Wednesday, January 10, 2007

President Bush's Speech on Iraq

Good evening. Tonight in Iraq, the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror – and our safety here at home. The new strategy I outline tonight will change America’s course in Iraq, and help us succeed in the fight against terror.

When I addressed you just over a year ago, nearly 12 million Iraqis had cast their ballots for a unified and democratic nation. The elections of 2005 were a stunning achievement. We thought that these elections would bring the Iraqis together – and that as we trained Iraqi security forces, we could accomplish our mission with fewer American troops.

But in 2006, the opposite happened. The violence in Iraq – particularly in Baghdad – overwhelmed the political gains the Iraqis had made. Al Qaeda terrorists and Sunni insurgents recognized the mortal danger that Iraq’s elections posed for their cause. And they responded with outrageous acts of murder aimed at innocent Iraqis. They blew up one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam – the Golden Mosque of Samarra – in a calculated effort to provoke Iraq’s Shia population to retaliate. Their strategy worked. Radical Shia elements, some supported by Iran, formed death squads. And the result was a vicious cycle of sectarian violence that continues today.

The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people – and it is unacceptable to me. Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.

It is clear that we need to change our strategy in Iraq. So my national security team, military commanders, and diplomats conducted a comprehensive review. We consulted Members of Congress from both parties, allies abroad, and distinguished outside experts. We benefited from the thoughtful recommendations of the Iraq Study Group – a bipartisan panel led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. In our discussions, we all agreed that there is no magic formula for success in Iraq. And one message came through loud and clear: Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States.

The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq.

The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq’s sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis. Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people. And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to do it.

Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents. And there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have. Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work.

Let me explain the main elements of this effort: The Iraqi government will appoint a military commander and two deputy commanders for their capital. The Iraqi government will deploy Iraqi Army and National Police brigades across Baghdad’s nine districts. When these forces are fully deployed, there will be 18 Iraqi Army and National Police brigades committed to this effort – along with local police. These Iraqi forces will operate from local police stations – conducting patrols, setting up checkpoints, and going door-to-door to gain the trust of Baghdad residents.

This is a strong commitment. But for it to succeed, our commanders say the Iraqis will need our help. So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence – and bring security to the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I have committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. The vast majority of them – five brigades – will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs.

Many listening tonight will ask why this effort will succeed when previous operations to secure Baghdad did not. Here are the differences: In earlier operations, Iraqi and American forces cleared many neighborhoods of terrorists and insurgents – but when our forces moved on to other targets, the killers returned. This time, we will have the force levels we need to hold the areas that have been cleared. In earlier operations, political and sectarian interference prevented Iraqi and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those fueling the sectarian violence. This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter these neighborhoods – and Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated.

I have made it clear to the Prime Minister and Iraq’s other leaders that America’s commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people – and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The Prime Minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: “The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation.”

This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations, or IED attacks. Our enemies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our television screens are filled with images of death and suffering. Yet over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad’s residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq’s Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace – and reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.

A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.

To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq’s provinces by November. To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country’s economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis. To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend 10 billion dollars of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs. To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year. And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation’s political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws – and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq’s constitution.

America will change our approach to help the Iraqi government as it works to meet these benchmarks. In keeping with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, we will increase the embedding of American advisers in Iraqi Army units – and partner a Coalition brigade with every Iraqi Army division. We will help the Iraqis build a larger and better-equipped Army – and we will accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, which remains the essential U.S. security mission in Iraq. We will give our commanders and civilians greater flexibility to spend funds for economic assistance. We will double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen moderates, and speed the transition to Iraqi self reliance. And Secretary Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for economic assistance being spent in Iraq.

As we make these changes, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda and foreign fighters. Al Qaeda is still active in Iraq. Its home base is Anbar Province. Al Qaeda has helped make Anbar the most violent area of Iraq outside the capital. A captured al Qaeda document describes the terrorists’ plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring al Qaeda closer to its goals of taking down Iraq’s democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad.

Our military forces in Anbar are killing and capturing al Qaeda leaders – and protecting the local population. Recently, local tribal leaders have begun to show their willingness to take on al Qaeda. As a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists. So I have given orders to increase American forces in Anbar Province by 4,000 troops. These troops will work with Iraqi and tribal forces to step up the pressure on the terrorists. America’s men and women in uniform took away al Qaeda’s safe haven in Afghanistan – and we will not allow them to re-establish it in Iraq.

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity – and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence sharing – and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.

