Posted by
Chuck on Monday, July 24, 2006 1:45:31 AM
After our nation was attacked by the terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001, the
president made an historic address to the nation. In this address and
subsequent addresses, the president warned the nation to not give up even when
the war became difficult. Those that endured the hardship of the depression in
the 30’s heeded the call when their President asked for a similar sacrifice
during World War II. Today’s generation, who has hardly seen a period of
scarcity, does not seem to have same tenacity to endure the slightest
adversity. As the call becomes louder for us to get out of the Middle East before
the job is finished, I wonder if the President will have to scold a future,
weakened or even destroyed America
that we should have heeded his warnings against losing our will to fight for
the protection and freedom we now enjoy.
Let me remind you of some of the comments the President has made.
Sept. 20, 2001, in an address to a joint session of congress, the President
admonished:
“This war will not
be like the war against Iraq
a decade ago, with a decisive liberation of territory and a swift
conclusion. It will not look like the air war above Kosovo two years
ago, where no ground troops were used and not a single American was lost in
combat.
Our response
involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated
strikes. Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy
campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include
dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in
success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against
another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no
rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to
terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to
make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this
day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be
regarded by the United
States as a hostile regime.”
The President’s state of the union address given to congress
on Jan. 29, 2002 made a similar exhortation:
“Our war on terror
is well begun, but it is only begun. This campaign may not be finished on
our watch -- yet it must be and it will be waged on our watch.
We can't stop short.
If we stop now -- leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked
-- our sense of security would be false and temporary. History has called
America
and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege
to fight freedom's fight.”
One year later, the President again stated in the State of
the Union address on Jan. 28, 2003:
“Our
war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is power. In the
ruins of two towers, at the western wall of the Pentagon, on a field in
Pennsylvania, this nation made a pledge, and we renew that pledge tonight:
Whatever the duration of this struggle, and whatever the difficulties, we will
not permit the triumph of violence in the affairs of men -- free people will
set the course of history.”
My fear is that we will lose our nerve and endurance as we
see the difficulties of defeating an enemy that disregards all human life –
ours and theirs. My prayer is that we will not.