FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio

AMERICA'S “GOLDEN CALF”

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has turned herself in to the “golden calf” of the anti-Iraq war rabble rousers mystically drawing into her camp some Republican fools who could be the “sons of Levi” in the Old Testament days. When the democratic-controlled Congress recently passed a bill ordering an immediate troop pull-out in Iraq and Clinton's reckless idea to repeal President Bush's congressional authority to win the war against the terrorists, there is something very wrong in the minds of these people: back to idolatry of retreat and surrender to the enemies of God. A prescription to burn them politically in 2008 elections is therefore imperative.

Some mothers of American soldiers fighting in Iraq who follow Hillary's call for surrender and retreat need to learn how the Spartan mothers of Old Greece regarded the noble role of their warrior-sons fighting to win the war against their enemies. They also need to realize that a soldier's duty is to fight or die, if necessary, in defense of his country against the enemies' attack. War is a reality and has been with us since the beginning of time. Peace comes after war as morning follows night. These are the hard facts of life in this present world.

The United States' mission in Iraq is indeed pure and noble: FREEDOM, both political and
religious, offered to a captive population under Saddam Hussein. The American mission was truly accomplished with the death of Saddam. The current “thorn in the flesh” in Iraq is actually the insurgency that foments sectarian conflicts presumably fueled by outside forces that hate freedom in the Middle East. American military leaders know what's going on and what's required to defeat the insurgents. Definitely no subversive insurgency in the history of mankind cannot be eliminated quickly. It takes time and resources.

The Iraqi government is still a toddling democracy. Without America's help, it will fall and die. I truly believe God has blessed America with power and wealth to help the poor and needy countries with our regular economic and military assistance programs. Shall we now deny the poor and needy Iraq with our help and leave them to the dogs for the sake of partisan politics?

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