We will use America’s full diplomatic resources to rally support for Iraq from nations throughout the Middle East. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf States need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would create a new sanctuary for extremists – and a strategic threat to their survival. These nations have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors – and they must step up their support for Iraq’s unity government. We endorse the Iraqi government’s call to finalize an International Compact that will bring new economic assistance in exchange for greater economic reform. And on Friday, Secretary Rice will leave for the region – to build support for Iraq, and continue the urgent diplomacy required to help bring peace to the Middle East.

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy – by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom – and help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.

From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists – or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?

The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a young democracy that is fighting for its life in a part of the world of enormous importance to American security. Let me be clear: The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent. Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue – and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will.

Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world – a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them – and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and grandchildren.

Our new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States – and therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq’s borders and hunting down al Qaeda. Their solution is to scale back America’s efforts in Baghdad – or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces. We carefully considered these proposals. And we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear that country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.

In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If Members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.

Acting on the good advice of Senator Joe Lieberman and other key members of Congress, we will form a new, bipartisan working group that will help us come together across party lines to win the war on terror. This group will meet regularly with me and my Administration, and it will help strengthen our relationship with Congress. We can begin by working together to increase the size of the active Army and Marine Corps, so that America has the Armed Forces we need for the 21st century. We also need to examine ways to mobilize talented American civilians to deploy overseas – where they can help build democratic institutions in communities and nations recovering from war and tyranny.

In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us. These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary – and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time. They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table. They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty. We mourn the loss of every fallen American – and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.

Fellow citizens: The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a Nation. And throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can and we will prevail.

We go forward with trust that the Author of Liberty will guide us through these trying hours. Thank you and good night.

HT: Drudge

11 comments:

Christinewjc said...

Just before President Bush's speech, I watched the documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West. People, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO SEE THIS MOVIE! THE 12 MIN. FILM CLIP IS GOOD, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE ENTIRE THING, YOU WILL REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A VICTORY IN IRAQ FOR THE UNITED STATES!!

That movie definately reiterates what our president said here:

"The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy – by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom – and help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.

From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists – or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?"

Jaded said...

My greatest concern is the fact that these radicals are fighting what they consider to be a holy war...their very salvation and reward in heaven depends on it, in their opinion. How do we stop the terrorism when they believe they are going to be rewarded for killing Christians and Jews?

I believe the president's speech would have been absolutely appropriate 3 years ago. Now, I'm worried that it's too late. It's hard for most people to see the bigger picture, when the pretenses for going to war weren't entirely honorable in the first place.

I am definitely torn with regard to the current strategies in Iraq.

Christinewjc said...

Jaded,

Have you read this post yet? You need to. War isn't like a TV show...solved in one or two hours, days or even years. The ideological struggle with Nazism lasted for many years...didn't it? The ideological struggle with communism lasted decades! These things take time!

I don't like the fact that our troops are dying over there any more than you do. But the alternative...to pull out before the job is done would be absolutely disasterous!

Watch this film clip right now! I would urge you to spend the $19.95 and order the DVD of "Obsession." Show it to as many people as you can. So many have their heads in the sand regarding the global jihad war struggle that we are in!

The film addresses your concern over the "holy war" mentality. The indoctrination of children to such an ideology needs to be stopped. But it can't be stopped if we just let that region continue to seeth and stir up more, future jihadists. It may be too late for the radicals that are already indoctrinated. They will probably have to be killed. Their radicalism SAYS that death is better than life here on this earth! They will die for Allah...as you said...and expect a reward for it.

Minds and hearts need to be changed over there. But it will probably take at least one generation (if not two!) to do so! It may take 30 years! Look how long communism and the cold war thrived! Wasn't that a 60 year struggle?

We have GOT to be in this for the long run. I'm afraid that if a democrat is elected president in 2008, their pacifist mindset will gravely damage our country and nation. We might be sitting ducks for a second, more disasterous attack than 9/11 because of a new kind of "Neville Chamberlain" naive attitude that liberals have who think that we can possibly "negotiate" with such people like Iran and Syria.

My stomach churned when I heard Wesley Clark on O'Reilly today. Here's how it went:

Wesley Clark's Ignorance on Iran:
On another note - on tonight's O'Reilly Factor, the smarmy Wesley Clark let it slip that he did not know that Iranian fighters were in Iraq. Here's an unofficial transcript (will get the official as soon as available)...

