IRAQ LOST ? NOT HARDLY

There is an extremely dangerous thought being expressed in the media, liberal circles and in the commentary of a few GOP publicity seekers who bend to the whims of popular political fancy rather than the full truth and the core of beliefs that make conservatism the base of the GOP. That dangerous mind set is that we have lost in Iraq. What is so totally mind boggling in this idea is that nothing could be further from the truth but in their willingness to buy into this idea because it is becoming politically expedient and popular with the main stream media the very expression of this idea and the implementation of policy suggestions that stem from this idea could bring about its reality as the final end in Iraq. Negativism toward Iraq has assisted in creating the problems that currently exist because it has caused a hesitancy in making the full and necessary commitment to finishing the job and completing the mission of defeating the terrorist element in Iraq and calming the insurgency thus allowing the Iraqis the freedom to iron out their governmental differences in accordance to the will of the people who have voted for a free Democracy in Iraq. It is a proven fact that political discord can and does tie the hands of the military since it creates a lack of political will to free the military to do its job. Disagreeing with any administration is a right and privilege that we have as Americans which has been a cornerstone of our Republic since its birth. Yet with the Iraq situation there has been a political agenda not so much against the war as against the President continually expounded by the media, liberal politicians and the anti- war for anti-wars sake crowd that has clouded the truth of what is happening in Iraq so much that it has actually assisted in shaping US policy from the all out completion of the mission to that of one that is hesitant to use the full capabilities that we have and is now considering negotiation with the very elements who have been working to prevent a free and independent Iraq. Those who are opposed to President Bush have used Iraq as a means to politically damage his Presidency and as such created the perception that Iraq is a complete disaster and either lost or on the verge of losing. Yet according to the very men and women who are on the ground and in country just the opposite is true and the majority are dumbfounded as to why their accomplishments and the true nature of the situation in Iraq is not being told to the American people. The total intentional neglect of even the slightest mention of any success in Iraq and the complete preoccupation of the left and the media as well as certain publicity hounds within the GOP in only reporting body counts or roadside bombings has created the misconception in the mind of the American public that Iraq is a total lost cause and we do not have the capability to turn it around.

Had this same type political discord and agenda based media reporting been evident during WWII even with the popularity of the war the resolve of the American people would have faded which would have brought about a failure of the political will to fight the war to the full and complete surrender of both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. While favor for the war had many dips in popularity with the American people as reports of American losses weighed on the countries conscience the reports of victories and accomplishments by the military not only continually rallied the country in their support but also gave the political will to back policy and support the war to its final and ultimate conclusion the defeat and total surrender of Germany and Japan. The devastation of Pearl Harbor gave the American resolve to enter the war but the continual success and accomplishments of our military and the reporting thereof gave this nation the ability to back the war and stand true to its cause until the final victory.

With freedom of speech comes responsibility. This not only applies to the individual but to the press and the politicians who exercise that Constitutional right. Many of the politicians who are continually denouncing the President and the war have never set foot in Iraq, talked with a soldier nor been part of policy and military decisions and as such speak without knowledge of the REAL situation just from an agenda. Even the highly touted Iraq Study Group whose report is as useless as paper bullets only visited Iraq for a brief one day visit and never left the green zone in Baghdad. The media chooses to turn a blind eye to any report of accomplishment or success in Iraq and select to report death and destruction only thus rendering the American public to make an uneducated decision about Iraq based only upon negativism. The successes and accomplishment have far out weighed the problems yet agenda based politicians and media outlet's paint a completely different picture. Iraq is not lost nor are we losing but the seeds of that loss are being planted by the very agendas that are being expressed and even considered in shaping future policy. Even Collin Powell suggested last week that a full military commitment with 500, 000 troops and completely closing the borders with Iran and Syria would end sectarian violence and terrorism in Iraq and allow the government there to accomplish its full development into a Democracy. Yet those who are shaping policy are calling for negotiation with terrorist states redeploying troops and even suggesting that Israel give up territory to appease Arab states and ease tension in the region to bring about a free Iraq. This political agenda sounds like Europe in the late 1930's and the appeasement which allowed Hitler to overrun the entire continent. History is our greatest teacher and not learning from it is our greatest mistake. Following the course that is being suggested in Iraq will give Iran the same capability to overrun the Middle East as similar appeasement gave Germany to overrun Europe. We cannot allow history to repeat itself only with different names and faces. Iraq is winnable and it can be done without appeasement and negotiation with terror states. It takes political will and the resolve of this nation to see it through allowing the military the full capability to complete its mission and the Iraqi government the safety to finalize and iron out their Democracy. To the President I say make the full commitment and complete the job. It is time to raise the famous "V" for victory sign as Winston Churchill did in WWII.

Ken Taylor