Our War President

February 10, 2002

by Brian W. Peterson

President George Walker Bush’s State of the Union speech has been sliced and diced every which way. From Texas conservative Republican Tom Delay to New York liberal Democrat Charles Rangle, the president and his speech were showered with praise. A variety of pundits offered their views, ranging from skepticism to high praise.

While most of the quotable types on the tube and in the following day’s newspapers properly labeled President Bush a “war president,” the president’s commitment to this war is still largely understated.

In the meantime, some people are already beginning to whine that the war is now “going nowhere,” as if the war is just a sporting event, complete with a scoreboard and rabid fans watching from those hard plastic stadium seats.

President Bush was not subtle in his speech to the nation and in subsequent speeches as he toured a handful of states. He referenced an “Axis” of nations with whom we may have to contend if we are to defeat terrorists worldwide. That the Commander-in-Chief was so bold and direct is perhaps more significant than people realize.

The president specifically named Iraq’s infamous dictator, Saddam Hussein. Finding a group of Americans who would like to see us knock off the dictator is not terribly difficult. Those who pay attention to the news know all about him. He has gassed his own people, Iranians, and Kurds. He has lots of “doubles” who make it difficult to assassinate him. He is a murderous megalomaniac who hates America.

When President Bush mentioned North Korea, one had to wonder if most Americans know anything about this backward little dictatorship.

Run by the son of tyrant Kim Il Sung, current tyrant Kim Jong Il is presently developing medium-range ballistic missiles which could reach not only Alaskan military targets but targets in the continental US. The country gives new meaning to the word “poverty,” and North Koreans are of the most repressed peoples on earth.

Our country has known about the “Taepo Dong” rocket for several years, but the pre-September 11 conventional wisdom was that we did not have the authority to destroy Kim’s offensive missile program. Negotiating with the madman was official policy.

But perhaps the most telling aspect of our president’s words was the naming of Iran. Iran is a powerful nation that intelligence shows has purchased advanced weaponry from the former Soviet Union and Communist China. A war with Iran would not resemble the war in Afghanistan. Additionally, Iran would retaliate by attempting to destroy our one true ally in the region - Israel.

Iran has been described as the “most democratic” of Middle East nations other than Israel. This is quite deceptive. Indeed, Iran holds parliamentary elections, but the strict Muslim nation is still dominated by the “old guard” revolutionaries. Such important areas as police, judiciary, and media are dominated by the repressive hardliners, and the Iranian parliament - the Majlis - cannot enact legislation without the approval of a 12-member body of clerics.

Iran is not democratic.

Iran is and has been an exporter of terror; but the reason it is significant that President Bush specifically named Iran in his State of the Union speech is because it shows that President Bush is not merely looking to pick off “easy” targets - not that any war is truly easy.

As a military target, Iran would be difficult. They have advanced weaponry and have a stronger, more centralized military than the Taliban. Given Iran’s knack of supplying arms to terrorists, we must either manipulate their government or destroy it before terrorists seriously damage our country.

President Bush has shown the resolve and courage to execute this war against terrorism effectively. By naming Iraq and North Korea, the president made it clear to other nations that our war is against even those who were not responsible for September 11. By naming Iran, the president showed that he possesses the courage to truly pursue terrorists - not just terrorist cells or in nations with weak governments.

This war is for neither the impatient nor the soft of heart. President Bush showed that he is committed - not to politics or an easy or popular path, but to protecting America. Protecting America means making difficult choices.

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Brian W. Peterson writes a political column for the Antelope Valley Press (circulation approximately 60,000) in Palmdale, California. He is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, where he majored in TV/Film. Brian’s weekly commentary and newspaper columns can be found at www.LifeAndLiberty.com.

Send the author an E mail at Peterson@ConservativeTruth.org.

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