It is sad to see the attacks on President Bush based upon false charges that we were lead into war under false pretenses. In fact President Clinton, the Congress, most of our allies and experts believed that Iraq maintained WMD in her arsenal. Personally I believe that these weapons are buried in the Bekka Valley in Syria..
Not that every administration decision was in retrospect correct. They misjudged the fighting ability of the Iraqi Army that simply disintegrated. Probably we should have maintained the Army for law and order.We did not properly foresee the insurgency.
Nevertheless the overall effects have been positive,and we are making progress. Two elections in Iraq, in addition to Libya giving up their nuclear programs are a direct result of the war. I don’t believe we will have a 100% friendly pro-American government in Iraq at the end of the process, but it is a start toward some form of democracy,Saddam is gone and there is no threat of WMD, now, or in the future..
Of course losing over 2000 GI’s is terrible, but war has its consequences. We lost over 4000 soldiers in one day at Iwo Jima.What American is not proud of that portrait of the flag raising-but it came at a price. Freedom always has a price .
Having served in Vietnam, I know full well the anguish of families who have lost loved ones. But again that is the burden that we bear to protect America.
The errors of failing to combat and understand Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism since our Embassy was captured by the Iranians under the impotency of Pres Carter has come home to haunt us.
We cannot afford to lose, for the effects of such a loss will be felt by each of us in this country.
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The more I read of the legal decisions of Judge Sam Alito Jr the happier I become with his choice. The efforts to portray him as an ideologue will surely fail.His appreciation of the right of religious expression and activities in the public arena are certainly important to our community. Sadly the Reform Movement has come out against his nomination.That alone is a reason to support him.
The Reform bienniel convention featured Eric Yoffe their President comparing the "religious right" of all faiths to the anti-gay policies of Hitler.He has forgotten that homosexuality is an "abomination" according to the Torah.While we must be tolerant of the individuals,we must never accept or condone their activities.
But then again I think ,of the old Reform meetings and graduations where they purposely served non-kosher,to illustrate that any commononality with Halachah and Jewish law on their part is purely coincidental.
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The decision to break up the status quo in Israel and move to new elections is probably too complicated to draw instant conclusions about the future .The role of Shimon Peres, and the battle for Likud leader in addition to the cast of desertions from Likud will have to play out. The possible merger of the NRP and the right wing parties could also have a significant effect, as would a possible return to a leadership role of Arye Deri of Shas. He is barred by the terms of his conviction from serving at this time in the Knesset.
It is hard to imagine a social-economic policy that Sharon could entice the new Labor leader Peretz with,to allow him to create a Sharon-Labor post-election coalition.
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Many people have pointed out to me the presence of Torah Umadda emblem on most Y.U. ads. This week however an ad in the Jewish Press for a Westinghouse Award had two sets of flames without TU.
By the administration not announcing a clear policy it reminds me of the Commentator editorial when I was a student
THE POLICY IS NOT ONE OF CONFUSION, RATHER CONFUSION IS THE POLICY