Discussing option on dealing with Iran...
Clark: What's wrong with this as a scenario? You talk with Iran. You hold them at bay one way or another somehow western influence seeps into Iran. And the people of Iran decide that there's a better way of living than being under the ayatollahs.
O'Reilly: I am not opposed to that.
Clark: Isn't that a better approach.
O'Reilly: If Iran continues to kill american soldiers and we don't do anything about it as the scenario has been for two years.
Clark: Where is Iran killing American soldiers. Inside iraq?
O'Reilly: Did you just miss the guys that were captured there.

Of course Clark demonstrates his complete ignorance of the real world by his plan to "talk" with Iran. But to not know that Iranian fighters are in Iraq and killing our soldiers, that's just ridiculous.

(HT: Chickenhawk Express)

Wasn't Clark a general during the Clinton Admin. or something?? It floors me that he didn't know about the Iran insurgents. If HE IS THAT MIS-INFORMED...IMAGINE THE DICK DURBIN-LIKE DEMS BEING IN CHARGE OF OUR NATION!

That does it...I'm getting a two year start on my praying for a Conservative Republican President in 2008! Newt Gingrich would be a great choice...but I fear that he would be (wrongly!!) considered too "controversial" to win.

OK...rant finally over!

Jaded said...

I'll have to take a look at it tomorrow, Christine. It's late here and I have to be up way too early!

I'm pretty well aware of the way wars look in real life. My father is a veteran...he's a retired colonel, US Army. But, he was in the army until I was in my 20's, so I grew up in a military family.

I'm not saying that we should leave Iraq, I'm just saying that the President should have given that very speech much earlier on in order to have the people rally behind him. At this point, I don't think many people have faith in him.

And my dad has always said that Clark is an idiot.

Stephen said...

Hey Christine,

I agree with Jaded here. This war has left a lot of Americans with a HUGE question mark, also maybe it is " a little too little too late."

I fully support our troops -- I just PRAY there would be some way they could come home immediately.

Ding dong the witch is dead...

I know I'll get flack for my opinion, but most of those people over there are completely nuts. Whether we are there, or not, they're going to blow themselves up, kill their own, others and more. Many of them are barbarians, learning to hate as a child.

We teach our children the love of Jesus, the gentle Shepherd. They teach the love of murder and hate and the virgins awaiting them on the other side.

I didn't know Saddam's heart (only his rotten, visible fruit), but I would expect he can't see any "virgins" in the midst of the tormenting heat and unquenchable flames. I bet that rat hole was a lot more comfortable than where he probably is now.

We in America are not blowing each other up. Also, we can't be the world's "Super Nanny."

I FULLY understand so many of the implications on both sides of the issue - and it really is a catch 22.

My personal secretary for almost three years just left our organization because she had her first baby. She's married to a young man - scheduled to be deployed to Iraq this month.

He's willfully serving our country and we admire and appreciate him, but we are ALL terrified. God forbid...

We got the dictator - he's dead. We've helped establish a democracy and NOW it's time the Iraqis learn to begin to do what they are supposed to do and build their country - not destroy it and one another.

I know there are no easy answers - this world is just so messed up. We are ALL part of the problem because ALL of our hearts are "desperately wicked."

We pray that this war comes to an end -- and quickly.

Jaded said...

I think Mark may have been right in his comments to a previous post... 2007 is going to be a good year! Not only did he and I agree almost completely on an entire topic, but I am also in complete agreement with Stephen today! Who'd have thought it possible?! Praise God!

I fully support our military, especially since I come from a military family. I support their efforts to bring peace and democracy to Iraq and other parts of the world, but as Stephen said, we can't play "Super Nanny" to everyone! At some point, and I'm hoping it's very soon, the Iraqi people have to be responsible for themselves and their own country. America isn't always the poster child for people getting along, but, we do pretty well considering we are a nation of many nationalities, cultures and religions. If we can find common ground, so can a country like Iraq.

I also pray that the war ends quickly, but not prematurely, if that makes sense.

Stephen said...

Amen, sister!

(PS - sorry what I said 2 years ago. Hope you'll forgive me.)

Mark said...

The fact is IMO, many Americans have been wussified plain and simple, mostly by a Godless liberal left that believes America is the great satan. More Americans were killed in ONE battle (more than a few of them) in WWII than this war. I could name countless historical sacrifices made by 100,000's+ brave men and women for our nation's security. Regardless of Iraq, stability in that region of the world is our National Security concern. We have had over 25 years of proof of that claim. 9-11 brought it 'home' and a bunch of wussified leftists that think nothing is worth dieing for continue to bash any efforts from the safety of their limosines in DC and Gollywood. Rep and Dem alike!

