It's a war ... fight it like one!

by Barbara Simpson

The Iraq War has riven political parties and provided the media with a field day for anti-war, anti-American ranting.

Just mention the war and the first thing you'll hear is "another Vietnam." "Corporate profits." "Military warmongers." "Big oil."

It's a replay of the perennial college sophomore, who lived it up when he was 19 and continued the lifestyle through his 40s and 50s. We've all known the type: boozing, smoking, drugging, partying, womanizing and anything else that tickles his fancy. His thinking processes stopped before his 20s. Those '60's and '70's wild-eyed, anti-war, anti-American complainers remain the same.

Maybe he married, had a family and a career of sorts, but he never grew up. Times changed, alliances shifted and politics morphed, but he remains rooted in the past.

As he grew older (something never acknowledged) his antics become more embarrassing for family and friends. It's hard to excuse juvenile behavior from a 50- to 60-year-old male.

I'm sorry, why does Bill Clinton come to mind? Perhaps because he's the poster boy of the type of male I'm describing.

I don't care for Hillary on many levels, but I'm amazed at her ability to put up with Bill's antics. Rumors have long surfaced about her anger and lamp-throwing abilities. Frankly, Bill is lucky if it was only a lamp.

But Bill Clinton, a '60's boomer, is an important figure in today's war because the deeds, misdeeds and tasks undone during his administration led to the crisis Americans face today.

We are immersed in a war against terrorists – a war we've never before faced. That evil surfaced years before the current Bush administration, but those in charge – and led by Bill Clinton – played down or ignored the threat.

Terrorists are enemies with no specific country and no identifying uniform, but they're out to destroy us. Why don't we really believe them?

They're not shy about declaring their goals – just read Middle East newspapers, watch Al-Jazeera television and other broadcast media – it's there. They don't mince words. The goal is to destroy our cities, our country and our civilization. Not only that, they want to add Israel and Western Europe to their destruction list.

Why don't we get the message? Why is the mentality of that perennial sophomore so prevalent? What is there about the words of terrorists we don't get?

I have a handy, pocket Webster's dictionary that does a pretty good job of defining those threatening words. On that basis alone, we should be afraid – very afraid.

We went to war in Afghanistan, and then Iraq, to get to the terrorists after this country was hit with a three-pronged terrorist attack on 9-11. More than 3,000 innocent civilians were massacred in a most terrible fashion, but after the initial shock wore off, the resolve needed to win the war eroded.

Not only were politicians – who by the very nature of their election to office are obligated to defend this country – falling down on the job, but their failures were supported by the media and traitorous organizations that fight every move by the president to fulfill his constitutional mandate to wage war to protect the United States.

Too often, it appears we're in the midst of "Be Nice To Terrorists" week – that's stretched out for years. Consider the "trial" of Zacarias Moussaoui for 9-11 involvement. It's a pity he's lived long enough to be able to toy with our justice system. In fact, given the nature of his crimes, he doesn't deserve our justice system. Given that his tactic of "war" is barbaric, he deserves exactly the same. That he is alive is insulting.

So, too, for Saddam Hussein. He mocks the court, the charges, the allies and the United States by his courtroom antics. If he has his way, there'll never be a verdict and the terrorists will win again.

Pity. A well-placed grenade could have cleaned out his spider hole on that day long ago and we wouldn't have had to put up with his nonsense now.

But we were nice and civilized ... and foolish.

Where is it written that the United States has to be a punching bag for these tinhorn, murderous dictators? I'm tired of it – and I'm tired of what's happening in Iraq.

I grant you that the Old Media, because they are against the war, stress in their war coverage the loss of life and the casualties – which are many and terrible.

You could say those losses are the result of war, but while we may have been "at war" during the invasion of Iraq, what is going on now is not really a war and these deaths should not occur.

I am sick of hearing conservatives – politicians, pundits and talk-show hosts – criticizing the media for stressing the losses and not focusing on the rebuilding of infrastructure, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, etc. Those conservatives are upset that our troops are not being praised by the media for rebuilding Iraq.

Sorry fellas, that's where we part company. That's not why they're there. Our military is supposed to act like a military force. They're trained to fight to protect our country and our interests when it's necessary for the security and freedom of our country.

That's what I want them to do – fight to the best of their abilities and use the right equipment to get the job done.

While I think it's nice that our military men and women give candy to children, help orphanages, rescue ungrateful, pacifist, anti-American "peace workers," rebuild roads and buildings and generally put up with the nonsense they must, I am incensed that they're being picked off by the terrorists who act with virtual impunity, setting roadside bombs and deploying suicide bombers.

Our troops are sitting ducks and under orders to be "nice," and I'm furious about it. Either we're there to win or we need to get out. This piecemeal death count accomplished by devious people too evil to live must stop.

We know how to win, but we're too politically correct to do it.

And "incensed" is too mild a word for my reaction to our brave military personnel being court martialed for acting like military and doing their job against the enemy.

Attention Washington: IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.

And, it shouldn't.

Let's fight terrorists in a real war. Break out that military hardware we paid for – the planes, tanks, bombs, missiles, rockets and whatever else is necessary. Blitz 'em where it hurts, and let's see how many of those cowardly worms survive. The fewer the better.

I don't have any illusions this would end the "War on Terror" – there's no doubt President Bush is correct. It will continue for many years. But, if we don't move decisively to show the enemy we're willing to fight like grown men and not like that perennial sophomore, it might not only be a war without end – we might lose.

And we know who'll be left with bloodied hands.