Conservative Blogger: Dispatches From the Desert, #2...

The free elections are rapidly approaching for Iraq. An exciting time for a country that was once ruled by military dictatorship. Americans have worked long and hard to see this come to fruition and yet, can ANYONE name a single candidate and speak intelligently on what their platform is? In this day and age of mass media and information sharing, we should be able to do that much. Unfortunately, the same press who wouldn’t shut up about minutia regarding the candidates back home less than six months ago can’t seem to find the space to devote to such a thing.

Why should we care, you might ask? Simple. This is a chance to highlight the civilized nation of Iraq. Instead of emphasizing the stories of suicide bombers and terrorist actions, we should be hearing about the vision that the potential future leaders of Iraq have. Unfortunately, all that seems to be covered is the vision of one xenophobic terrorist and his ragtag band. And the American people are supposed to draw a positive picture of Iraq from this?

Here is the picture that I observe of the new Iraq: a country of brave survivors who fight foreign terrorist attempts to infiltrate and control Iraq through violence, inhumanity, and fear. What’s more, they do not fight with level four bullet proof vests, M-16s, and the comfort of air support. They fight with the courage to help rebuild their infrastructure, to take jobs as National Guardsmen and police officers. They have the bravery to develop an electoral process which chooses leadership not by intimidation or strength of arms, but by the will of the people, even when that means becoming a potential target. That is true valor, my friends: putting your life on the line with nothing more than the courage of your convictions.

This is why we, as Americans, must stand strong by the people of Iraq. We can honor the sacrifices of the fallen and avenge their deaths with this sure but welcome end to terrorism in Iraq. The words of another brave citizen point the way:

"I came here to vote so we can have democracy and stability and peace in Afghanistan,'' said Aziz Ullah, a 19-year-old Kabul shopkeeper. "There used to only be a transfer of power by force or killing.''

American forces can hammer the hell out of the terrorist cells here in Iraq but there is something stronger that will stop them. The proud people of Iraq can fire shots more accurate and more deadly to the al-Qaeda movement than any rifle. They can do it with their right to vote. They must choose a leadership which will help strengthen the nation of Iraq, unifying the resolve of a people who maintained civilization when the rest of the world was stumbling in the dark. Al-Qaeda knows this, fears it, and so tries to stop it by any means possible.

*looks around at her fellow brothers and sisters in arms and stands tall*

Not on our watch.

Julia Layton
ConBlog's Official Iraqi Information Ministratrix

Posted by WilliamSmith on January 7, 2005 07:56 PM to Conservative Blogger