Palmer Events Center
Let's Not Let Democracy, the Constitution, and American Traditions Get in the Way of Winning the War on Terror
RECEIVED Mon., April 30, 2007
Dear Editor,
The suicide of Col. Ted Westhusing is a wretched tragedy [“'I Am Sullied – No More,'” and “Ted's Ghost,” News, April 27]. He is a casualty of the world war begun on September 11, 2001, by the forces of international Islamist despotism. Al Qaeda, Iran, and millions of their devotees are committed to the annihilation of all free people and enslaving the world. We must understand this reality. Col. Westhusing certainly did.
Unfortunately, there are many Americans, possibly half of the population, who have deluded themselves into believing that this is not really a menace that concerns their literal existence. This tendency to look away creates Orwellian moral collapse; cowardice is heroism, surrender is victory, and slavery is freedom. The political home of this destructive attitude is now the Democratic Party. These realities are both perilous and sad beyond words.
Although Democrats are not willing to truthfully face this grave threat – face it they will. The enemy will ensure it. Those who comprehend the sense of urgency cannot allow Democrats to take their time to comprehend this life and death issue. So accordingly, until they abandon their head-in-the-sand behavior, the security of the free world and America can never be put into their hands.
If the battle for Iraq is lost, al Qaeda and Iran will have seriously wounded the resolve of the United States and achieved a crucial victory. Iraqis will be subjected to genocide, authentic torture, and slavery. A defeated Iraq will embolden the legions of Islamist tyranny and become a primary staging area in their plan of world conquest. If America withdraws before the terrorists are defeated, liberty and civilization will take a quantum leap toward total obliteration. All of us must face these existential facts – including Democrats.
The suicide of Col. Ted Westhusing is a wretched tragedy [“'I Am Sullied – No More,'” and “Ted's Ghost,” News, April 27]. He is a casualty of the world war begun on September 11, 2001, by the forces of international Islamist despotism. Al Qaeda, Iran, and millions of their devotees are committed to the annihilation of all free people and enslaving the world. We must understand this reality. Col. Westhusing certainly did.
Unfortunately, there are many Americans, possibly half of the population, who have deluded themselves into believing that this is not really a menace that concerns their literal existence. This tendency to look away creates Orwellian moral collapse; cowardice is heroism, surrender is victory, and slavery is freedom. The political home of this destructive attitude is now the Democratic Party. These realities are both perilous and sad beyond words.
Although Democrats are not willing to truthfully face this grave threat – face it they will. The enemy will ensure it. Those who comprehend the sense of urgency cannot allow Democrats to take their time to comprehend this life and death issue. So accordingly, until they abandon their head-in-the-sand behavior, the security of the free world and America can never be put into their hands.
If the battle for Iraq is lost, al Qaeda and Iran will have seriously wounded the resolve of the United States and achieved a crucial victory. Iraqis will be subjected to genocide, authentic torture, and slavery. A defeated Iraq will embolden the legions of Islamist tyranny and become a primary staging area in their plan of world conquest. If America withdraws before the terrorists are defeated, liberty and civilization will take a quantum leap toward total obliteration. All of us must face these existential facts – including Democrats.
Vance McDonald