As I begin this on December 7, 2006, I think back to that other December 7 that we still commemorate even to this date. My father and his three brothers all served in the Army/Air Corp as it was known then. An uncle through marriage was a Naval aviator. None had to be drafted. My father was working in an aircraft plant, which gave him a deferment. But prior to Dec. 7 he had quit and was undergoing training to fly B-17s. There are moments that are generational defining. Everyone remembers vividly exactly what they were doing that day. My father and his brother, a fighter pilot, were attending a sporting event in San Diego...I guess probably a football game (he told me but it's been years and they are both long dead).. when the announcer stopped the game and gave the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. As the audience sat in stunned silence, it was announced that all military leaves were canceled and all personnel were to report to their units. Hundreds of soldiers were in the audience. I'll always remember his telling me how the crowd applauded those exiting the stadium. An applause continuing until the last man had left. That generation had no doubts. No question as to the mission. No rules of engagement. No polls. They had a job to do at what ever the cost. By the way, all four brothers and my uncle survived the war. Dad had to bailout over Italy but was rescued. My uncle had two carriers shot out from underneath him, but went on to a long and distinguished career as test pilot and engineer. The only one to die in service was an uncle involved in flying secret missions after the war against the Soviets.

So where are we now? The day of the election the defeatists in both parties came out in force. A loss at the ballot box puts into power a cabal of America haters. Immediately, the cries of retreat, defeat, cut and run fill the airwaves. But are we really loosing? Do you read of huge numbers of downed aircraft? Tank battles against Iraqi armor? Of course not. Saddam's airforce last flew offensively for about twenty minutes against the US in Desert Storm. The Iraqi tanks stupid enough to fight back this time had life spans measured in minutes. Today, if insurgents and their terrorist allies dare to stand and fight...and not from the shelter of a mosque or school or hospital.. they are decimated. IF our troops are allowed to fight back.

That is the crux of the matter. We have to allow the troops to fight back using the full might of our armed forces. All of Iraq is not engulfed in war. Go to the northern third of the country. Kurdish markets thrive, with no car bombers. Not a week goes by in those towns without a new business opening up and more people getting jobs. Why? Because the Kurdish people and their militias will settle for nothing less. Insurgents are dealt with instantly and brutally. American soldiers are respected allies. The people in the south are vigorously fighting the insurgents. It is only in the region around Baghdad that chaos is a danger. Here, American soldiers are harangued constantly to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage. These are the same civilians who, when an American vehicle is hit, come out and dance on the wreckage.

We need rules of engagement that allow are troops to go after the enemy with full force where ever they hide. Ever notice how many people are talking on cell phones in news from Baghdad? Why? Cell towers are impossible to defend since they must be everywhere. Why do they and certain key  industries function?  They aren't counting on the army to defend them. Private security forces are in place. Someone attacks...they die..as do those connected to them. What should be the military's rules of engagement? If a town or area revolts and sides with the enemy, then you surround them. Leaflet and announce that they have a limited time to evacuate. Search all who leave. Military age men are to be detained until their loyalty is accertained. At the end of the grace period, artillery and air power destroy everything in the cordoned area. Yes, people lose homes and businesses. And they learn the penalty for aiding the enemy or permitting their unreported presence. Hardly a week goes by that you don't see MSM reports showing the enemy walking the streets with weapons in hand. This should be grounds for instant execution. 

It is estimated that at best there are 15-20,000 insurgents in Iraq. Their heaviest weapons are AK-47s and RPGs. Most of our casualties and not caused by these but the improvised munitions..artillery shells set to explode. When they are used in an area, retaliation against that area must be swift and overwhelming. In an ideal world there wouldn't be collateral damage. But when you are fighting against people who have sworn to destroy Christian civilization and replace it with their own filthy beliefs you do what must be done.