When it comes to Iraq, the IJN has it backwards

President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with the elected leaders of Australia and Spain wisely led their respective countries to war against Saddam Hussein because they had the courage, fortitude and conviction to do so. The “international community” consisting mainly of the French, Germans, Russians and Arab countries took “a pass” on opposing the Bathe party’s “Reign of Terror” because they had under-the-table financial dealings with Hussein.

Today, the US led coalition has defeated Saddam and is mopping up the straggling remnants of opposition. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis support our efforts to help establish democratic self-rule and eradicate criminal activity. Every day our credibility is enhanced by our actions and every day more and more Iraqis are willing to provide local intelligence toward improving their security. It is only the constant din of defeatism by political partisans, Tragedy TV and the other “nattering nabobs of negativism” in this country that give solace and encouragement to our enemies.

Suggesting that our Administration has resisted efforts to “internationalize the reconstruction of Iraq” ignores both history and reality. 19 UN Security Counsel Resolutions, the recent International Donors Conference and daily requests for such aid and assistance from the Provisional Iraqi Government have yet to convince the French, Germans or Russians to help. Do these governments not believe in spreading Freedom and Democracy, as does President Bush? Are these members of the “international community” afraid to take on terrorism like Tony Blair? Do these countries not have strong leaders like Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and (Australia) who are willing to do what’s right despite the protestations of their publics?

To answer the IJN, the reason the US and its Coalition Partners would fight for the “privilege” of helping 25 million Iraqis gain their freedom is because we can, we should and fortunately, we have a leader who accepts the responsibility to do so. If we ever divest ourselves of the obligation to see this mission through, we will forfeit our place in History forever.

Our success and the success of the Iraqi people will earn the respect and admiration of our detractors around the World. Democracy in Iraq will present a stark alternative to the Dictatorships, Monarchies and Totalitarian Theocracies that prevail throughout the Middle East and in the end our investment of life and wealth will be returned a thousand fold. Meanwhile, the door is open for the French, Germans and Russians to lend a hand. The IJN should concentrate its efforts on convincing the leaders of those countries to join President Bush, rather than the other way around?