Apologetic no more: a defense of the war for Iraqi Freedom

At work recently, a friend asked me if I still supported Bush’s foolish war. I laughed and said of course, we may as well continue disappointing Bin Laden. Some other people jumped into the conversation and all of the silly moveon.org rhetoric started to dribble. Bush lied and people died. Bush is the largest shareholder of Exxon Mobil and started the war to raise oil prices. No weapons of mass destruction existed. We can’t win. We are wasting American blood and money for no reason. I of course disagree. I make no apology for supporting an honorable war. My fellow soldiers did not die in vain unless the American people defeat themselves.

Did George Bush lie us into war? No, according to the same David Kaye Report that critics love to use to say there were no weapons of mass destruction (which is not a totally true representation). In fact, Iraq did have weapons programs, illegal missiles, parts for a nuclear program, and alliances with terrorists who killed Americans. They launched attacks on our planes hundreds of times while we were covering the no fly zone demanded by the U. N.

Have we forgotten how evil Saddam was? He was the worst tyrant in the history of the Middle East. He was responsible for the deaths of a million of his own people. He took money for these huge palace estates from money dedicated to food and medicine and a half million Iraqi children died. That alone makes this a worthy effort. Remember the ethnic cleansing and systematic murder?

Unfortunately the distortion of the war has reached such a level some Republicans are wavering. It is time to stand up and set the record straight with no apologies for our goals and resolve.

What is the end game?
Iraq is a land which needs rebuilding, security, and reconciliation. I pray they get it. Our soldiers and marines have done yeoman’s work. 80% of the country is relatively secure. They are however undermanned. They can't clear and hold the trouble areas. Now the capital is starting to descend into disorder. It is time to send more troops for 6 months to secure the Baghdad. We need to start training the Iraqis with better equipment and then start leaving.

Our first phase was to give them a new start. We have done that. Now let's start rebuilding so we can have another independent ally in the region.

How do we succeed? Condi Rice was right and Rumsfeld was wrong. We do need to clear, hold, and build.

When Sec. Gates went over to Iraq and spoke with the troops, he received one consistent message...We are undermanned.I am disgusted by the Webb/Biden democrat party opposition to the requests of the troops on the ground for more soldiers. We tried the Iraqify the war approach. Yet the people who campaigned that we need change want to stay the course.We need more American troops to provide order and security for at least 6 months to give these guys a chance to train. You can't train in full battle. We wouldn't train our troops that way (we tried it in WW1 with disastrous results.), and it is wrong to train theirs that way.

Is opposition to the war unpatriotic? No, it is perfectly reasonable to think we should not have started the war or that we have made mistakes and now we have to cut our losses. The key is to support the troops who have no choice, but follow your elected leaders’ decisions.

Are the Democrats offering the best hope for ending the war?
The Dems want either to stay the course in Iraq or cut and run. Bush, Gates, and the troops want to win. We have a new commander who is exercising a strategy consistent with classic military doctrine. It is his request and not some dream President Bush had in the middle of the night. Play politics with the stuff at home not the lives of my brothers and sisters in arms.I love my many Democrat friends, but I am so disgusted with their party. It has less leadership than a Girl Scout troop invited to a gang fight. They run around scared of the world. I think it is because they honestly don't understand the importance of victory. They stay up all night making a spectacle of themselves and can’t say one encouraging word to our troops.

In my father's war (WW2), the country was suffering loss after loss. We saw our allies fall like cornstalks in a hailstorm. We were defeated on our own soil in Peril Harbor. We had a very small army about the size of one division while our rivals could field a million men any where in Europe. We lost the Philippines and had to send a sub to rescue our greatest general. What did we do? We decided to do whatever it took to win.Doolittle did the impossible raid and America took heart. The whole country went to war. Today, we are allowing factories to shut down while there was not enough capacity to armor hummers. We complain about how much the war costs and are allowing equipment to wear out. We suffer some set backs this year and we want to pull out instead of step up to the challenge. We want to claim the badge of patriotism while not respecting the sacrifice of those who died (we need to live the love we feel for this land).

