Most Difficult Days Ahead
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 11:33 pm
We've been cautioned for weeks not to believe that this war would be clean and tidy. Our fears were that somehow we might get exposed to chemical or biological weapons...and that the war would expand over here to our country. I suspect, unfortunately, that both of those are still to come.
Still...as we consider all those things there is something very personal in knowing that some very real people, our own troops who are brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and sons and daughters are in the hands of an enemy who can revel in the pain and anguish they can inflict.
I remember one particular short trip out of our Vietnam camp to another location when we passed by a firebase compound surrounded by concertina wire (rolls of wire stretched around the entire outside of the camp). At various points along the perimeter were several bodies of Vietcong victims hung on the wire as a deterrent to others who might want to try to invade this compound. Our own American troops, along with some Koreans, were responsible for this ugly show of humanity. Tragically, I remember mixed feelings of both pride and sadness as we drove right on by. The bodies had been there for days, maybe even weeks. But they, too, were somebody's son, husband, or brother.
War has a way of bringing out the best in people and the worst in people. What we are seeing these last couple of days is clearly the worst.
The lessons of these things are important for all of us.
First, we must never forget just how painful war can be. It helps to guide us as we try to consider every other way to solve problems before enterring into a conflict.
Second...while I struggle with the pain that families must be going through in knowing their sons and daughters are held captive and being tortured or worse, I hang hope on the thought that God is with these people and that the atrocities are used by Him to humble us greatly...and to make us appreciate all that is good in the world. To reach out and help those who need it. He uses the ugliness of humanity to help us see the other side more clearly.
Finally, I guess, I know that these are soldiers. They know the risks. They believe in their mission. They understand that sacrifice might be part of their role. And they are making that sacrifice for a cause they believe to be just and right.
America represents might to much of the world. But to millions it also represents arrogance and self-serving people.
That we are humbled by the images and thoughts of these troops in trouble is a good thing. We must never believe we are above that kind of pain.
Somehow we hoped we could march into Iraq and kill and tear it apart without any pain of our own...that we would hoist the flag up a pole in the center of town and take pictures of happy, clean troops getting ready to come home after a couple of weeks of work.
It isn't going to be that kind of war.
I think we are right for what we are trying to do. But our cost will be high. It is already.
Still, not only will Iraq be better for the effort in the end, but so too will America.
It is important that we keep our focus, stay true to the mission and the vision, and do whatever it takes, not just whatever we must surgically do, to meet the objectives. That will likely mean that civilian casualties will grow as we get ever-so-close to Baghdad.
The enemy will surely use women and children as their shields. We need to do what we can to minimize their loss, but we must not second-guess our commitment.
Still...as we consider all those things there is something very personal in knowing that some very real people, our own troops who are brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and sons and daughters are in the hands of an enemy who can revel in the pain and anguish they can inflict.
I remember one particular short trip out of our Vietnam camp to another location when we passed by a firebase compound surrounded by concertina wire (rolls of wire stretched around the entire outside of the camp). At various points along the perimeter were several bodies of Vietcong victims hung on the wire as a deterrent to others who might want to try to invade this compound. Our own American troops, along with some Koreans, were responsible for this ugly show of humanity. Tragically, I remember mixed feelings of both pride and sadness as we drove right on by. The bodies had been there for days, maybe even weeks. But they, too, were somebody's son, husband, or brother.
War has a way of bringing out the best in people and the worst in people. What we are seeing these last couple of days is clearly the worst.
The lessons of these things are important for all of us.
First, we must never forget just how painful war can be. It helps to guide us as we try to consider every other way to solve problems before enterring into a conflict.
Second...while I struggle with the pain that families must be going through in knowing their sons and daughters are held captive and being tortured or worse, I hang hope on the thought that God is with these people and that the atrocities are used by Him to humble us greatly...and to make us appreciate all that is good in the world. To reach out and help those who need it. He uses the ugliness of humanity to help us see the other side more clearly.
Finally, I guess, I know that these are soldiers. They know the risks. They believe in their mission. They understand that sacrifice might be part of their role. And they are making that sacrifice for a cause they believe to be just and right.
America represents might to much of the world. But to millions it also represents arrogance and self-serving people.
That we are humbled by the images and thoughts of these troops in trouble is a good thing. We must never believe we are above that kind of pain.
Somehow we hoped we could march into Iraq and kill and tear it apart without any pain of our own...that we would hoist the flag up a pole in the center of town and take pictures of happy, clean troops getting ready to come home after a couple of weeks of work.
It isn't going to be that kind of war.
I think we are right for what we are trying to do. But our cost will be high. It is already.
Still, not only will Iraq be better for the effort in the end, but so too will America.
It is important that we keep our focus, stay true to the mission and the vision, and do whatever it takes, not just whatever we must surgically do, to meet the objectives. That will likely mean that civilian casualties will grow as we get ever-so-close to Baghdad.
The enemy will surely use women and children as their shields. We need to do what we can to minimize their loss, but we must not second-guess our commitment.