Random thoughts on 2000 dead and the liberal reaction
It should go without saying (unfortunately it doesn’t these days) that each and every death of a US service member in Iraq is a tragedy. These young men and women made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us back home. It is humbling to think of their sacrifice and my thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.
Liberals claim that their deep compassion for the troops leads them to believe that the best thing we can do for them is to “bring them home”. Have you talked to these people? Their sense of moral superiority is palpable.
Bringing the troops home now, before the job is done, would disgrace the ultimate sacrifice that these courageous men and women have made. That would be like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It would be the exact opposite of what the liberals claim, leaving Iraq would dishonor their service and their sacrifice.
By any historical perspective, in any military conflict in the history of the world, 2,000 dead after 3 years in Iraq is an incredibly low number. The pre-war estimate for the invasion alone was three times that high. Is that harsh to say, sure it is. One dead is a tragedy and I’m sorry for not only each and every death, but each and every injury, each family that is separated, each child who misses their mother or father. However, let’s be real about what we are doing. We are in a war and that means that many of these brave soldiers will be killed in combat.
“But Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11“. Answer me this. If Iraq presented such a danger to the US and her interests that regime change was the official policy of this government under Bill Clinton, how could that be LESS of a priority after 9-11?
If we elect a liberal to the White House in this day and age, what are we saying to the Islamo fascists? We will only defend ourselves if we can do it without putting our troops in harms way.
If we adopt the strategy proposed by John Bleeping Kerry this week and withdraw from Iraq, we would be handing a victory to the terrorists. Somewhere, the Islamo fascists are laughing at how easy this was. Usefull idiots are in large supply in the Democrat Party.
In WWII 2,000 servicemen died by the Summer of 1942. Should we have thrown up our hands then? Great achievements require great sacrifice. What we have done in Iraq IS a great achievement, if we finish the job.
Liberals used to feel good about liberating 25 million people from tryanny, what happened? Why are they so eager to throw them back into chaos and leave Iraq?
What are we fighting for and why don’t liberals see or understand the importance of this mission? We are trying to stamp a Democracy in the heart of Middle East. If we are successful, we have charted a new course for the world for the next 100 years. Liberals do not want to admit it, but some of the benefits are already apparent, Lybia gives up WMD, Syria kicked out of Lebanon and being held to account for the assissanation of their PM, elections (albeit imperfect) in Egypt, Democracy in Ukraine, etc. This is a goal worth pursuing. This is an honorable mission worthy of our support, not our vilification. Why do liberals avoid the strategic issues involved in this mission? You never hear them talk about these, only body counts, misconduct by the troops and reasons to cut and run and hand AlQaeda a major victory.
The leadership of the Democrat Party is doing the work of AlQaeda in America. Let’s call them what they are, Domestic Insurgents. Time and again in correspondence between leaders of AlQaeda they talk about the importance of using the media to sour public opinion in this country. That is the identical strategy of people like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Dick Durbin, Pat Leahy, Chuck Schumer and a host of others. People in the US Senate should be able to distinguish between dissent and dishonest demagoguery. When they can’t, what does it say about them…and their supporters?
Aren’t there enough legitimate things to criticize about this war? The post-war planning, the lack of preperation for the insurgency, the lack of armor and why it took so long to fix, the treatment of detainees. There are numerous things to criticize. Even with all that, it does not really have anything to do with the importance of succeeding at this mission. Democrats have a “can’t do” attitude that is on full display right now.
If we left Iraq and the country was thrown into a civil war, the savages took over and ran roughshod over the entire region, I think that would be ok with certain members of the Democrat Party simply because it would be a defeat for George Bush.
The bottom line in all of this is that success in Iraq is such a worthwhile mission that if it took another two years and 2,000 dead solders, it would be worth it from a national and global security perspective. Those 4,000 brave men and women would have reshaped the world and given all of us a much better chance at a peaceful future.
Some say that is a worthy and noble mission to be proud of. That those who gave their all did it for a great and just cause.
Others are liberals.
Update: Have you seen MoveOn.org’s disgusting ad yet? Do it before you eat. Hat tip: MichelleMalkin
October 27, 2005 6:21 am 
Should be required reading for everybody in the Bush White House. This is the message they need to be communicating daily. And you wonder why the elite liberals loath the conservative blogs so much. Well said.
Gregg J
An excellent post (although you now have me rummaging through my books to find out the exact number of US dead by the end of the summer of 1942).
In the end, it is a good thing that our society values human life so much that we are appalled by every death. I find it sort of creepy that the media don’t keep a count of the Iraqi army dead or the number of dead civilians blown up in suicide bombings. But any death is a waste.
As for John Kerry, I disagree with his solution here. But any veteran that served under fire deserves respect and I will listen to his views. I don’t get upset when he talks about ending the war. Veterans have earned the right to say whatever they feel and not get shot down.
But an excellent piece of writing here. That pretty much sums everything up nicely.
I try not to generalize about all liberals or all democrats on this, yet despite that I think you make good points.
And you’re right, the Bush White House should be making these points. Well actually, they are making them and do make them, but maybe more often? And maybe we could use a press that helps communicate the news better?
John Kerry said he wanted to pullout, and yet he advocated the war during the elections. He is obviously playing follow the leader in order to follow the ‘in’ crowd.
Mr. Kerry, now honestly what would of you done if you were the president during 9/11? (WOW, what a scary flashback.) We can not play patty-cake with these savages!! It will not work. Can someone help me understand this madness. Is their any medication to this inhumane thinking process?
As a former Vietnam combat vet and retired US Army Infantry Master Sergeant I take offense at everyone, liberals and conservatives alike who have never been in combat or served in the military who shout ‘Finish the Mission’ or ‘Bring the Troops Home’. They should be shouting, ‘Bring Back the Draft’. Until every American family is forced to give up a son or daughter to Uncle Sam’s green machine, all the rhetoric is trivial B.S. and meaningless. Lets walk the walk, people and not just talk the talk. It’s time to put up or shut up.