Other Columns by Frank Salvato
Frank Salvato Bio

Printer-Friendly Version

You can't turn a page or flip a channel without hearing how the Bush Administration's policies toward the Iraqi conflict are wrong. Or, as the loser of the 2004 presidential election, John Kerry, espoused, "profoundly wrong." What no one wants to consider is whether or not these critics have the qualifications to so recklessly opine.

During a recent press conference, President Bush passionately reiterated his stance on the Iraqi conflict. He alluded to the notion that the continuous bombardment of the American people with negative news by the mainstream media -- and the irresponsible rhetoric of the anti-war left -- has strained, "...the psyche of our country." He continued by saying that the pre-mature withdrawal of US troops from the Iraqi theater would result in disaster stating, "If you think it's bad now, imagine what Iraq would look like if the United States leaves before this government can defend itself and sustain itself."

These concerns are valid. If the United States and Coalition Forces exit the Iraqi theater pre-maturely, it would further embolden the Iranian promoted sectarian violence that is currently taking place. If the forces for democracy abandon their commitment to the Iraqi people -- as was done after the Gulf War -- it would be an open invitation to the Iranian government to invade, making it the most powerful and oil wealthy nation in the Middle East. Without question, this open invitation would be accepted.

Looking at the facts, it would be a complete disaster to abandon the fledgling Iraqi government, as well as their unproven military. Further, anyone with a modicum of common sense understands that offering information -- any information -- to the enemy is stupid. Providing a timetable, complete with dates, for a withdrawal of US and Coalition forces from Iraq is offering the enemy information; stupid.

Keeping all of this in mind, let's take a look at the statements of anti-war activist and junior US Senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry.

Kerry, seethingly, declared that the president was, "profoundly wrong about Iraq and profoundly wrong about the American people." He went on to call the president's policies on the Iraqi conflict an "unmitigated disaster."

He stated that the military had been "strained by the Rumsfeld policy of going to war with too few troops, sending troops into battle with inadequate body armor and overextending the National Guard." Of course, the National Guard was able to both actively participate in their duties in the Iraqi theater while effectively responding to a record number of natural disasters last year. That US soldiers are the best equipped in the world speaks for itself.

Kerry said, "Faith in this Administration has been strained by exaggerations and miscalculations from the promise of 'mission accomplished'..." Here we have a perfect example of irresponsible and deceitful rhetoric. Everyone who cares about accuracy and the truth understands that when the president exclaimed "Mission Accomplished" aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln that he was referring to the initial invasion and liberation activities. Yet Kerry, and the masses of the politically opportunistic with whom he cavorts, continues to mischaracterize the truth for political gain while pandering to the thirst for anti-Bush rhetoric of the agenda-driven mainstream media.

>> Continued -- Page 1 2 3