I saw the news stories and the accompanying pictures about the Americans killed in Iraq yesterday. My blood pressure has been a bit on the high side today. One young soldier that I am working with here suggested that we should, in response to this incident, pull our troops out and "nuke the whole place". It was not what I would call a reasoned response, but one I was hard pressed to disagree with today.

One thing that has become evident about these terrorists that we are at war with; they understand something about war that most Americans do not: this war can't be won by our military alone. The American people must get behind, and stay behind the war effort. When the terrorists hear the vioces of protest that are featured so prominantly by our (and Europe's) media, it emboldens them. They saw what happened in Vietnam. Our military won all the battles, yet we still couldn't win the war. This example was repeated in Beirut in 1983 when we failed to pursue those responsible when 241 service members (mostly Marines) were killed by terrorists. The example was repeated yet again in 1993 when we pulled out of Somalia after 18 soldiers were killed by Somali militia members. If we don't hold our course in the war on terror, you can count on more 9/11's. These people can't be bargained with, they can't be reasoned with, and they can't be bought off. They can be beaten, but it will take our whole country to do it. If we don't have the will to win, we won't.