By Gene Ladnier
Old warriors love peace because they have paid the ugly price for it.
Back in late 1968 or early 1969, the proverbial talking heads were debating on whether or not we should leave South Vietnam.
One group insisted that, should we leave the South Vietnamese government would collapse and the communist would take over. Another group insisted that regardless of when we pulled out of Vietnam, the South Vietnamese government would eventually collapse.
“We’ve lost 40,000 young American lives in this faulty endeavor,” one talking head noted. “We should leave now before more American lives are wasted.”
“We should stay the course,” another persisted. “Otherwise our young soldiers will have died for nothing.”
We listened to the second talking head and continued to, stay the course for another three years but we eventually pulled out. The only difference being, instead of losing 40,000 young American lives; we lost 58,000 young American’s. And…what did we accomplish?
Pennsylvania Representative John Murtha is right - it is time to leave Iraq!
How many more young Americans must lose their lives in Iraq, or be maimed for life before today’s talking heads remember and learn from a simple, but obvious history lesson?
There are those who argue that with the declaration of ’super power’ status we also have worldwide responsibilities. What many fail to understand is that yes, we have worldwide responsibilities, but our first responsibility lies with talking care of the American people! Period!
Placing America’s young service personnel in harms way for seemingly nefarious reasons and pipe dreams is completely non-acceptable.
Squandering billions of dollars that are desperately needed at home, on a country that has trillions of dollars in oil reserves, strikes me as fiscal irresponsibility!
Who, after all, appointed us the World’s Policemen?
Just because we have the ability, both militarily and economically, to remove dictatorial regimes and evil leaders does not mean that we have a legal or even moral obligation to do so. Are we obligated to remove the tyrannical regimes of North Korea, Iran, Syria, and scores of others simply because we got rid of the one in Iraq? What right do we have to meddle in the affairs of another country, unless of course, they have declared war against us or an ally we have obligated ourselves to help?
Our soldiers returning home tell stories of how grateful the people of Iraq are for our help and assistance. No doubt many are. But, I personally remember the thousands of grateful people in South Vietnam and often wonder today… what happened to them?
The Iraqi people deserve peace, respect, and prosperity. So do peoples living under the iron heel of many other dictatorial regimes. But, is it not up to the people of these countries to stand and deliver? Many young Americans fought and died for our independence, is there anything wrong with them fighting for their own?
Once our military has left the insurgents will have other targets to go after. This will prove to the Iraqi people that they are dealing with an evil threat that they must either destroy or submit to. I am not saying to pull out tomorrow! What I am saying is to tell the Iraqi government that in six months (maybe 12) we are leaving and it would behoove them to have their ducks in order. If civil war erupts, that is what they want!
What about the many countries or peoples who have begged for our help and we turned them down for ‘political reasons?’ Or turned them down for the simple fact that we were, at that time, supporting their dictator, or they were not economically or strategically important to us? Hypocrisy it is said, comes in many forms!
Like Representative Murtha, I am extremely proud of our Armed Forces and I would rather give up my own life than see one more young American added to that final bugle call. You may also question why many highly decorated Vietnam Veterans are urging a withdrawal from Iraq? The simple answer is that old warriors love peace because they have paid the ugly price to have it.
Unlike many of our Representatives and Senators in Washington, John Murtha and I learned a painful and bloody lesson in Vietnam, one that is engraved on a cold stone wall containing 58,000 names.

Last 5 posts by albena

• Content Management System - July 5th, 2008
• Online Sales Model - July 5th, 2007
• Drop-Ship Your Way to Success - July 5th, 2007
• How to Make Website Visitors Purchase something - July 5th, 2007
• Choosing an Internet Home Business - July 5th, 2007