Bush's War

I am pleased to announce that the St. Paul Pioneer Press has published my letter to the editor in todays edition (July 21 '05). I am always pleased to see my words in print. There is just something about the feel of newsprint and the smear of the (environmentally correct) ink. But alas, the Pioneer Press takes its editorial license quite seriously and pared down my original letter substantially. They did not, however, change the sentiment - this has not always been the case. So, for your benefit I'll repost it here since they are another one of these newspapers that makes you register. The actual submission to follow...

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Nothing is bigger than defeating the global jihad

Dear Editor,

I sincerely hope this newspaper intends to print some fact filled letters to balance what you printed on July 10th. ("Mission (not) Accomplished")

There was no rush to war in Iraq. The current conflict was twelve years in the making. Saddam Hussein had violatednumerous UN resolutions and bilked average Iraqis out of billions with the "oil for food" scandal. Saddam Hussein was a terror sponsor and an aggressor who was patiently waiting out the sanctions imposed on him by a toothless institution (the United Nations).

Lest we forget that it was President Bill Clinton who signed the resolution that made it the policy of the United States to work for regime change in Iraq. Saddam also sheltered known terrorists, sponsored Palestinian suicide bombers. Simply put, he was a terrorist.

One letter writer chided President Bush for imploring Americans not to "balk at doing big things". I can think of nothing bigger than defeating the global jihad that has as its goal the total destruction of Western Civilization.

Sincerely, Craig Willms

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Bush's War

Dear Editor,

I sincerely hope this newspaper intends to print some fact filled letters to balance the tripe you printed on July 10th. Perhaps then we can clear up the erroneous notion that the Iraq war has somehow created a wobbly American economy. This economy is as strong and vibrant as it ever was.

Secondly, there was no rush to war in Iraq. The current conflict was twelve years in the making. Saddam, with the help of his enablers in Europe had violated every single UN resolution and bilked average Iraqis out of billions with the "oil for food" scandal. Saddam Hussein was a terror sponsor and an aggressor who was patiently waiting out the sanctions imposed on him by a toothless institution called the UN.

Lest we forget that it was President Bill Clinton who signed the resolution that made it the policy of the United States to work for regime change in Iraq. Everyone believed Saddam possessed WMD's, everyone. Hussein also sheltered known terrorists, sponsored Palestinian suicide bombers, and despite what the revisionist historians would have you believe, had extensive ties will al Qaeda. Simply put, he was a terrorist.

Finally, one letter writer chided President Bush for imploring Americans not to "balk at doing big things". I can think of nothing bigger than defeating the global jihad that has as its goal the total destruction of Western Civilization - including Democrats, liberals, peace protesters and the "hate Bush" crowd. Perhaps you have not forgotten about Sept. 11th but there were countless attacks against the West that predate George W. Bush's time in office. How many more attacks were we to suffer before we took the fight to them?

Sincerely,
Craig Willms