Jay Nordlinger of NationalReview online quotes General Tommy Franks making what I think is the most salient point of the Iraq War: where do we fight the terrorists?
The global War on Terrorism will be a long fight. But make no mistake — we are going to fight the terrorists. The question is, Do we fight them over there — or do we fight them here? I choose to fight them over there.
Some argue that we should treat this war as a law-enforcement issue. Some say we should fight a less aggressive war — that we should retreat into a defensive posture and hope that the terrorists don't attack us again.
Well, my wife Cathy and I are simply not willing to bet our grandchildren's future on the "good will" of murderers. I learned long ago that hope is not a strategy. In the years ahead, America will be called upon to demonstrate character, consistency, courage, and leadership.
It is not the case, despite what Kerry says, that we have made "new" terrorists spring forth whole from the earth. These people, by the thousands, have been plotting against us for decades, and rather than being placated by our indifference they were emboldened. They have brought the fight to us and we MUST respond. They will not go away if we assume the fetal position. Like any bully, they are full of bluster and the only thing they understand is a bloody nose. One of the unintended positives of Iraq is that it has served as a magnet, drawing thousands of terrorists away from America and into firefights with our soldiers.
We will have to fight them. We can fight them in Iraq with Marines or in the streets of Bloomington, Austin and Boise with innocent civilians. The terrorists would prefer to attack us at home where we are weakest. Like General Franks, I choose to fight them on our terms not theirs.
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