Our Greatest Ally
Within hours of the terrorists’ attacks on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon, Tony Blair has been our most steadfast ally. Americans should be grateful for that alliance between the two greatest freedom fighters of our generation. This week, Tony Blair wrote an op-ed for the NY Post. I found the entire op-ed to be compelling but I especially appreciated these sections:
This is not a clash between civilizations. It is a clash about civilization. It is the age-old battle between progress and reaction, between those who embrace and see opportunity in the modern world and those who reject its existence; between optimism and hope on the one hand; and pessimism and fear on the other.
That’s a perfect encapsulation of the war we’re engaged in. Al Qaida can’t win the battle for hearts and minds. It can only rule through threats and intimidation. Where they want mindless followers, we fight for independance of thought and for civilization itself.
I know we’ve all heard that there’s no negotiating with terrorists; no middle ground to be sought. But as cliched as it sounds, that statement’s profundity and wisdom shouldn’t be tuned out. This will be a long war, a struggle that requires steadfastness, certainty of purpose and thirst for freedom for one and all. We’ll lose if we don’t remain steadfast; if we don’t keep freedom’s vision ever before us.
We can no more opt out of this struggle than we can opt out of the climate changing around us.
What some don’t understand is that this isn’t about the Muslim world vs. Western Civilization. I remember something that Dennis Miller once wrote. In his op-ed, Miller said that we’re all infidels in al Qaida’s eyes, whether we’re political moderates, arch-conservatives, Christians, Jews or Hindu. The al Qaida definition of infidel is anyone who doesn’t believe as they believe.
The people, despite violence, intimidation, inexperience and often logistical nightmares, voted. Not a few, but in numbers large enough to shame many western democracies.
Remember all the politicians from the realist school telling us that it wasn’t possible to hold elections in Iraq on January 30, 2005? “Impossible,” John Kerry said. “Unwise,” proclaimed Joe Biden. The Iraqi people didn’t read these ‘esteemed politicians’ opinions. They ignored the threats that terrorists made if they voted. They went anyway and brought a tide of emotionalism the likes of which we haven’t felt in a generation.
Remember that this wasn’t just a people driven to vote. This was a people who were told by the terrorists that the streets “would be paved with the blood of the voters.” How did they react? Here’s a quote from a Reuters’ article:
Samir Hassan, 32, who lost his leg in a car bomb blast in October, was determined to vote. “I would have crawled here if I had to. I don’t want terrorists to kill other Iraqis like they tried to kill me. Today I am voting for peace,” he said, leaning on his metal crutches, determination in his reddened eyes.
Let us never forget their determination. Let us never forget their thirst for freedom.
They want government decided by the people. And who is trying to stop them? In Iraq, a mixture of foreign Jihadists, former Saddamists and rejectionist insurgents. In Afghanistan, a combination of drug barons, Taliban and al Qaeda. In both countries, the armed forces and police service are taking shape so that in time a democratically elected government has, under its control, sufficient power to do the will of the democratic state. In each case, people die lining up to join such forces, determined, whatever the risk, to be part of a new and different dispensation.
Forget whether we should see things in Iraq as half empty or half full. We should see the glass as being three fourths full and getting fuller. Liberation was a seemingly insurmountable hurdle but it was realized. All subsequent steps, though necessary, are simply additional blessings.
I, for one, won’t forget Tony Blair’s steadfastness, his persuasive speeches on liberty’s behalf and his loyalty to America’s fight. Based on the NY Post’s editorial, it’s safe to say that I’m not alone.
Take the time to read Blair’s op-ed from top to bottom. Take the time to read the NY Post’s editorial, too. And when you do, be very, very thankful for allies like the incomparable Tony Blair. America is truly blessed to have him as an ally and a friend.
Technorati Tags: Tony Blair, Terrorism, 9/11
Cross-post at LetFreedomRing
March 23rd, 2006 at 5:43 am
well said and Britain has free universal health care(NHS) :).
However Tony Blair is not going to last long in office. A lot of calls for him to step down not to do with war on terror domestic issue mainly . So I would say this time next year his other half in reforming labour into “new labour” Gordon Brown current Chancellor of the Exchequer will be prime minister. At the time of the last election he said he would stand aside for Gordon and some stage . I think it will be sooner rather then later.
And remember Labour is the left wing party in Britain the conservatives are on the rigth and the Liberal democrates are in the center.
March 23rd, 2006 at 12:47 pm
I am a veteran and I consider myself a patriot, but I draw the line at reading New York Post editorials.
What did Condi Rice say to Feith? Something like, “Doug, when I want to hear Israel’s views I’ll summon the Ambassador.”