War on terror: fight to win

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

By Barbara Cubin

Over the past week, the United States House has been bitterly divided over a 10-line non-binding resolution criticizing the President’s new strategy for victory in Iraq, mere weeks after the Senate unanimously confirmed General David Petraeus to implement the plan.

It would be easy to say that this resolution means nothing — that its 97 words are merely meaningless rhetoric. But the words send the wrong message to the wrong people.

As House Republicans have argued valiantly against a Democratic plan that will serve only to embolden America’s enemies and jeopardize the safety of our nation, the world has watched.

American soldiers, who voluntarily serve and defend their nation wherever they are called, have watched.

One soldier, stationed at Camp Victory in Iraq, was asked on Thursday what he thought of the debate going on in Washington.

His response: “I think the people back home should support our troops more and have faith in our chief, in our commander.”

And, we can be certain our enemies, the terrorist forces who would like nothing more than to see the demise of Americans across the globe, have watched in glee, knowing they have managed to fracture our collective will.

Through the Arab media we know what they’re saying. Recently the second in command of al-Qaeda issued a warning to moderate Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan who are working and dying to build peace and security.

His words speak to the ominous consequences of this misguided resolution: “These traitors in Iraq and Afghanistan must face their inevitable fate, and face up to the inescapable facts. 

America ... is about to depart and abandon them, just as it abandoned their like in Vietnam.”

In front of all those who watched, I was proud to stand on the floor last week and declare my opposition to this unspeakable resolution.

I refuse to send a message that lacks hope, accepts defeat, and denies our military commanders the troops they have said they need to succeed in Iraq.

There is no denying the difficulty of our current situation in Iraq. Terrible fractures exist along ethnic and religious fault lines.

The need to stabilize Baghdad has never been more apparent. But the answer is not to retreat, or turn our back on the plan General Petraeus himself designed to lead his troops to victory.   

Last year, Osama bin Laden issued this warning to the United States. He said: “I would like to tell you that the war is for you or for us to win. If we win it, it means your defeat and disgrace forever … .”

I cannot think of a better way to illustrate the absolute necessity of American victory in the Global War on Terror.

Though we did not choose to begin this war, we have only one option for ending it.  And that is to win it.

If we leave Iraq before victory is achieved and democracy has an opportunity to prevail, terrorists will simply follow us home. They have done so before. 

Iraq is the central front of a greater battle on terror.  We owe it to future generations, our children and their children, to do what it takes to win this battle.  If not, America might never recover.

And if you don’t believe me, would you at least see fit to believe bin Laden?
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