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Peace, War and Politics...

david

47 posts

Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 15 Jan 07 8:36 AM (United States)

I am so frustrated with the political situation in this country right now. So I thought this might be a place where we could vent, share ideas, help one another understand better how things seem to be working in this day and age. Want to join in?

First thought (just to get us started and to get the pot stirred up): What happened to the war on terror? Is it simply impossible for people in this country to remember all the way back to September 11, 2001? Are we not concerned about the on-going threat to our culture/civilization by the Islamic jihad? It seems as though cut-and-run is the popular phrase in Washington right now. What do you suppose would have happened in the 1940's if we'd taken the same approach towards the Nazis?

There. That ought to get things going.

Pr. David

shower

4 posts

Re: Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 05 Feb 07 4:42 AM (United States)

I understand the war on terror but the President first stated we were sending troops in due to weapons of mass destruction. We have either not found any to date or there are none. Then he said we were going to stay to find Osama Bin Ladin. Well we found him and we have all seen the result of that. NOW what is the reason for staying. I don't believe we should be there shedding the lives of our soldiers to assist in their civil wars.

david

47 posts

Re: Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 14 Feb 07 1:59 PM (United States)

Actually, troops were sent into Iraq because Saddam Hussein represented a threat to the US, its allies and western civilization in at least four ways:

he aided terrorist movements by giving them a safe home base in which to train and from which to launch operations;
he funded terrorist activities around the world, including such lovely tactics as paying the families of Palestinian suicide bombers in order to encourage them;
he had built a large conventional armed force with which to threaten others in the region in defiance of the United Nations restrictions on Iraq following the first Gulf War; and,
he was actively engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction for his own use and the use of his terrorist allies.

While it is true that no "finished" weapons have been found, there has been plenty of evidence unearthed that points towards the research programs Saddam had underway and plenty of weapons materials which he had already stockpiled.

Now that Saddam has been pulled out of his spider hole, convicted and executed, we continue to stay in that country as the legitimate and popularly elected government struggles to gain a foothold against its enemies...those unrepentant Baathists who would attempt to re-establish a Saddam-like regime and the Iranians who have been very effectively supplying both the Sunnis and the Shiites with weapons and encouragement in an attempt to continue the destablization of the country until we get tired and go home.

A lot of folks talk about Iraq in terms of Vietnam. They may be right about that. Not because Iraq is an un-winnable quagmire, but because this country is at the verge of doing in the middle east what it did in southeast Asia: cut and run before the job is done and the area is stabilized. This is not just about our country or about someone else's civil war....this is about the peace and stablilty of the world and the continuation of our way of life. If we leave too soon, we will place these things in grave jeopardy.

Pr. David

shower

4 posts

Re: Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 15 Feb 07 5:25 PM (United States)

I believe in peace and stability of the world but, why are we the only country sending thousands of soldiers there to help? Why do you believe that we will place these things in grave jeopardy if we pull out now? Is there really a "good" way to remove ourselves or will we have to stay there forever because I don't foresee Iraq ever being stabilized. My heart aches for every mother, father, wife or husband that has to bury a child due to this war!

david

47 posts

Re: Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 20 Feb 07 7:24 AM (United States)

We are not the only country with thousands on the ground. Great Britain also has several divisions of Royal Marines and Her Majesty's regulars deployed in the southern part of the country. That region which is largely Shiite in population is relatively stable and peaceful. In fact, a recent study from the LA Times (no friend of the war or President Bush) concluded that it was safer in southern Iraq and in the northern Kurdish territories than it is on the streets of Philadelphia. You're much less likely to be killed in these areas than you are right here at home. In both the north and the south, economic development is underway, schools have been built and are being attended, and local governments have re-established control.

Unfortunately, you have to dig for this information since it is not widely reported. The mainstream media focus their attention on Baghdad and the area to the immediate west, popularly known as the Sunni Triangle. These areas are still the scene of intense confrontation between the popularly elected government and its terrorist enemies. Because the US is the stronger/larger power in the world, that's where our troops are largely deployed...and that's where the body counts are taken on a daily basis.

Late last week, House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) was part of a briefing (along with other House and Senate leaders) that included information from the Pentagon, the State Department and the generals on the ground. His comment following that briefing indicated that it was the conclusion of those in the room that pulling out now not only leaves chaos in central Iraq, it also emboldens the terrorists to follow us home. Right now, Al-Qeada and its allies are tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan. In essence, the conclusion of the briefing was that if we do not fight them there, we will fight them here since their stated aim of the violent overthrow of "infidel western civilization" has not changed.

It is appropriate that your heart aches for those who have lost loved ones in this war. Believe me...I share that ache. We also ache for those whose lives were lost in the World Trade Center attacks in 1993; in the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1997; in the Kohbar Towers attacks in Saudi Arabia in 1998, and in the attack on the USS Cole in 1999. These also are victims of this war.

And I, too, wish I knew that it would end and end quickly. My nephew is off to boot camp on the 28th of this month. My cousin's son is even now being deployed with the 82nd Airborne. I pray every day for their safety and their quick return. But I pray also that we will have the courage to defend the principles and values upon which our civilization is built, even though those prayers are often in conflict with each other.

Pr. David

Mags1229

2 posts

Re: Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 06 Apr 08 4:53 PM (N/A)

Mags1229

2 posts

Re: Peace, War and Politics...
Posted: 06 Apr 08 4:53 PM (N/A)

Pastor David,
This is an older thread I am responding to, but I just read your comments about the war on terror and felt compelled to respond. With the recent news headlines, this comment seems every bit as timely today as it was a year ago.
It is a relief to read well-informed comments about the Iraq War on Terror and your willingness to provide honest information void of media spin. Many clergy prefer to avoid any political discussion, at or away from the pulpit. I found your approach to very acceptable in that you provide factual information to readers, information often missing or thinly covered by the popular media. Perhaps more importantly, you remind readers we are not fighting a war for reasons conjured for the benefit of the politician du jour, but, rather, to bring peace and safety to our country and other countries, while also noting the sadness of the loss of life, both from our armed forces AND those who have lost their lives due to terrorists' actions against innocent people. A quick and successful end to this war is most certainly needed, while the "cut and run" plan you mention would be disastrous and would invite further terror to our country. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones, the victims of terrorists, both civilians and members of our brave armed forces. Thank you for remembering September 11th and for this post. I hope to visit this site again to see what other topics are "brewing".

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