Lest We forget...

    Let's not forget those that died in the World Trade Center. Let's not forget those that have died on the battlefield in the wars that followed. Let's not forget that this is not over. Let's not forget that no matter how long ago this may have been, there are still people in this world that will kill you just because you are an American. Let's not forget that there are still people in this world that will kill you just because of your religion.

    For those of you that cry for peace and world unity, and to stop the wars, hear this: As long as these people that will kill you for your country or your religion are allowed to live, there will be no peace; they will see to it. As long as enemies of freedom exist, you are not safe.

"Remember it well then, this night, this great victory. So that in the years ahead you can say 'I was there that night, with Arthur, the king.' For it is the doom of men that they forget!"

-- Merlin the Magician, from the movie Excalibur

    Heavy Leather Lore supports our nations efforts to rid the free world of terrorism.

I wrote this in response to a friend of mine, and I thought that I would post it here.

She had stated "...what is going on is one of the reasons we are hated in the first place.. one of the reasons for anti-Americanism.. If we keep going.. we'll just perpetuate it."

Well, if we do nothing against Saddam's regime there will still be anti Americanism as well. There always has been. And as long as we are a nation that is Christian based, there will be anti Americanism. As long as we can live free and do what we want when people in other lands can't, there will be anti Americanism. And as long as Israel is considered a friend of ours, there will be anti Americanism. But as members of the U.N. (United Nations Security Council), we were a part of a world wide community dedicated to preserving the security of all member nations and the humanitarian rights of all of the member nations peoples. Iraq is a member of this community and yet was breaking U.N. Agreements that they agreed to. The U.N. kept pressuring Saddam's Regime (I say Saddam's regime instead of Iraq due to the amount of Iraq's people that want to see Saddam out) to comply with these agreements, but they elect to play the game of lies and deceit. The time came for the U.N. to make good on it's threats, but backed down instead, allowing Saddam's regime to grow stronger and become more of a threat to the international community, (i.e., all the members of the U.N.). And yes, that means you and me here in the United States as well.

You said that you understand all of this, but that if we keep going we'll just perpetuate the hatred for America. Do I understand you to think that if we stop this war that everyone in the world will stop hating us?

You had asked if you could kill your neighbor down the street if you thought or even knew that they wanted and intended to kill you. Now of course, you can't just walk into your neighbors house and kill him. The laws of our country concerning citizens don't allow you to walk in and do that, but they do allow you to gain restraining orders and file charges that cause police investigations that may lead to gaining evidence. You can also employ private investigators to find out anything. Of course, people lie to investigators. Legal Search warrants can be used to discover new evidence to support or deny your claims. People can and have even be convicted based on motive and intent alone. Of course, all of this can fail as well, there may not be enough evidence to support your claim, and still your neighbor may burst into your house one day and kill you after he kills your family. When it comes down to it, only you are ultimately responsible for your own self defense. Should you wait for a member of your family or your neighbor's family to be killed before you act?

On the international level, the laws are essentially the same. Just like the neighbor analogy, we can't just march into a nation and kill it. The laws of our international community don't allow us to walk in and do that, but they do allow us to apply sanctions and file charges that cause investigation that may lead to gaining evidence. We can also make use of U.N. investigators to find out anything. Of course, people lie to investigators. Undercover intelligence (which all nations use) can be used to discover new evidence to support or deny our claims. Of course, all of this can fail as well, there may not be enough evidence to support our claim, (although in Saddam's case there is) and still our "neighbor" may burst into our "house" or our neighbors "house" one day and kill you and your families. When it comes down to it, only we are ultimately responsible for our own self defense. Should you wait for a member of our family or our neighbor's family to be killed before we act?

Let's not forget that Iraq is a member of the U.N. by agreement, and must follow U.N. resolutions.

Let's not forget that the "neighbor down the street" has been a threat to the neighborhood (the international community).

Let's not forget that he's already killed his own family in his own house (any Iraqi citizen that speaks against him)

Let's not forget that he's already broken into his neighbor's house and killed his family and stole his possessions (the nation of Kuwait)

Let's not forget that he has thrown bombs out of his window into his neighbor's houses (Saudi Arabia and Israel during the Gulf War)

Let's not forget that he's been found guilty of these crimes and put on parole (ordered to abolish certain weapons and conduct their nation in certain ways - no fly zones to protect his people, etc.)

Let's not forget that he's violated parole many times (violation of U.N. resolutions, flying in no fly zones, etc.), and has been punished by sanctions and air attacks and such for the past twelve years.

Let's not forget that this has been going on for 12 years. 12 YEARS!

Let's not forget that he has been uncooperative. The U.N. investigators out of frustration of this finally abandoned Iraq in 1998 citing that they can't get any more cooperation, cooperation that is ordered by the U.N.

Let's not forget that the neighborhood has finally put it's foot down (Sept 2002) and said that this was it, we are not putting up with this crap any more. Comply or face consequences. Everyone on the block voted for this. (All U.N. Member nations voted in favor of it.)

Let's not forget that now, half a year later, that the neighbor still plays his games of lies and deceit with the "police", and still beats and kills his own family in his house.

And now that it's time for the neighborhood (U.N.) to put up or shut up, they back down on their Sept 2002 ultimatum. So now we, the biggest house on the block, along many, MANY other neighbors who also understand and realize the threat, have decided to act on this and go make it right, and secure the safety of his family and our neighborhood.

Let me ask you a simple question: If not war to oust Saddam's regime and make things right, what is the answer? What will make him comply right now? Not in another six months, not in another 12 years, right now? What can we do to push the point and the will of the U.N. right now?

What is the answer?