THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume V, Issue # 69, March 17, 2003
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
WAR WITH IRAQ NOW, WHAT COMES NEXT?
DO THE LEFTISTS REALLY WANT THIS QUESTION ANSWERED?
By Paul Walfield
One of the more inexplicable arguments for not using military force against Iraq is, "what's next?" The Left wants to know, if Iraq is a danger, isn't North Korea a greater danger, and what about Iran? Isn't Iran just as bad?
For some incomprehensible reason, the Left believes that, if there is more than one danger facing America, what we need to do is run around in circles, wave our arms in the air, and finally collapse in a heap on the ground.
Confronting your enemies seems to be an "evil" on a par with the evil we, as Americans, are at war with. It makes no sense. The world is a dangerous place and there are a great many people and nations that would like to see America "go away."
The Left wants to blame America for its being disliked, and not see, instead, that those who hate us are the ones with the problem. The ones on the Left, the antiwar protesters, and their ilk do not have anything based in reality to justify their agreement or under- standing with those who would like to see America go down.
What in the history of United States foreign policy would justify the bashing America is getting from the millions of America-haters across the globe? In a word, nothing.
Virtually every banner, slogan, and argument by the Left in its trashing of the United States is based on absurd notions of revised history, conspiracy theories, and vile spec- ulation. Perhaps, the most disturbing revelation made plain by the Left is their unwaver- ing willingness to heed the rants of tyrants and despots, while dismissing the words of America's political leaders.
While many folks have come to realize the emptiness of the hate-America crowd's words, the notion that America may go on a shooting spree across the globe may give pause to a few.
However, having no foundation or even direction for their arguments and complaints, the Left can only ask the question, "What happens next?" Meaning, will America continue to war for the foreseeable future? By posing the question, Leftists are attempting to make it appear that it is America that is the aggressor and not those nations and peoples that seek America's demise. How clever.
It's as if to ask a police department to discontinue its practice of sleuthing and arresting criminals whenever the number of crimes exceeds a particular figure. After all, if there is more than one bank robbery in a city, what's next? Do the police hunt down and end the careers of all known criminals? For the Left, that may be unreasonable, but it isn't for the rest of the population.
Of course, responding to a talking point question posed by the Left in no way affects their continued asking of the question, making it abundantly clear that an answer is not what they were looking for. Rather and in the tradition of historic, professional propa- gandists, the Left just repeats the question, converting a query into a statement of criticism.
The bottom line is simple. The Left's arguments regarding "what's next?" or "how much will it cost" are just distractions and, in fact, irrelevant to the action being protest- ed against. "What is next" has nothing to do with the importance, urgency, or necessity of dealing with Saddam Hussein. It is an argument that in no way refutes any of the named reasons for disarming Iraq at this time.
Actually, if you think about it, there is no criticism by the Left or anyone else for that matter that actually proves false or counters anything that President Bush or his admin- istration contends are valid reasons for overthrowing the Hussein regime.
Take the silliness of the statement that "inspections work, war won't." Iraq has defied inspections for over 12 years now and has not disarmed. The fact that the UN has 18 separate Security Council resolutions proves that inspections do not in reality work.
As far as America is concerned, there is every reason to disarm Iraq. There is no rea- son not to. However, the Leftists continue to argue to the contrary. Where does that place them?
Now, the anti-American crowd is asking a new question in regards to President Bush's demand that Iraq "disarm completely." The antiwar activists, or rather the anti-America folks, are asking, "Is that what we want, a completely defenseless enemy to bombard and attack?"
Well, if you get pass the obvious stupidity of a question that wonders if you would prefer fighting an enemy that can beat you or an enemy you can beat, you are led to the com- ment that America just wants to go to war, rather than disarm Iraq--the comment that, once Iraq is completely disarmed, the evil Americans will bomb and strafe the helpless and now innocent Iraqis.
Just like their arguments, the Leftists place their callous and nefarious strategies and tactics onto their opponents. What the Leftists are saying is that, just like them, Ameri- ca is not looking for answers, it is just looking to attack.
As far as the hate-America crowd is concerned, anything that will chip away at America's standing in the world is a worthwhile cause. Anything that America does which enhances its security and strength is to be opposed.
America can be viewed like the Olympic athlete that is cheered on by all to earn a med- al. However, once the medal is earned, many in the crowd change position and seek the winner's downfall.
What is next then? That depends on whether America has the fortitude to withstand the slings and arrows not of outrageous fortune, but the slings and arrows resulting from its earned place as the world's only superpower.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Liberals, Statists, Socialists, & Other Leftists
The Middle East & the Problem of Iraq
Page Two
Page One
The Problem of Rogue States:
Iraq as a Case History
The Middle East & the Arabs
Islamism & Jihadism -- The Threat of Radical Islam
Page Three
Page Two
Page One
War & Peace in the Real World
Page Two
Page One
Islamist Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.A.
Osama bin Laden & the Islamist Declaration of War
Against the U.S.A. & Western Civilization
Islamist International Terrorism &
U.S. Intelligence Agencies
U.S. National Security Strategy
Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and post-graduate study in behavioral and analyt- ical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of Houlton, Maine, and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous periodicals and on numerous websites. CONTACT INFORMATION: Email: paul.walfield@cox.net
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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Conservative Government Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity