My post from yesterday should not be seen as giving up or wanting out of Iraq or thinking we shouldn't have been there in the first place. This War on Terror is full of conflicting views for me. Well, not exactly conflicting, but complex for sure. No matter how freaking backwards I think Islam is and how often I think that these people don't deserve our blood to be shed to set them free, it's not really about that. This offensive war was started as defense, because they're the ones who wanted to kill us first. That's what I have to keep reminding myself when I wish they'd all just feck off and sharia themselves to death. I can't remember where I read/heard this recently, but someone smarter than I said that this war in Iraq is not like Vietnam because when we left Vietnam, we left our involvement with them altogether, but if we leave Iraq, it affects us. The result of what happens in Iraq deeply affects the United States. And that's why we can't let this be a Vietnam. We can't just wash our hands and go home, not only because it would be absolutely shameful for us to do that to Iraq again, but because this war is far bigger than Iraq. People scoff when talking heads say we fight there so we don't have to fight here, but if we left Iraq now, it would surely come back to bite us later.
And so I struggle, with wanting all men to be free, with hating absolutely everything about Islam, with feeling outraged that my husband is trying to get a job so he can help people who clearly don't want to be helped, and with knowing that in the end none of that matters. All that matters is that we win this. That we crush the fighting spirit in Islam that makes them think that they're winning. We have to. Period.
Posted by Sarah at December 11, 2006 08:58 AM | TrackBackThe Saints-Cowboys game yesterday provides an excellent analogy. Saints defense is kind of mediocre, so keep them off the field. They have a good offense, so keep the offense on the field. Even to the point of kicking onsides after a touchdown with a substantial lead. The best defense is a good offense.
For us, the best defense against Islamofascist terrorists attacking us on our soil is to aggresively attack them on theirs. The alternative is to abandon most of our individual rights (via internment camps, electronic eavesdropping, 'permits' for everything, etc.) in order to shore up the home front defense.
You're kind of writing down a dark path there Sarah... how far do you have to go? how much do you have to hate Islam to justify this in your head? I really want to know, because maybe if it works and I can just hate a bunch of people all together and then not feel digust and remorse at my country's actions, then maybe I'll try. But you know what, I think I'd just end up hating myself more.
No, I don't think I'll ever end up in that head space. Here's a simple equation that you should try repeating over and over in your head: Iraq is unrelated to 9/11. Personally, that's how I know what's right and what's wrong.
Posted by: Will at December 11, 2006 09:04 PM