December 2006
A Salute to the Men and Women of Our Armed Forces
Serving our nation is a life of sacrifice, duty, and service. Especially in time of war, it is not for the fainthearted or the weak. Confidence in the current policies in the Middle East has been deteriorating. Criticism of American involvement in Iraq and skepticism toward the leaders in the war effort are running high. Donald Rumsfeld has resigned as the Secretary of Defense. At the time of the writing of this article, Robert Gates, the former CIA director, is winning Congressional approval to become the next Secretary of Defense. John Kerry said he botched the joke about our service men and women. Our troops are going through a turbulent, complex, and frustrating phase of combat service. There some people in our nation who pay lip service to supporting our troops. Some have a cynical disregard for the military; for them the commitment to serve is a remote notion.
President Bush interrupted the initial successful assault on Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaida terrorists in Afghanistan and then impulsively shifted the combat forces to invade Iraq. This decision will puzzle historians for centuries. Did the leaders in the Bush administration really believe that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction? Was it about oil? Was it about suppression of Saddam’s brutality or vengeance for the alleged attempt on the life of the father of President George W. Bush? What legacies will the Iraq War leave with the America people? Will the photos of torture at Abu Ghraib join the images of the napalmed girl during the Vietnam War?
The war in Iraq consists of multiple, diverse, and complicated battles. Al-Qaida and the Baathists terrorists in Anbar province are continuing to produce casualties against U.S. forces and the new Iraqi army. Al-Qaida attacked the Golden Mosque and perpetrated atrocities against Shia civilians to incite a Sunni-Shia sectarian war. This provocation set off the chain reaction that has now a momentum of its own. The Shia initially supported the Americans and the British against the Sunni insurgents. Having won power, the Shia militia forces are now fighting each other for dominance. Iraq is plagued by rising internal divisions, suicide bombings, gangsters, corrupt local governments, and power struggles among the religious sects. Sectarian violence and chaos are rampant. Our soldiers are caught in the middle of this mess. Some of our troops are scheduled for deployment to Iraq for their third combat tour. Hopefully, years from now history will not place them as the veterans of that great strategic blunder in American history.
Through all the challenges, our troops are serving with honor. Like all wars, there are exceptions – war crimes, poor judgments, etc. However, the qualities of devotion to duty, valor, and character have prevailed.
Join me during this Christmas season in saluting with heartfelt gratitude our men and women in Armed Forces who are serving our nation. Connie and I wish you a blessed Christmas! May the year 2007 be filled with happiness. We’re looking forward to a great reunion in Orlando, Florida.