Politivity

The latest lie being touted by Democrats and even Republicans is that all President Bush asked us to do after 9/11 is go shopping.

That’s flat-out false.

In Bush’s State of the Union address in January 2002, Bush called for Americans to give at least 2 years, or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives to service.

Here’s the excerpt from his speech that outlines his vision for American service:

None of us would ever wish the evil that was done on September the 11th.  Yet after America was attacked, it was as if our entire country looked into a mirror and saw our better selves.  We were reminded that we are citizens, with obligations to each other, to our country, and to history.  We began to think less of the goods we can accumulate, and more about the good we can do.

For too long our culture has said, “If it feels good, do it.”  Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed: “Let’s roll.” (Applause.) In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of responsibility could look like.  We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self.  We’ve been offered a unique opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass.  (Applause.)

My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years — 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime — to the service of your neighbors and your nation.  (Applause.)  Many are already serving, and I thank you.  If you aren’t sure how to help, I’ve got a good place to start.  To sustain and extend the best that has emerged in America, I invite you to join the new USA Freedom Corps.  The Freedom Corps will focus on three areas of need:  responding in case of crisis at home; rebuilding our communities; and extending American compassion throughout the world.

One purpose of the USA Freedom Corps will be homeland security. America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies; volunteers to help police and fire departments; transportation and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger.

Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild our communities.  We need mentors to love children, especially children whose parents are in prison.  And we need more talented teachers in troubled schools.  USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers.

And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our country to every part of the world.  So we will renew the promise of the Peace Corps, double its volunteers over the next five years — (applause) — and ask it to join a new effort to encourage development and education and opportunity in the Islamic world.  (Applause.)

Obama was interviewed by Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly this week and said that the surge in Iraq worked beyond his wildest dreams.

This again reveals his short-sightedness about the military and foreign policy.

John McCain wasn’t surprised by the surge’s success because he understands Iraq and Al Quaeda.

Now, Obama is talking about Afghanistan. Well, the terrorists left Iraq and went back home to Afghanistan. It’s all connected!

Bush should have had Afghanistan more prepared. And we need to keep our eyes open. When we put pressure on Afghanistan - terrorists will flee elsewhere.

I know that sounds like endless war to some, but this is the reality of terrorism. Do nothing, we get hit. 8 year of unresponsiveness to terrorist attacks by the Clinton Administration proves it.

If you were President during Bill Clinton’s tenure in the White House, would you have accepted Sudan’s offer of Osama bin Laden?

In the ABC presidential debate on Saturday night, Barack Obama suggested that the reason that Iraq has seen less violence lately is due to the 2006 elections resulting in a Democratic Congress.

Unfortunately, that logic is severely flawed.

• The Democrats not only were unable to start bringing troops home, but President Bush increased troop levels.
• The data only shows violence decreasing once the troop surge began - not in November of 2006, when elections were held.
• The Iraqi people began siding with the United States when they realized that Al Quaida was not on their side and that they were just as much a target and victims of extremist Islamic terrorism as Americans - even when they sided with the terrorists.

We also have to consider other Democrat beliefs and how they do not coincide with success in Iraq. First of all, they believe that Bush is pushing propoganda on the Iraqi people. Of course, this directly contradicts with their hatred of us. But it also contradicts with the idea that Iraqi people would see Democrats as an indication to get moving on the development of their country.

Secondly, if Iraq is in such terrible shape, how would the people even have access to the news about the Democratic victory, let alone that a major tenet of that victory including reducing troops.

The Democrats insistence that Iraq get its act together is ignorant. These people were tortured by a vicious dictator for decades. It is a worthy goal to help this nation and these people.

Pulling out troops will not end the Iraq war. And it will not make America safer. It may save the lives of some troops, but it will ultimately result in more deaths of civilians on American soil.

Keith Olbermann blames Rudy Giuliani for 9/11.

But where’s his scathing criticism of Mayor Nagin of New Orleans?

Mayor Nagin had an evacuation plan he was supposed to follow in advance of approaching hurricanes. He was to offer people the option of leaving town on school buses. But the school buses remained parked and people died.

On the other hand, New York City had a quick response to a terrorist attack that they didn’t know was coming.

And the reason Rudy Giuliani can claim that Republicans are better on terrorism is because the Democrats response to terrorists is to negotiate with them.  The Democrats think that the problem with America is “evil” corporations, you know, the kind that provide jobs and health care to its workers.

When Democrats can’t distinguish between good companies and bad terrorists, then Republicans take the lead in countering terrorism.

We will be at greater danger if the Democrats take power. Bill Clinton did little to thwart terrorism while he was in office. There was no response to the 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center. There was no response to the bombing of the USS Cole. And the response to the Embassy Bombings was to attack an aspirin factory.

Bill Clinton was offered Bin Laden and he refused him.

So yes, the Republicans are better on terror.  And we are safer with Republicans in power.

The upcoming Charlie Wilson’s War is about a semi-secret war that led to the eventual downfall of communism in Russia.

But that same war didn’t provide CIA funds to Osama bin Laden or Al Quaeda that led to the eventual terrorist attacks in New York on 9/11, a myth commonly purported by Bush-bashing liberals.

The film originally wanted to include that angle, but it was former Texas Democrat Charlie Wilson himself that opposed the anti-American slant.

The movie also shows Wilson as supportive of CIA providing Stingers to Afghan rebels in their struggle against then-communist Russia. Actually, Wilson was irresolute on the matter while the CIA was against it. They all came around once the rebels had success against the Russians with the anti-aircraft missiles.

The war in Iraq is about terror.

If you doubt this, then you need to read Michael Yon’s Bless the Beasts and the Children. (warning: gruesome pictures)

Michael Yon is an independent journalist embedded with the armed forces in Iraq. While there he learned that:

Al Qaeda often plants bombs inside the dead bodies of the animals and people they’ve killed. They have rigged children’s bodies with explosives.

Read that again. Al Qaeda is killing the Iraqis.

Why?

Because the Iraqis are fighting WITH the Americans. The Americans say that the Iraqis are good fighters, they just need the logistical support, which is where the U.S. and allies come in.

The Iraqis are increasingly becoming disgusted with Al Qaeda. And that’s an understatement. Al Qaeda will destroy anyone who is not supportive of their extreme Islamic agenda.

A free Iraq is a huge threat to Al Qaeda. Because it means that Iran is surrounded by democracy. And that means we have a greater likelihood of using diplomacy instead of force to get Iran to behave.

We cannot back down. We cannot withdraw. Iraq is a cornerstone for fighting the war on terror. If we pull the troops, Al Qaeda wins. And none of us want another 9/11.