I’m the first to admit that I’ve become skeptical of the way things have been going in Iraq. The idea of American soldiers dying to try to protect a democratic regime that even some Iraqis don’t seem to support seems, at first blush, a pretty dumb idea. At the same time, though, its clear that the goal of a democratic, peacecful Iraq is something that is in America’s interest……and not just because of the oil that Iraq has.
I can respect the idea that people might disagree with this position and that they might think that the Iraq War was a bad idea. What I cannot understand, however, are Americans who refuse to acknowledge a clear victory such as today’s killing of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Some Democrats, breaking ranks from their leadership, today said the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab Zarqawi in Iraq was a stunt to divert attention from an unpopular and hopeless war.
“This is just to cover Bush’s [rear] so he doesn’t have to answer” for Iraqi civilians being killed by the U.S. military and his own sagging poll numbers, said Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat. “Iraq is still a mess — get out.”
Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Democrat, said Zarqawi was a small part of “a growing anti-American insurgency” and that it’s time to get out.
“We’re there for all the wrong reasons,” Mr. Kucinich said.
A small part ? He was the freaking leader of the insurgency, and the man who personally beheaded Nicholas Berg. For that reason alone, I have raised more than one glass in celebration of his death tonight.
