>>Some arguments are not based on moral high ground, they are based on fear.
>>During the VietNam war more than one 'protestor' fled to Canada because they knew that no body bags would ever shipped home from that country. With a welfare check from the Canadian gov, or a part-time job, and a little monthly allowance from mom and dad, they continued doing in Canada what they were doing here---spreading FUD.
>
>I wouldn't have thought Viet Nam was an appropriate subject to be mentioning, in the words of one of your own Viet Nam veterans :
>
>"Of course the result was not victory at all. Not even a cease-fire or a demilitarized strip of land between North and South as happened in Korea. Just negotiated terms allowing the United States of America to "withdraw with honor." Whatever that meant."
>
>How many American soldiers died & what for ?

Len;

I think Viet Nam and the involvement by the United States is not to be compared with what has happened on the east coast of the United States two weeks ago or what will happen. Viet Nam is a topic separate from this and one I am well aquatinted with from an historical prospective as well as a personal one. If you wish to discuss this topic in a separate thread or off line feel free to do so.

What we are faced with at this point in time is allowing international terrorism to continue or to attempt to stop it as best we can. We love our freedom in this country and also want to allow other people around the world to enjoy freedom. The terrorists do not want anyone to be free and want to destroy our way of life. We can roll over and let them do as they please and apologize for being alive or we can fight to remain free.

The Japanese people of the first half of the 20th Century worshiped the Emperor as god. They were one in the same in fact. Japanese soldiers fought to die for their Emperor. American soldiers fought to live and be free. This was a basic premise that separated the two countries.

Again we find ourselves faced with an entity that fights to die to further a cause. I feel confident that we will with the help of the people and nations of the world, who wish to be free of terrorism, overcome this serious problem that faces the world.

International terrorism has been going on for years but there has never been an attempt by nations to gather together to attempt to eliminate it before this. Every nation has had to fight terrorism on its own.

No one knows what the outcome will be of the efforts to eradicate terrorism. I for one will not be one of those content with “playing in the sand and praying to the East five times a day”!

My family has a proud history of defending democracy around the world and will continue to do so. I know of no family member who has participated in defending our way of life who attempted to hurt anyone except to defend themselves. We did not try to conquer the world. We just want to live our lives and allow others to live their lives. However, we do not condone terrorism, racism and similar philosophies.

Many people in the world during the last hundred years have given his/her lives to defend democracy and allow us to discuss such topics. Where would we be for the actions of those that have done nothing but rationalize? There is a time to act and a time to pray. I pray that what will be done will resolve these issues as best as is humanly possible.

If we wait for an indefinite period of time before beginning a campaign against terrorism we risk the momentum which is required to make this outrage a success. Doing nothing to stop terrorism will only increase fear around the world.

A Viet Nam veteran

Tom