Big Time Decision
posted in General |BIG TIME DECISION
It is always tough to face a dilimna —- what to do? I recall that in the street language of my youth a tough choice was described as being caught between “a rock and a hard spot”. At least phonetically, we now seem to be caught between “Iraq and a hard spot”.
It is interesting to see the “experts” wiggle, squirm, twist and turn – trying to find a save haven or to get off the hook. Isn't it amusing to see how raptors turn into chicken hawks? Those who say ….”we need more proof” … will never get enough proof. They really don't want irrefutable proof because that places them between Iraq and a hard spot. There really isn't much question about Saddam's track record, and there is really only one key question – “Can we afford to wait?” Or in contemplating military action, ”What if we do? – or more importantly, “What if we don't?”
Afghanistan is a mess, and will be a bit chaotic for a while. The War Lords have re-surfaced and the ethnic/religious factions will no doubt make life tough for the new government. I'll be glad when our guys are out of there, but that won't happen unless the Europeans and Turks accept the full on site responsibility to be sure the new government doesn't fail. It will likely take 10 years or more. But in Afghanistan, messy as it is, we acted. Now, back to Saddam's Iraqis.
“Can we afford to wait?” For 11 years all kinds of non-military actions have been directed at Saddam – yet he goes along his merry way. The events of 9/11 show him that the US is vulnerable and he feels confident that the rest of the world will not fight our battle. Yes, I guess we could wait. But wait for what? What leads us to think that his game plans will change?
It is a big decision to commit our forces to war, knowing full well that Americans will be killed. None of us relish that thought. But can we evade it? Can we wait? When we wait, we place the fate of some (maybe many) of our countryment in Saddam's hands. That is not a very reassuring thought.