children in front of their parents to punish the parents for disloyalty. I urge you to take a few moments to look at the CNN.com website to view some of the pictures of the horrors that Sadam has wrought upon his people. If we, as a nation, are a people of justice and liberty. If we believe at all in basic human rights, then we would support a military solution upon those grounds alone. How can we turn an eye to such suffering? Regime change in Iraq will free the people of Iraq from this murderer and his ilk. America, from its beginnings, has stood for freedom and liberty. Let us not now shrink from this latest challenge to humanity. It is our responsibility to act.
Secondly, Iraq has weapons of mass destruction. Sadam has used these weapons to murder his own people. What makes anyone believe that he won't use them against us? He associates with terrorists. He currently harbors Abdul Yasin who built the bomb that exploded in the World Trade Center in 1993. He has contacts with Osama Bin Laden. It is a matter of time before he puts a massive weapon in the hands of such men. The results of an attack with a weapon of mass destruction would make 9/11 seem like child's play. One liter of Anthrax released in the NYC subway system could kill as many as 20,000 people: men, women, children. Small Pox would do even more harm. Should we wait for him to act before we defend ourselves? War is a terrible thing. It should be, and is, the last resort. Iraq has defied the peaceful intentions of the world for 12 years. He has had every chance to comply with the U.N. resolutions and avoid this conflict. He has chosen not to. We must act. American soldiers might have to die to end the reign of this tyrant. It's hard to deal with such sacrifice. However, for those of you who feel like this sacrifice is too much I ask you to remember your high school history classes. This country was born because brave men;farmers, shop keepers, teachers, and lawyers, waged war against tyranny. Millions of African-Americans were freed from the chains of slavery because men went to war. Millions of Jews were spared from gas chambers and ovens because we went to war. Hundreds of thousands of Albanians were spared from genocide because we answered the call to action with force. So, war is hell, but sometimes it is absolutely necessary to bring about peace and justice. Where would we be today if the generations before us failed to stand up to evil and injustice?
On September 11, 2001, I came home from ground zero at about midnight. I spent all day recovering dead bodies and helping wounded people. I came home to find Stephanie terrified. She had spent all day treating the wounded from NYC. She was so upset. She was crying and asked me "What are we going to do?" I can't adequately explain the emotion in her voice except to say that she was terrified. Looking at her that day I decided that I would never want to see that same expression on my daughter's face. I never want to see your children have to worry about Anthrax. I never want you to have to explain to your children why 10,000 people in L.A. were killed by a radiological bomb. We should support the efforts of the President and the Armed Forces to make sure that you never have to."