That part of the world is indeed 'ruled' by terror. A ideological struggle is now at stake because we did not act sooner. Leaving Iraq now would be a world wide disaster! Get rid of the notion that war is something it is not. It is death, pain and sacrifice. Something generations before us knew all too well!

We are not being a Nanny to anyone. It is in our national security's interest to kill the Islamofacist, expose Islam for what it is, and destroy any and all groups who continue to use terror as a weapon of force. Not Politically correct, but the truth whether our President speaks it out loud or not.

The world is indeed watching us!

Jaded said...

I think we're treading on thin ice when we decide it's best to kill any group of people because it's better for us. I'm not saying war isn't often a necessary evil, but not for the sake of just wiping out those who oppose us or who don't share the same ideals as we do.

We are playing Nanny to Iraq if we don't force them to start policing themselves. The people said they wanted freedom from Saddam and everything would be sunshine and roses if he was out of power. Not only is he out, he's dead, and still they're not happy. Now they refuse to do anything to stop the violence themselves yet are mad that we haven't made the country safe for them. They need to make it safe FROM themselves because they're killing each other in a "holy" civil war between Islamic factions.

The problem I have with the US policing other nations is that we need to better police our own. We also have poverty, drugs and gang wars in every major city. You have a greater chance statistically of being randomly murdered on the streets of Philadelphia than you do on the streets of Baghdad. What are we doing to help our own people? It's amazing to me that the liberals in power aren't doing more than they are because they're the ones always moaning about social programs blah blah blah. Now that it's time to put the money where their mouths are, they've gotten eerily quiet.

And, I apologize as well, Stephen. Of course all is forgiven. That's the way it's supposed to work.

Christinewjc said...

Jaded asked, "How do we stop the terrorism when they believe they are going to be rewarded for killing Christians and Jews?"

That's a great question and one that we all would like to be answered.

The "Obsession" film mentions this problem. Some critics of the film said that they didn't go far enough within the film to answer it.

From what I remember, Nonie Darwish said that you have to start with the children. Another commentator said that, "it's one of the worst forms of child abuse to teach children to hate." The film show actual footage of young, elementary aged children screaming "jihad", "death to America," "death to Israel," etc. One female child was screaming and crying claiming that she wanted to be "in battledress" and die for the cause!!! Extremely ugly fanaticism!!! But this is what they teach them and they are indoctrinated and brainwashed at such an early age.

It is for this reason that I think this battle will probably last 30 years, if not more. The generation of children being taught this hate and jihad will come of age during this time, and if the cycle is not broken, it will continue on for even more generations.

Another part of the film that was interesting is when Nonie mentioned that the meeting of the Mufti and Hitler meant that the (paraphrased here) "war against the Jews since Hitler's time isn't over...for the Muslims, despite the defeat of Hitler and Nazism."

Chilling...isn't it?

Christinewjc said...

Hi Stephen,

I can certainly understand your perspective on this. When it comes so "close to home," meaning, knowing a friend who is being deployed over there, it's hard not to say that we want it to end!!

But the more I learn about this radical Islamo-facism, the more I realize, unfortunately, that this will be a battle we will have to endure for decades. If you read my last comment to Jaded you will see why it will be a long, hard battle to overcome.

Stephen said, "We've helped establish a democracy and NOW it's time the Iraqis learn to begin to do what they are supposed to do and build their country - not destroy it and one another."

Amen!!! I'm praying that this new strategy will help the situation along in that regard!

Stephen said, "I know there are no easy answers - this world is just so messed up. We are ALL part of the problem because ALL of our hearts are "desperately wicked."

When we look at this situation with the eyes of God's Biblical truth, we see the reality in that statement!!

Stephen: "We pray that this war comes to an end -- and quickly."

I'm praying right along with you!!

Lastly, there is an article that I saved over on my message board. It was written back in 2004, but I think it might help to revisit the topic.

It starts with a quote from President Bush:

"If we stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq, they would be free to plot and plan attacks elsewhere, in America and other free nations."

–George W. Bush, Sept. 23, 2004


The author, Craig R. Smith, then discusses:

Today the U.S. is either a) witnessing one of the most brilliant military strategies in the war on terror, or b) experiencing yet another example of the "Law of Unintended Consequences."

I think it depends upon "which side you come down on" whether or not each of us perceives this war as one or the other. History will one day give us the final answer, too.