Iraq: Democracy or Defense?

If there has been a failure in the current global war against totalitarian oppression and the revolutionary Islamist jihad, it has been in the efforts of the political leadership to effectively articulate and define the threat, and the clear national interests at stake in achieving success on multiple fronts, including in Iraq.

All of this has been complicated, of course, by a blatant tendency of the political left in this country (and globally) to place their own desires for political power above the long-term security and safety of the American people, and by extension, the entire Western world.

Should we be building and supporting West-friendly democracies? Or simply looking out for our own best “national interests”?

Although there are those who apparently believe otherwise, the two goals are not mutually exclusive. It is in our interests to cultivate as many allies as possible in this war, and to stand by them through the tough times. It is possible for us to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time.

The political left has now successfully established themselves in a boxed position whereby success of any sort in Iraq, or elsewhere in the “War on Terrorism” for that matter, will equate into a defeat for their position. They therefore have no stake in success or victory, and in fact are quite heavily invested in failure and defeat.

If Bush is for something, the left will oppose it. If Bush opposes something, they will be for it. It doesn’t even matter what “it” is, or whether their position directly contradicts a policy or demand that they articulated just yesterday. Opposition – not progress – is the name of the game.

In an earlier age, faced with similar global threats of totalitarian expansionism, John Kennedy firmly asserted a characteristically American creed:

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe – in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty!”

Kennedy today would likely be acutely embarrassed by the actions of his fellow Democrats. The threat today to our security and freedoms are real.

Despite our technology and our power, our success and survival is not assured – if we allow ourselves to be led by those who would rather run from a fight, than stand up to it.

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