THE WAR in IRAQ, WHERE DO YOU STAND?

A friend of mine has a Son coming home this weekend from Iraq. He has served for several months in the middle of the battles, and is looking forward to being home in America. He has to return to Iraq in 18 days, to finish his tour. Although I've never met him, I'd like to shake his hand, thank him for his service to our great country, and then buy him a 12 pack. I probably won't get the chance to do that, but that's how I truly feel.

It doesn't seem that long ago, on a chilly September morning, that I set out to go to work. Some cowards had attacked our country, and thousands of innocent lives were lost. Like everyone else, in our great land, I was shocked by the attack on our own soil. I remember being a little worried though. How would we all react? Is patriotism still alive? How were we supposed to go to work, and pay attention to our jobs? The answer to all of my questions came quickly.

On my way to work, I saw more American flags being displayed on homes, cars, telephone polls, and nearly everything else, than I had ever seen at any time in my life. Yes, America, patriotism was still alive, still strong, and about to become even stronger. At work that night, several of my co-workers, who had never shown any type of American pride, took their time to create the most beautiful American flag I had ever seen. It was made of materials from our workplace, and hung proudly near our front entrance. These men and women loved our country, and showed their emotion through that flag. I didn't participate in the flag construction, I was proud of their efforts, but too mad at the cowards who did this to us.

We needed to find who did this to us. We needed to retaliate, loud and clear. How dare someone do this to us? We are the United States of America! We are the protector of the world. Who would dare challenge us? Someone did, and I, like everyone else, was angry. I still am. As the brave rescuers dug through the rubble of the World Trade Center, I cried, thinking about all of the families that were about to receive the news that their loved ones were gone. I only hoped that every one of them gave each other a hug and kiss as they went to work that morning.

Last week, another family got some bad news. Their son had died in Iraq, victim of a roadside bomb. I traveled the same route to work that day. No flags, no banners, no messages to our troops, nothing to indicate that our patriotism was still alive and well. What has happened to us? Do we not care anymore? Did the terrorists that attacked us truly accomplish their intended mission? Instead of taking time to put our flags out, we now spend the time to answer a poll on whether we should pull out of Iraq, or finish what they started. Shame on you all, my fellow Americans. Our brave men and women are still fighting every day to defend their country's beliefs, and we are answering poll questions.

Is the war in Iraq right? Should we still be trying to defend the whole world? Or, like many other countries around the world, should we just forget about what happened, and move along with our own business? Listen to the relatives of our American heroes that have died for the love of their country. They are the true barometer of this whole problem. With all due respect to our political candidates for President, maybe we are listening to the wrong people. It's very popular these days to agree to just get out of Iraq. Pull out all of our brave men and women, and bring them all home. Fair enough, they have done a great job for us, and the world. Let's end it now.

What a minute. The polls taken after that chilly September morning were different. The majority of us wanted to strike back. We wanted revenge on those cowards. I'm confused. Which poll is right? Did anyone really think that we could just strike back, and it would not cost us anything? How would we go about doing that? Drop a big bomb somewhere? Which country, which enemy? Terrorism had been around a long time, do the terrorists all hang around together, in one location? I'm always glad that I'm not the President of the United Sates. What was he to do? We were screaming for revenge, to restore our dignity. He had to do something, and he did.

The war in Iraq has been difficult, to say the least. It has cost us billions of dollars, and over 4,000 lives. For what? The price of gas is at an all time high. What happened to all of those "Blood for oil" signs I used to see? Our economy is in a recession, sorry President Bush, and we are all faced with more bills than money these days. Those billions could have helped us all, right? We all know how responsible our government is with money, right?

Here is my bottom line. Finally, you say, he is going to say what he believes in. Yes I am. I believe that there are millions of Iraqi families that are going to wake up today, go about their own business, and not have to worry about some goon squad holding them at gunpoint, raping and killing them because they feel like it. I believe that thousands of children will go to school in that country, something that used to be impossible to do safely. I believe that many children will see electricity for the first time in their lives. Some will even take their first shower, with real running water. Because behind the scenes, away from the headlines, our brave men and women have accomplished one mission. They have restored Hope to millions of people. 70% of them voted in their first election. Can we say that?

Step back America, and take a look at what we have accomplished. Is it perfect? No, not by a long shot. There are still a lot of groups that hate us there. They can't wait for us to get the hell out, so they can undo what we have done. Talk to someone you know that is coming home from Iraq, or thank God, is home already. Ask them how the Iraqi people really feel about us. I guarantee you won't get the answer you expect. The media reports about death, insurgents, and road side bombs. Once in a while they talk to the family of one of our fallen heroes, but mostly, they show us all of the bad stuff. Sounds an awful like the news they show from our own country, doesn't it.? Bank robbers, corrupt politicians, and some idiot randomly shooting innocent people in one of our malls or schools. Our society is not perfect, and never will be. Neither will Iraq's society.

Let's finish what they started. Let's bring our men and women home safely, without repeating what we did in South Vietnam. 55,000 heroes died there, for the love of their country. The day after we left, everything we fought for got undone. Do we really want to do that again? I think not. Let's make the Iraqi government be more responsible for their own country, because we won't be there forever. Let's not ask them if that's OK, let's tell them what's expected, and give them the choice of which way this should end.

Think about it America. Go back to that chilly September morning. As for me, I would absolutely love to thank every single soldier, and their families, for their service and sacrifice. I'd love to hear from Iraqi Veterans, the real heroes in all of this. Please share your stories with me. For now, I have to go to the store and buy a new American flag. My other ones are a little worn, like the resolve of my fellow Americans. God bless the U.S.A.!!!