...he is becoming obsessed with me, lol
Should I respond?
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10939075&BRD=2271&PAG=461&dept_id=462943&rfi=6No one values life like Americans
To the editor:
Over the past month Mr. Brandon Harlow has criticized the United States for more things than there is space enough to recount here. This country seems to be able to do nothing right or good in Mr. Harlow's eyes.
Now comes perhaps the most regrettable of all.
On Jan. 24, Mr. Harlow had a letter printed that tried to make the argument that people who oppose abortion also have no problem with the murder of Afghan and Iraqi children as long as they could be considered "collateral damage." This is a direct connection to America's military involvement in these two countries.
After my revulsion subsided I had several thoughts. First, I would have thought a man who holds himself in such high intellectual esteem would realize that his basic premise is wrong from the get-go. I am sure there have been civilian deaths in both of these countries that everyone regrets. The problem is they were killed, not murdered. The difference is that murder is illegal; killing, in this case, is not. Mr. Harlow should know the difference, but more likely he wanted the United States to look as bad and as culpable as possible.
For some reason Mr. Harlow takes great pleasure in sharing his outrage against America for everything including his assertion of our not being concerned about innocent, human, collateral damage in our fight against terrorism. I find this disgusting.
Where was his outrage when the Twin Towers fell, taking 3,000 innocent Americans with them? Where was his outrage the first time the Twin Towers were bombed? Where was his outrage when our jets were blown out of the sky? Where was his outrage when our embassies were bombed? Where was his outrage when our ships were attacked? Apparently "collateral damage" is acceptable as long as it is American collateral damage.
The decent amongst us regret the loss of any life, but occasionally it may be necessary to take a hard, honest look at each situation. Most people, including the Afghans, believe they are much better off without the Taliban in control.
The fact is that even with the collateral damage, there are more Afghans alive today than there would have been without American intervention. The same is true in Iraq. This war has cost many lives (over 500 Americans) including some civilians. Now, I'm sure Mr. Harlow finds Saddam Hussein a fine, misunderstood gentleman, but the truth is, had we not intervened and shut down the torture rooms, the rape warehouses and the wholesale killing of his own people there would be fewer Iraqis alive today than had we not gone to Iraq and put an end to his regime, including unfortunately taking some civilian lives. These things have all been proven out as we have located the mass graves. Let's not forget that Hussein at least at one time, had weapons of mass destruction. He used them on his country's neighbors and on his own people. Even Bill Clinton agrees with this.
I took my two teenage children to see the movie "Tears In The Sun." I wanted them to see two things.
First, I wanted them to see how talented and well trained the group of Navy Seals in the movie were. Secondly, I wanted them to see how this group of Americans continued to try to do the "right thing" even as their company was being decimated by the enemy.
The movie was fiction, but I believe the attributes of this group of men aptly depict the skills and frame of mind of those in our military. We make mistakes. We have made some huge mistakes. But I think that is exactly what they are... mistakes.
I believe this country, more than any other that has ever existed, tries to do the right thing.
America has stood in the breach for countries all over the world. How many countries in the world can you name that have not received help from America? Whether we came to their aid militarily, economically or in the case of disaster, we always show up for the fight. And we are usually the first one there. Try to think of the last time we asked for help, but don't spend too much time on this; we give help, we don't ask for it.
To suggest that our military has no concerns for the civilian children in countries where we have fought is a slap in the face of every man and woman who has ever worn this country's uniform and it is a slap in the face of every family that has lost a loved one - over one million who have been killed in combat. From Lexington to Concord to Petersburg to the Argonne Forrest to Normandy and Midway to Pusan to Da Nang to Kuwait to Kabul and Baghdad. Our soldiers have fought valiantly and with honor... and with a set of rules. They are called the rules of engagement.
One of the priorities when engaging the enemy is what steps are necessary to protect civilians. No country takes this responsibility more seriously than the United States. During every conflict American lives are lost because of the importance attached to the protection of civilians. To suggest this country or any group within it have no concern for the lives of children, any group of children, is reprehensible and anyone who publicly offers such an opinion should be ashamed.
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