In the four years since coalition troops first invaded Iraq, it has become painfully obvious that some Americans have short memories and even shorter attention spans. While our brave men and women risk their very lives for freedom, some at home have grown weary of the fight. In their impatience, they have lost sight of what our troops have sacrificed to bring security to America and freedom abroad.
Terrorists have been captured, dictators have been defeated, cities have been secured, and elected governments have been established. Still, many Americans are quick to say that this is not our war. In the face of fearless extremists who seek our destruction, they have forgotten that this is not just a war of weapons but a clash of moral visions and world views.
Popular or not, this is a long-term battle against radical Islam not only for Middle East democracy but for American survival. Bringing our soldiers home will not end the fight against terrorists, it will merely relocate it. As President Bush said today, "It can be tempting to look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude that our best option is to pack up and go home. That may be satisfying in the short run, but I believe the consequences to American security would be devastating... For the sake of the American people, we cannot allow this to happen." This message was echoed by thousands who gathered this weekend to support our troops and counter the latest anti-war protest.
Despite boasting that they would attract 100,000 or more, liberal organizers only mustered a group equal to, if not slightly smaller than, those who rallied on behalf of the war. As The Washington Post reports it, "Much of the passion was supplied by thousands of counter-demonstrators." Veterans from across the country traveled to the nation's capital, in part to protect the monuments from the vandalism that occurred during the January march. That effort, thankfully, succeeded. Above all, our disagreements must remain civil.
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