Underestimating W
I listened to the State of the Union Address very early this morning on C-SPAN because I missed it last night. President Bush moved me with his comments about the Iraqi elections. Unlike his detractors, the ever-present home-grown and Eurosnob elitists, radicals, and condescentia, I looked beyond his speaking style to discern the message and character of the man.
My street-wise education tells me that he is genuine, well-intentioned, and fervently believes in the vision that supplanting Middle East despotism with any form of free choice for its people will ultimately prove a more effective weapon against terrorism than will the status quo. My university education tells me that he is probably right but will not receive any political help to do so.
Only a cynic or a fool would think that the instance where the Iraqi woman hugged the mother of a KIA Marine was staged or contrived. Impromptu it clearly was, so much so that President Bush was moved to tears. That image alone should serve to illustrate just how committed Iraqis are to literally chance death by terrorism in order to vote, and how most American parents of today's military personnel are with our president in this war.
And make no mistake — it is a war, a war between civilized nations and a despotic, medieval culture. It is a war that will go on until Muslim terrorism succumbs to the power and will of all free nations acting together. Wake up, England, France, Canada, and Germany; your time of strife is coming soon.
The moment you decide on appeasement rather than to say "enough" to the blackmail and put an end to your financial and political support of the Islamist murderers, you will be next.