America at War

March 24, 2003 | Justin

Let’s take a look back, real quick, and reflect on what has happened over the course of the last few days. Most recently Chicago won best picture at the Oscars. A little further back in time Michael Moore, director of Bowling for Columbine (which was a very good and poignant movie), made a complete ass out of himself during his acceptance speech at the Oscars. Go back a little more and you’ll find a poker table with me and friends playing and enjoying mustard and pretzels. A little further still and you’ll find me and a few more of my friends at the Renaissance Festival in Lake City; I must say that I had a great time there. Further still and you’ll find me going to classes, stressing over test grades and the announcements of up coming tests, playing my first ever game of Craps, and other things that put together my daily life. Though, the one thing you will not find is a situation that hundreds of thousands of Americans whom are the same age as me are experiencing at this very moment. Yes, America is at war.

It was Wednesday night when Saddam Hussein’s time came to an end, so to speak. In case you aren’t too clear as to what has been going on, here is a quick refresher:

After the Gulf War of 1991, the United Nations declared that Saddam Hussein was to stop producing weapons of mass destruction and that he was to open his doors to weapons inspectors and grant them full access to Iraq. Well, around 1994 something happened and Saddam threw out the inspectors. Seven years later the events of September 11th took place and America became completely aware of the fact that our security is not what the worlds most powerful nations should be. So, massive amounts of funds were pumped back into government agencies that protect America. The Department of Homeland Security was created and added to the President’s Cabinet. Inelegance became streaming through the proper channels at various agencies such as the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc. like which had not been seen (since funding had been cut years ago of course). This inelegance discovered that, after throwing out the inspectors, Saddam had continued to create weapons of mass destruction as well as fund and harbor terrorists including members of Al Queda. Our government decided to finally hold Saddam accountable for his responsibility to the UN.

In September of 2001 the UN Security Council unanimously passed resolution 1441 which again called for the disarmament of Iraq. For the first time in years, weapons inspectors were again allowed into Iraqi facilities. Though, just as had happened years ago, there was much suspicion that what was being showed to the inspectors was not the complete picture of the current state of Iraqi weapons. In January, Colon Powel presented the UN Security Council with (what I believe to be the most powerful and well delivered speech I have seen to date) actual US inelegance photos, satellite imagery, audio recordings of phone conversations, witness accounts, and other compiled information that proved that Iraq was not holding up their end of the bargain. More time passed as other countries disagreed and believed that the inspectors were doing a great job in Iraq.

Though, the truth of the matter is, the inspectors were not addressing all they found. Key evidence discovered by the UN inspection team, though addressed in the report, was not addressed to the Security Council. America, along with Britain, decided that enough was enough. If Saddam was not going to follow the rules after 12 years, he was never going to do so. Britain drafted a new resolution to be voted upon by the Security Council that would issue Saddam an ultimatum. However, lacking significant support among the council members, along with the report that France (one of only five countries on the UN Security Council that has the power to veto resolutions–the others being the United States, the UK, Russia, and China) would veto any such resolution brought forth; America and Britain decided to take matters into their own hands and withdrew the resolution.

This past Monday, the 17th, at 8:00pm Eastern Time President Bush gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to decide upon the fate of his regime. Bush told Saddam that he had 48 hours to leave Iraq or face the consequences. The next morning, Saddam rejected this offer and, consequently sealed his fate. On Wednesday the 19th at around 10:00pm Eastern Time, or dawn in Iraq, Baghdad received its first barrage of bombings. The war had begun.

Though, it was earlier than planned. Intelligence was received that showed Saddam, as well as one of his sons, were conducting a meeting in a bunker found in Baghdad. That bunker was sub sequentially hit with 38 missiles and bombs. It was not, and still has not been confirmed whether or not Saddam survived the attack. Though, within hours a televised statement was given by Saddam (it is a possibility that it could have been one of Saddam’s look alikes or possibly even taped) saying that “criminal junior Bush” would not be allowed to get away with this.

No more than 24 hours later Baghdad was hit more firepower than was seen during the Gulf War. 1500 satellite and laser guided bombs and missiles were dropped within the first 24 hours of the attack. The US and British forces were conducting what has been referred to as the “Shock and Awe” campaign, where at first you shock your opponents with the force of your military (the bombings) and then you awe them by giving them time to assess the damage before sending in troops. In the first few days of bombings and combat numerous Iraqi soldiers surrendered to Collation Forces (the term collation refers to all countries participating in the disarmament of Iraq). As the bombings continued our troops continued their way north through Iraq towards the capital of Baghdad, seizing critical ports, towns, roads, and oil fields along the way. Currently our forces are experiencing their harshest resistance thus far in a town called Nasiriya, which is a very critical and strategic placement on the road to Baghdad.

This is where we are right now. Bombs are still dropping on Baghdad. Our troops are reported to be so close to the capital city they can see the lights at night. Though, the war is not over and it surly has not been as easy as it appears to have been thus far. Some of our soldiers have already given their lives fighting. One of our own soldiers, in an act of terrorism and defiance, threw a grenade into a tent housing his fellow American troops severally wounding some and killing others. Helicopters have crashed, planes have gone down. It has even been reported that Iraqi troops have taken American soldiers and journalists prisoner–and aired them on Iraqi television as well as the bodies of others they had killed.

Yet, somehow, here in the United States of America, thousands of miles away, people seem to believe this is wrong. They think that we should not have had to go to war, that a peaceful resolution could have been achieved. And so, through various forms of expression, these people choose to protest the war, the government, and anything else they see fit. To these people I say, wake the hell up.

Saddam Hussein is not a man who agrees peacefully. He has gassed his own people. He tested his chemical and biological weapons, which he clams he does not have nor create, on prisoners from his jails. He has ruled Iraq under a fierce dictatorship for over 20 years. He has even killed his own son-in-laws. Saddam Hussein is a tyrant that has been given every opportunity to resolve matters peacefully. He refused 12 years ago when he decided to take over Kiewit, and he refused a week ago when asked to leave Iraq and spare his people this bloodshed.

I’m not necessarily pro war or pro violence, though in this situation war seems to be the only recourse of action. I agree that it is sad that men and women, many of whom are my own age, are giving their lives in a battle to disarm a terrorist halfway around the world. However, I commend these extremely brave and valiant heroes for doing what it takes to keep America, myself, and even the bastards that are protesting them safe.

The war is not over yet. I don’t know when it will end. Though, until it does I will keep myself informed and continue to support our troops. I ask you to do so as well. There are people dieing to keep you safe, the least you can do is support them.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment. You may also want to subscribe to updates so you don't miss anything in the future.

Iraq, Michael Moore, news, Oscars, politics, thoughts