Terrorists believe we are corrupt and decadent, and that with a few hard blows they can force us to retreat. They are mistaken," Bush remarked in a recent interview. Well if we don't, it will be because of his leadership. Just like Lincoln and FDR before Him, he is attempting to rally America to win a very winnable war.We have made some grave errors under Sec. Rumsfeld. We did not restore our Armed Forces to a level sufficient to be the superpower. During a surge of interest after 9/11, Rummy insisted on low military levels. He rejected calls to increase our military to fulfill the two front war. He thought technology could replace numbers. Sounds like a plant manager not a Sec. Def. We did not have enough troops to secure the peace. These and other errors have given the opposition ammunition to paint a fine war effort as a fiasco. Sen. John McCain is right.

There is hope. Victory is not a dream; it is an objective we have to work to obtain. Unfortunately, it will take many more tears and American blood. We are indeed tiring, but we will not falter. We will dig deep and show we what makes Americans special. We have always risen to the call of history.The problem is that the Democrat leaders are predisposed to accept American failure. Lincoln heard the same voices. He determined to win before the next election. President Bush must do the same because the next President will not be able to.

It's summer. Time for family reunions. We had fun at the Lawerence house last weekend with the (alphabetical) Anderson, Handy, and Lawerence family barbque.

Exclusive: The Dover mayor's race sparks a legal challenge

It is nothing personal, but the ruling of the city solicitor that the city charter's requirement that sitting councilmen resign to run for mayor does not apply in special elections has now been appealed to the state AG. Former Council Bill Daisey filed the appeal after Councilman Carlton Carey filed for the Mayor's post.

"I have nothing against Mr. Carey", he told me, "but if they want to change the charter they should do so and not try to get around it". Mr. Daisey regards the provision as silly and opposed it on council, but said the majority rules and we should abide by it until we change it.

I was personally affected by a similar restriction when I ran for city council in the special election caused by Mr. Pitts death. I was told the resignation I submitted from the Dover Human Relations Commission was effective retroactive to my filing. This is a very interesting ruling in regard to the mayor's race, but may stand do to the fact that it says May election and does not mention a special election. It is an obvious affront to the intent of the charter provision adopted in 1992, but the technicality may prevail. Time will tell.

This week Senator Colin Bonini-R who represents Kent County’s 16th district, filed for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor. This action allows him to build organization and raise money for a likely run. Senator Bonini has been well known over the years as fiscal watchdog. He has voted against every budget in which the spending exceeded inflation and population growth. While he was the lone hold out for years, now his stand is the majority position of the GOP senate caucus and has spread to some house members. He gave an exclusive interview to STOP. (http://stoptaxing.wordpress.com)
“I filed for Lt. Governor because we need a common sense conservative somewhere on the ticket”, he stated. We need to get our message out, and get another taxpayer advocate in statewide office, he continued. Senator Bonini has focused on a message of more freedom and less government intrusion in our lives since entering the state senate in 1995.
Our STOP chairman has called your stand against increased state spending over the years Churchillian, do you think people will respond? I like that analogy, Churchillian because before World War 2 Churchill stood almost alone warning the people of the problems ahead. This state is heading for big trouble if we don’t get our fiscal house in order, he stated. I want to take a message of common sense conservatism all across this state. If you do it in a postive, upbeat way, it will appeal to people who haven’t considered it. If people can find the messenger likeable, they will give him a chance.
Senator Bonini believes he can compliment whomever gets the GOP nomination. I hope I am fortunate enough to get nominated at the convention, he said. We need someone who will build the party for the future.
Senator Bonini entered elected politics in 1994 as the underdog in three way senate primary. He was outspend by multiples but won about half the vote or about as much as his opponents combinded. He went on to win a contentious general election where he was outspent almost 10 to 1 with a positive issue oriented message despite almost daily attacks launched against him. He won his last reelection bid with around 70% of the vote.
For those interested in contributing or getting more information contact:
Bonini for Lt. Governor276 Banning RoadCamden Wyoming, DE 19934

Apologetic No More: A defense of American Exceptionalism

I love the United States of America. Not just because I happen to live here, but because it is an exceptional jewel in history of human achievement. Many seem to want to deny this truth in the schools and in some media outlets. This is why we must proclaim it without apology. America is the best thing to happen to human government. I would go as far to say one of the best things to happen in the history of humanity.

