U.S. Senator Klobuchar says we need to pull out and let special forces fight Al Qaeda in Iraq. (Blackhawk Down Deja Vu?)

The war in Iraq continues to be a huge debate in the mainstream media. They, the media, continue to hammer home that the American people are frustrated with the war and want out. I have my doubts about that because I talk to a lot of people and I think it’s a pretty even mix of people who want out now, and others who want to fight the fight. It’s my hope that the American people on both sides of the issue have national security and our troops best interests in mind.

I have my doubts about some of the wackos representing us in Congress, and some of the mainstream media which falls in line with them. There is an awful lot of pandering to the anti-war base. The left wing in Congress either is drinking the Kool-Aid as well or tries to keep them happy so they can remain in power. The anti-war loopy left I’m talking about does not represent the average American. These are the people who spit on our troops when they came back from Vietnam. These are the folks who kick military recruiters out of schools. These people don’t love America, in fact I think some of them hate it. (Why don’t they just leave? I hear Canada and France both have nice open door policies.)

Let’s get back on track here. If, like the mainstream media says, everyone wants out of Iraq what does the Bush administration gain by staying there? Low approval ratings? A poor legacy? A lack of worldwide respect? There isn’t a whole lot of anything to be gained personally by sticking it out in Iraq. So why would you do it? I think it’s because President Bush truly feels that it’s the right thing to do. Sticking to your principles, keeping your word, and doing something you feel is morally right is rarely rewarded in Washington.

The America I know does what it says it’s going to do. The America I love sees the job through. That’s why I have a real problem with the “cut and run” crowd who want to abandon the fight altogether. They live in an unrealistic dream world. The fight will continue against radical Islam whether it’s in Iraq or on our soil. The difference is that by abandoning Iraq altogether we betray those who have stood up for this fledgling democracy in Iraq. (Their numbers may be few, but that’s not the point, it’s the principle.)

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar was on our program today, and I finally got to ask someone who wants to get our troops out of Iraq the question I’ve been dying to ask, “What is the alternative strategy toward fighting Al Qaeda if we pull out?” She said she wouldn’t advocate a full pull out. I actually wasn’t expecting that answer! She said she’d leave special forces units in Iraq to fight Al Qaeda. So I got to thinking about that strategy and the first thing that came to my mind was the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia made famous by Blackhawk Down. I’m no expert on the subject, but I believe that was a special forces unit fighting against a rash of Islamic terrorists. It didn’t turn out very pretty. I’m not trying to trash our special forces units, but I think it’s a simple numbers issue. We need a certain amount of forces if we’re going to combat as many terrorists as we’re talking about in Iraq. If we can’t handle the violence with the force we have now, why would you believe that a smaller force could do a better job? That sounds like a slaughter of American forces waiting to happen.

With all of the 24/7 cable news channels, daily print publications, the Internet, and all of the talk from politicians surrounding the war in Iraq you’d think a serious discussion about alternatives would happen. I haven’t heard it. Maybe I’m missing something, but I hear a lot of rhetoric and very few solutions. Before we’re ready to throw up the white flag, and abandon our word, the progress made by our troops, the fight for democracy in Iraq, and this front against radical Islam I’m begging for someone to offer up some strategy to continue the fight in the War on Terror!*

*Contrary to some (who would have us do away with that terminology) it does exist! If you really don’t think it does, I’d kindly ask you to leave our country and endanger the lives of someone else.