thedrifter
02-22-03, 08:57 AM
02/22/2003
Sadly, sometimes war is necessary
DAILY NEWS STAFF
With antiwar demonstrations straddling the globe as far away as Russia and as close as Morehead City, it’s important to understand that many people who believe war may be necessary in pursuit of Iraqi disarmament, also oppose war in principle.
Although the two concepts seem mutually exclusive, they’re not. No sane adult is “in favor of”
war, least of all those whose business truly is war: the U.S. Marines.
Men baptized in battle on coral atolls in the Pacific, the frozen wastelands of Korea or the jungles of Vietnam all have something in common. They bear witness that war isn’t at all like the movies. The hero doesn’t always win. The flag isn’t always raised in picture book perfection. It’s not romantic, neat or clean.
In fact, just the opposite is true: It’s horrifying and messy and no one who goes to war remains unscathed or returns from it unchanged — least of all those who actually fight it.
It’s been said the currency of war is lost lives. That’s true. War robs the future, cheats young men and women of their potential and places no premium on innocence. It reduces life to survival of the fittest, the quickest and the luckiest. It’s not the least bit just, honorable or sporting.
But, despite its blackness and lack of redemption, war is lamentably necessary at times. Necessary because, no matter how much man wants the playing field to be level, the simple fact remains that evil men don’t play fair. They don’t work out their differences like gentlemen. Instead, they stock up on anthrax or ricin or the nasty little components for a dirty bomb.
That Saddam Hussein is evil has been established. The unresolved issue lingers, though: Is taking Saddam down worth the cost? How many will die if the world goes to war?
But if those questions prove worthy of examination, then so should those presented by the alternative viewpoint: What happens if Saddam continues undeterred along his present path? How many will die if the world does not wage war on Iraq?
History’s rife with compelling precedence on how much denial can cost. While the world closed its collective eyes, Adolf Hitler took the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Jews. The human price tag for halting Hitler’s dictatorial regime proved many times higher than earlier intervention would have. And Hitler wasn’t stopped by clever rhetoric or world resolutions.
It took a war to end the persecution of the Jews, a war to oust Hitler and his allies from the occupied areas of Europe and Africa, a war to end the threat of future aggression, a war to ensure the free world had a future.
War, in the case of Hitler, was indisputably necessary.
Those who condemn war have it right. War is a terrible thing, something to be avoided whenever possible. But not something to be avoided at all costs.
Despise war, but not the military men and women standing on the front lines. Pray war isn’t necessary. Paint signs and march. But if the leaders of this country choose to oppose Saddam, support those who go to the front to fight this battle.
Repay the military’s courage with loyalty.
Only from the perspective of history will the moral righteousness of this country’s actions be judged. And only if man survives as a race will there be anyone left on Earth to judge it.
© 2001 Jacksonville Daily News
Sempers,
Roger
Sadly, sometimes war is necessary
DAILY NEWS STAFF
With antiwar demonstrations straddling the globe as far away as Russia and as close as Morehead City, it’s important to understand that many people who believe war may be necessary in pursuit of Iraqi disarmament, also oppose war in principle.
Although the two concepts seem mutually exclusive, they’re not. No sane adult is “in favor of”
war, least of all those whose business truly is war: the U.S. Marines.
Men baptized in battle on coral atolls in the Pacific, the frozen wastelands of Korea or the jungles of Vietnam all have something in common. They bear witness that war isn’t at all like the movies. The hero doesn’t always win. The flag isn’t always raised in picture book perfection. It’s not romantic, neat or clean.
In fact, just the opposite is true: It’s horrifying and messy and no one who goes to war remains unscathed or returns from it unchanged — least of all those who actually fight it.
It’s been said the currency of war is lost lives. That’s true. War robs the future, cheats young men and women of their potential and places no premium on innocence. It reduces life to survival of the fittest, the quickest and the luckiest. It’s not the least bit just, honorable or sporting.
But, despite its blackness and lack of redemption, war is lamentably necessary at times. Necessary because, no matter how much man wants the playing field to be level, the simple fact remains that evil men don’t play fair. They don’t work out their differences like gentlemen. Instead, they stock up on anthrax or ricin or the nasty little components for a dirty bomb.
That Saddam Hussein is evil has been established. The unresolved issue lingers, though: Is taking Saddam down worth the cost? How many will die if the world goes to war?
But if those questions prove worthy of examination, then so should those presented by the alternative viewpoint: What happens if Saddam continues undeterred along his present path? How many will die if the world does not wage war on Iraq?
History’s rife with compelling precedence on how much denial can cost. While the world closed its collective eyes, Adolf Hitler took the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Jews. The human price tag for halting Hitler’s dictatorial regime proved many times higher than earlier intervention would have. And Hitler wasn’t stopped by clever rhetoric or world resolutions.
It took a war to end the persecution of the Jews, a war to oust Hitler and his allies from the occupied areas of Europe and Africa, a war to end the threat of future aggression, a war to ensure the free world had a future.
War, in the case of Hitler, was indisputably necessary.
Those who condemn war have it right. War is a terrible thing, something to be avoided whenever possible. But not something to be avoided at all costs.
Despise war, but not the military men and women standing on the front lines. Pray war isn’t necessary. Paint signs and march. But if the leaders of this country choose to oppose Saddam, support those who go to the front to fight this battle.
Repay the military’s courage with loyalty.
Only from the perspective of history will the moral righteousness of this country’s actions be judged. And only if man survives as a race will there be anyone left on Earth to judge it.
© 2001 Jacksonville Daily News
Sempers,
Roger