What Does The War In Iraq Have To Do With Defeating Terrorism?

THE QUESTION MANY HAVE asked is, "What does the war in Iraq have to do with the War On Terrorism?" Below are some clear answers to the question.

The War Behind Closed Doors
What if the policies of the United States Government changed in a significant way? What if the only way for free countries to live in peace was for everyone to live in freedom? What if the democracies of the world used their power to help citizens in repressive regimes rid themselves of their illegitimate governments? If a small group has taken over a country by force, like Pol Pot in Cambodia or Saddam Hussein in Iraq, it should not be considered a legitimate government. That kind of government is not only bad for the citizens of that country, it is bad for the free countries too. This link goes to a PBS Frontline special that gives an excellent history of the events that led to the Iraq war, and the significant change in U.S. foreign policy that has taken place. You can watch the show online in videostreaming format.

The Impression Most Of Us Have About Iraq Doesn't Match This Story
The story is about the district of Ramadi and how al-Qaeda was booted out of it. Without really meaning to, the article also debunks much of what the mainstream media thinks of as a forgone conclusion.

The Missing Option For National Security
Iraq is only part of a much larger and more important war, but what we do in Iraq is important to the long-term war against Islamic militancy.

Universal Democracy?
In one respect, democracy is still not quite a global phenomenon. In every region of the world — except for one — at least a third of the states are democracies. Thirty of the 33 states in Latin America and the Caribbean are democracies, and about half of them are now fairly liberal in terms of their levels of freedom. Two-thirds of the former communist countries, half of the Asian states, and even about two-fifths of the African states are now democracies. Only in the Middle East is democracy virtually absent. In fact, among the 16 Arab countries, there is not a single democracy and, with the exception of Lebanon, there never has been.

When Will the Fighting Stop?
This will be going on for a long time. Islamists from around the world are jumping at the chance to fight infidels anywhere they can, and Iraq is the place to be these days. But this process of Islamists blowing themselves up will be around long after Iraq becomes a democracy. Suicide bombers in Palestine have been at it for at least 30 years and show no sign of letting up.

Aftermyths of the Antiwar Movement
Much of what we think about the antiwar movement during the Vietnam era is mistaken. Adam Garfinkle, the researcher, explains what lessons we can take away from that period in America's history.

Spies, Lies, and Weapons: What Went Wrong?
How could we have been so far off in our estimates of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs? A leading Iraq expert and intelligence analyst in the Clinton Administration — whose book The Threatening Storm proved deeply influential in the run-up to the war — gives a detailed account of how and why we erred. This is an extremely informative article. As usual, the mainstream media has given an overly simplified and highly distorted view of the issue.

John Lewis Gaddis
A transcript of an interview with Gaddis discussing why America went to war with Iraq.

Richard Perle
A highly informed expert on the subject, Perle gives some insight into how the war with Iraq came about and why. This is also a transcript of an interview and very informative.

Time Line
This is the chronology of events that led ultimately to the war in Iraq. Brief and informative.

The Battle of Iraq
William Whittle has written an eloquent and informative essay on the reasons the Iraq war was necessary for the war on terror.

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WE URGE YOU to share this information with others. When someone doesn't understand why the U.S. would want to invade a country and kill people, inform the person with one of the above articles. This is a gentle way to educate. It allows people to save face and change their mind about the subject. Say something like this: "I read an article last night that gave me a new understanding of the war in Iraq. I can send you a link to it if you like."

It is better to inform than to argue. It changes minds more effectively and is easier on your adrenal glands. Send links to people. Print out copies to have on hand when the subject comes up.

Human life is precious, but it is an easily defensible proposition that in some circumstances, an even higher principle must take priority. Deposing Saddam was just such a circumstance.

And now, al Qaeda has shown themselves in Iraq, and that just gives the war even more importance.