The Strong Horse Wins The Race

The Strong Horse Wins The Race

My friends, it seems like too much of the debate over Iraq right now is about this civil war. That may or may not be happening. But, if I may be so brutally honest, I don't really give a damn about the Iraqis anymore. This war stopped being about "Iraqi Freedom" a long time ago; back when huge numbers of Iraqis decided to tear each other limb from limb, rather than play the patient waiting game of democracy building.

But I do, on the other hand, care passionately for the souls of the nearly three thousand American soldiers and private contractors who have already made the ultimate sacrifice. A silent-minority that's not getting a whole lot of mention if you listen to the talking heads. And for that reason, if nothing else, we need to win.

Now, some of you are thinking, "Well, Dylan more people will die if we stay. How can you justify losing more troops for a lost cause?"

The answer is simple. The cause is not lost! One determined B-52 bombing offensive in the Sunni Triangle, or Sadr City, or both (!), could kill more enemies, and do more to earn the fear of the Iraqi people than anything we have done so far. And yes, I did say win the fear of the Iraqis.

I say this because up till now we've tried to win the "hearts and minds" of the Iraqis. All the while forgetting that the easiest way to do that is by grabbing their balls first. If its one thing Osama bin Laden has been truly and consistently right about, it's that "the people will follow the strong-horse." Now, to Westerners this sounds a little hollow. But, in a part of the world dominated by arid deserts, clan warfare, and honor killings, it means everything.

For example, after the first Gulf War, Saddam Hussein was able to convince millions of Iraqis that he actually won the war, simply because he was still in power at the end of it. Winning or losing in the Middle East is determined by who rules. We've been fighting this war in the liberal-Western psyche, where winners and losers are judged by how humane, benevolent, and understanding they are. The problem with this, as we've seen, is that neither the Iraqi people, nor our terrorist enemies respect this philosophy. And needless to say, they certainly do not love us for it. On, the contrary they see it as a sign of weakness.

If we were to snap out of this politically correct, law and orderly strategy and project the true force of our firepower on these terrorists, the people of Iraq would see who the "strong-horse" really is.

But, then of course there would be Iraqi civilian casualties. And then the cries of foul would descend from on high, as the P.C. warriors would rail in self-righteous indignation. But, in truth, Iraqis are dying anyway! And what about the sacrifices of the silent-minority: those Americans and others who've already given their lives? Don't we have a duty to move Heaven and Earth, to make sure they didn't die for nothing?

Those are the lives I care about. Forget about memorials and tear-jerking speeches. Let's honor them by winning.

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