232 years ago the 14 Bostonians inspired by a black man went to their deaths confronting an empire for violating their rights. A year later 56 courageous representatives risked everything to help build the new nation. From this auspicious beginning came the world’s champion of human dignity.

The American experiment showed the world that we the people can govern ourselves with no king but “King Jesus” as the early revolutionary slogan. America made government the servant not the master.

We showed the world that Justice is not just for the rich and powerful.

We are that light to the world. We are the place that shows all humanity can get along. We have people from virtually every nation here.

We proved that we could overcome our own seeming self interest and stand for human dignity.

People came here creatures of their times, but grew to become the future of humanity.

America is the place where poverty is not a life sentence of desperation. It is the place of free market where free people can change the destiny of humanity.

America freed people to be creative and rewarded ingenuity. We spurred more advances than the last 5000 years combined.

America became the inspiration for universal education. Knowledge and prosperity were no longer locked away for the privileged few.

Before America, the normal condition of humanity was quiet desperation with occasional explosions. Poverty, ignorance, disease, hunger, slavery, and oppression were all most people could ever aspire to know in this life.

The words of our Declaration of Independence have inspired souls in many tongues and every ethnicity. Before America, the powers that be ignored that self evident truth that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…. Now no one can ignore it.

No, all we have done with the gift of America is not Divine. Slavery, the trail of tears, the long walk, segregation, abortion, the Japanese internment, and taking prayer and Bible reading out of the schools are some of the failures of our society. We fell on our knees in Jamestown and then brought slaves to their knees 3 weeks later. America has its original sin like humanity, the sin of racism.Yet, to act as if America is somehow a corrupt land and unworthy of admiration because of its sins is to deny that greatness exists in humanity. Every nation of people has had its share of sins. Slavery was not invented by Americans. It was imposed upon us by the colonizers. Slavery has been a condition of humanity for most of recorded history.What makes America unique is that we are the land which promoted the principles of human dignity and equality which have helped blot out this curse in most of the world. The greatness of America is its principles.Some people would say we are hypocritical. I say so what. You have to be willing to live beyond your current actions. Those are the only ones with the courage to change. It is when we recognize higher principles that we become higher beings.That is why God brought the rejects of the world to this land. The stone that was rejected became the head of the corner. America is the place where those thought to be losers came. The debtors, the religious outcasts, the losers in the African wars and refugees from European ones, and the starving in Ireland, China, and elsewhere came to be the winners God intended. America was the place where the chains of class were removed and unprecedented prosperity emerged.In America you could be the master of your own destiny under God. No one told you where to work or live. No one told you how to worship or what to say. America was a land of high principles. It was the city set upon the hill as founder John Witherspoon put it.America was the land where we had “no king but King Jesus”. It was the land of minimal government and maximum freedom. It was that grand experiment or the proposition as Lincoln put it that was "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people".Unfortunately, not everyone has appreciated the exceptional nature of America. Some in power hate or hated it. If we allow the blame America crowd to strip us of our history and principles, the entire world will lose. We have had to defend this experiment with our own blood. Those who critique America on websites, over the airwaves, with a free press, or in public education systems which they get to by comfortable transportation seem to miss the irony that the do so only because of America. The world is a better place for the first week of July in 1776.

Today, let's not just reflect. Let us rededicate our selves to that glorious proposition that it may not perish from the earth.