Let’s Roll!

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Let’s Roll!
by Robert Yoho, Columnist and Senior Editor

November 15, 2002

"Eye on Conservatism"

Columnist Robert Yoho Iraqi Strongman Saddam Hussein (AP) Many of our country’s most "brilliant" armchair generals are telling us all the reasons why we should not go to war with Iraq. These are often the same "experts" who told us that we would fail miserably in the Gulf War and in our war in Afghanistan.

Now that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (right) has "relented" on his decision not to allow weapons inspectors into his country, America has started down the road to finally ending this latest showdown in Iraq.

Sooner or later, America must act! And there are numerous reasons why America must go to war and defeat Saddam Hussein.

Saddam has not really changed his mind. He has not given up on his desire to build and acquire weapons of mass destruction. Hussein has not suddenly turned over a new leaf in his dealings with America and his compliance with the UN resolutions.

Hussein will never give unfettered access to the inspectors to examine his military facilities or his presidential palaces. Moreover, he will never permit his military experts and scientists to leave the country with their families, so that these men can freely answer the inspectors’ questions without fear of retaliation.

America’s economy also depends of the swift resolution of this issue. For the past decade, Saddam has defied the world and continued his attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. We established no-fly zones. We have talked about Iraq; we have debated it. Now, our economy depends on doing something about it.

I make no claims to be an expert on the stock market, but I have learned one thing about them: the markets and individual investors hate uncertainty. Therefore, we will not see any stabilization in gasoline prices or sustained growth in the markets until America resolves the situation in Iraq.

America will not go to war for oil, but the need for it is always in the interests of national security. Liberals in Washington have done everything they could do to keep America from harvesting America’s own best sources of oil. Falsely wrapping themselves in the garments of environmental protection, they have made America dangerously dependent on the enemies of freedom. In short, the last best hope of freedom is a slave to numerous terror states in the Middle East.

This should not be!

Oil is not only critical to the continued existence of our economy; it is also critical to us militarily. Without fuel, out tanks, planes, and ships cannot run, fly, or sail the seas. We cannot live, work, and trade without oil.

Therefore, any future Iraqi encroachment on Kuwait or its neighbors is a threat to America’s freedom and place in the world. Until American oil companies are finally allowed to safely drill for American oil, then we must take action against Saddam Hussein.

Most important of all, the world needs us to win.

By removing Saddam Hussein from power, our nation would be getting closer to permanently severing the umbilical cord of terrorism. Iraq may not be the actual place where these plots are conceived, however, Saddam’s evil regime has long been a supply line where these terrorists are nurtured and sustained.

For much too long, Iraq has been a training ground and safe harbor for terrorism. When America and our Commander-in-Chief takes bold and decisive action against them, then the world will no longer question our country’s resolve. No longer will we sit still and allow ourselves to be a punching bag for every third world thug with a grudge. This will make America and the world a much safer place to live.

America and all those nations that embrace freedom will likely reap the benefits of newfound freedom. Currently, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. By installing a new regime in Iraq, we are also establishing a new beachhead of democracy in the midst of harsh Islamic dictatorships. A stable and democratic Iraq might significantly change the political landscape and the prospects for peace.

The people of Afghanistan rejoiced when the Taliban were successfully driven from their midst. With Saddam gone, the Iraqi people would share in that same joy and freedom. Despite the fact they live in a land of great wealth, the people continually live in fear and abject poverty.

Yes, there are risks to going to war with Iraq. However, the benefits far outweigh them. America will not know lasting peace and prosperity until we finally say the words, "Let’s roll!" ***

Photo of Robert Yoho courtesy of staff files
Photo of Iraqi Strongman Saddam Hussein courtesy of the Associated Press