LIBERTY

"[W]hatever the rights and wrongs of how and why Saddam and the Taliban were removed, there is an obvious, clear and overwhelming reason for supporting the people of those countries in their desire for democracy. What about those people who risked their lives to vote in three elections? What about those British and American soldiers who gave their limbs and lives for the freedom of others? Are such lives worth so little that we believe we can quit before the task is done? Do we think that by leaving now before the Iraqis are fully capable of repelling the terrorist insurgents we will have done ourselves—or Iraq—a favor? Are we so self-deceived that we think they won't come after us should we stop going after them?... The enemies of freedom believe we lack the stomach for this fight. In his call to defeat terrorism, Blair criticized those who believe that pandering to terrorists will convert them. It won't, he said. Rather, instead of 'choking' terrorism, Blair said pandering 'feeds its growth.' Tony Blair gets it. President Bush gets it. Why don't more British and Americans get it? We'd better get it soon, because terrorists get it and they intend to get more of us." — Cal Thomas