This past week has seen a number of reports released concerning the Iraq war and the war on terror in general. While many reports are somewhat mixed in overall outlook, the media has made sure to pick each report’s worst features and use them to encourage the defeat of American freedom. Nearly everyone in America would like to see success in Iraq. However, the media makes every effort to plant seeds of doubt in the heads of the American people.

Indeed the situation America finds itself in is precarious and complex. This war is perhaps the most perplexing one America has ever engaged in. The revolutionary war was to win our freedom from an oppressive ruler. World War II was a war waged to defend our country from world-wide imperialism. Vietnam was a war chiefly waged to combat Communism. A war on terror is significantly different. The logistics involved in winning are far reaching. Fighting an enemy who is very mobile is something our military has little experience with. Though the focus of terrorist groups is primarily on Iraq, they are not from a specific country. Nor are many of them actually natives of Iraq. They come from all over the world, and they wish to see more than just Iraq fail. This approach is different from that of past wars in which a certain country was the declared enemy. Having pointed out the differences, on a further look, the similarities this war has with historic conflicts are just as numerous. This war is no different than any before it. American victory is imperative. Here is why.

America’s historic record on war since World War II is almost shameful. We claim the title of greatest nation in the world. While there is no doubt of that to most Americans, it is to the rest of the world we must prove our claims by solidly backing our decree that terrorism must be entirely suppressed. The last war we truly finished and saw complete victory in was World War II. There was no international doubt of our superiority as a nation after that decisive victory. However, American inability to quickly and successfully suppress communism, even when the tools were available, tarnished our nearly spotless record. America cannot allow history to repeat itself in this manner. The eventual fall of communism restored America’s greatness, leaving no doubt in the world’s mind that freedom is the ultimate champion. Terrorism, though not a government institution like communism, is much the same device. Though I believe the majority of the international community firmly believes freedom is the true entitlement of humanity, much of the same community now believes much of America’s might is in our mouths. It is time for America to unite, make victory possible, and restore winning to our war record.

History has a way of communicating what must be done. One need only take a slight glance at the past century of American war involvement for it to be clear the route that must be taken. The United States entered into World War I late. America played the role of clean-up man in baseball. Having ensured victory for our allies, a full withdrawal took place. There was no substantial offer of post-war assistance to participant countries such as Germany. This failure left the German economy in shambles. Germans cried out for help, and they received it. Less than twenty years after the conclusion of World War I, Adolf Hitler took control of Germany. His crusade for power quickly led to another World War. After allied victory was obtained in World War II, assistance was offered to both Germany and Japan. The results are evident to this day. Japan has the second largest economy, next to the United States, and Germany, until very recently, was third. Both countries are major allies of the United States.

Vietnam was a different story. The war took on several different looks over a decade and a half and several different presidents. Many of the Vietnam activities were criticized, but the defeat of communism was a very worthy cause. When the final troops were withdrawn, having not secured victory, all the work done and lives lost over a period of more than ten years was put to total waste in a very short period of time. America cannot let this happen again. The cause of defeating terrorism is as worthy as communism, and victory is obtainable.

The constant attack President Bush receives only contributes to the world’s view of America as being a bunch of loud mouths. By openly opposing the President and offering plans that ensure victory for terrorism, the left, and recently members of the GOP, only fuel our enemies. They are not deaf to American politics. It is not lost on them the good things they can gain from the American people electing a president with softer views. If legislation requiring withdrawal of troops were actually past, the terrorists would be handed exactly what they want. They want the opposition to leave. Anything that has been accomplished, and there has been more accomplished than is often reported, would quickly be decimated. These are the same people that have been behind the 9-11 attacks and a host of other attacks on American properties during the 1990s that our government essentially ignored. In seven months of congressional control, the only thing the liberals have proven is that they still remain weak on war and national security. In the 1990s America witnessed a president who was weak on such matters, and we saw attacks on our embassies, war ships, and the World-Trade Towers. We cannot allow the left’s weak stance on terrorism to enable our enemies any longer.

Having pointed out why it is necessary to see this war to victory, it is now time to address some of the backward thinking fed to the public by the leftist network media. If you may remember, President Bush was criticized for following his own plan and not listening to the generals on the ground in Iraq. Congress then approved a plan that allowed for the top General in Iraq to make reports on the status of Iraq and the troop surge that was also a part of the same plan. This in effect required President Bush to listen to his general. Now, two months before the report is due, congress and the media are criticizing Bush for listening to the generals too much and not using a plan of his own. This is a complete turn about from the previous claims. Even the smartest of minds find themselves in a slight quandary over what to do. Now that President Bush is listening to those on the ground, he is criticized for not thinking for himself. I must remind the bright congressional leaders and their good friends in the media that you cannot have it both ways.
Another attack waged against the war by the media is the false claim that a civil war has begun in Iraq. This claim is made despite contrary views from those serving in Iraq. There is little mention of the success the troop surge, which received its final components les than a month ago, is having in neighborhoods previously considered unsuccessful. There is little mention of tribal leaders who have begun efforts to expel terrorism from their areas. The media criticizes the new government of Iraq for being largely ineffective. How quickly they are to forget why we are fighting the war in the first place. Politics can only be successful in its entirety with the institution of relative stability. Stability is something Iraq has had little of, either before or during this war. The media forgets the history of our own country. How our country nearly failed before it had even won the revolutionary war. Even after the British had been banished from our shores, it took several years to enact a constitution that enabled the government to operate successfully. Until then, the government was simply a group of men who didn’t get along very famously. When confronted with this information, the media people dutifully reply that Iraq’s situation is much different than that of America’s beginning. It is not though. Iraq is starting over. A new type of government has been adopted. It is a government the people risked their lives to permit, just as Americans did.

The words tell the story. The war must be won. Winning would do more to restore America’s good name internationally than backing away and allowing terrorists to exert their will on the free world and oppress people who deserve the same as all of humanity, the right to be free. Victory will prove to the world that the United States truly is united and that we believe in freedom for all. Finally, victory will restore confidence to the American people, and help America to believe in itself again. Victory in Iraq will remind us all that freedom and safety truly are the most cherished of all human rights.