Remembering 9/11 plus seven
Roughly 2,555 days have gone by since that infamous and horrific day seven years ago when Daily Herald readers and all of America watched in disbelief as Islamic terrorists flew into and brought down the Twin Towers in New York City. It is a day I will never forget. I watched from afar while vacationing in Copenhagen, Denmark, feeling shocked, helpless and concerned about my fellow Americans, as a proud and patriotic American.
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, Americans came together in a spirit of unity. Partisan politics was put aside as our nation grieved. Not realized by many is that 9/11 was the date when fundamentalist Islam, with its goal of a worldwide jihad against non-Muslim people, finally reached the shores of America (The Lebanese Civil War back in 1975 was its first front.). This global jihad calls for the subversion of the West, with America perceived as standing in the way of its goal.
What if the "Obama way" had been followed? Obama opposed going into Iraq. He was against the surge. He was for withdrawing troops in early 2006. He favors appeasement through dialogue with radical leaders. He calls Afghanistan the central front in the war on terror.
Because America showed strength and determination leadership of President Bush, we are winning in Iraq. When troops come home they will be able to come home with honor. A defeat would have signaled American weakness to Muslim radicals. They would have been encouraged to strike out against us, their despised enemy, helped along by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who seeks a nuclear Iran and who has vowed to annihilate the United States and wipe Israel "off the map."
The 2008 presidential elections are of great importance. National interest should trump partisan interest at a time when this nation is still facing Islamist extremism and Russia and China are on the rise. All of us want peace, but peace will not come out of weakness. I will place my bets with John McCain and Sarah Palin for the next four years as leaders who will protect his nation from those who wish us harm.
Nancy J. Thorner
Lake Bluff