Helvig's Helvitorials

Hezbollah is...

Unpublished - Hezbollah is..., by Alan Helvig

Don't let anyone fool you into believing that Israel is the aggressor and that Hezbollah is the poor, innocent victim in Lebanon.  Hezbollah is responsible for many of the suicide bombers who have killed Israeli civilians.  Their terrorist acts show us how ruthless they are and their combat tactics show us how cowardly they are.  They hide their rocket launchers next to civilian homes and businesses, then blame Israel for killing civilians, when Israel attacks the launch sites.  Hezbollah has not only been plaguing Israel for decades, but they have kidnapped, attacked and murdered hundreds of Americans too. 

Let's take a good look at our enemy and their terrorist activities over the past 25+ years.  Throughout the 1980's, Hezbollah kidnapped, held hostage and even killed a great number of Americans in Lebanon.  In April of 1983, the American Embassy in Beirut was attacked by a Hezbollah suicide bomber; 49 were killed and 120 were injured.  In October of 1983, a Hezbollah suicide bomber drove a truck into the U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. Marines and Sailors, and wounding hundreds more.  That same day, in a coordinated attack on the French Paratrooper Headquarters, Hezbollah murdered 58 French Soldiers.  In June of 1984, Hezbollah terrorists hijacked TWA flight 847 enroute to Athens.  They took the plane to Beirut and also murdered U.S. Navy diver, Robert Stethem. 

Although Lebanese violence against Americans has been going on much longer, Hezbollah was formed in Lebanon in the early 1980's.  Shortly after the Ayatollah Khomeini took power in Iran, some of his followers in Lebanon and members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps founded the terrorist entity, Hezbollah.  You remember Khomeini... Students acting as his proxies seized the American Embassy in Tehran and held over 50 Americans hostage for 444 days (almost 14 months), until just before Ronald Reagan was sworn in as President.  You might say that Hezbollah is Khomeini's illegitimate child.

Over the years, Hezbollah has received the bulk of their funding from Syria and Iran.  Just like Khomeini, and just like Iran's current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the end goal of Hezbollah is world domination for radical Islam.  The number one goal of Hezbollah is the complete annihilation of Israel.  The number two goal of Hezbollah is the destruction of the United States.  If they have their way, there will be no more religious freedom anywhere in the world.

Is it a tragedy that civilians are being killed in Lebanon?  Absolutely!  Should Israel be expected to just sit back and let Hezbollah do what ever they want?  Absolutely not!

Hang the spies

Unpublished - Hang the spies, by Alan Helvig

Short and simple:  The traitors who recently released classified information to the New York Times need to be tried, convicted and sentenced as spies.  The traitors at the Times who knowingly published the classified information need to be tried, convicted and sentenced as spies.  A failure to do so will simply result in additional espionage within the borders of the U.S., leading to more terror attacks and more American deaths.  We are at war, and it is high time for our government and our citizens to start acting like it.

For a more detailed view of Alan's opinion on this matter, check out his article, The Media and National Security by clicking here:  http://www.helvitorial.com/weblog/2006/06/the_media_and_n.html

Whining about gas prices

Unpublished - Whining about gas prices, by Alan Helvig on May 18, 2004

The price of gasoline is on the rise and will undoubtedly remain above $2.00 per gallon for quite some time. American support for the war in Iraq is dropping and will continue to decline. Instability in the Middle East is growing at an alarming rate. More and more Americans believe that we should pull out of the region and bring our troops home. Those same Americans are the ones whining the loudest about how the price of gasoline is hurting them.

When is America going to grow up and realize that you can’t have your cake and eat it too? The United States has maintained a significant force in the Middle East for decades. Many Americans have lost their lives while serving in the gulf region since well before the beginning of the first gulf war. One of our biggest battle groups is the fleet that patrols the Persian Gulf. Why are they there? To protect the oil that is being shipped out of the region so that these whining Americans can eat their cake.

The threat of terrorism in the Middle East has continued to grow and the actions of terrorists are escalating. If it were up to the terrorists, and frankly the majority of the Arab people, we would have to pay them outrageous prices for oil. In truth, if it were up to many in the region, we would not even be allowed to buy our oil from OPEC. Anti-American sentiment in the Arab world is so bad they would sacrifice their profits to see us go without oil.

If we don’t get a grip on the situation, we will lose our footing in the Middle East and subsequently lose our influence over regional stability. When that happens it will be too late for Americans to take back all of their whining. It will be too late to fight for regime change in terrorist states. It will be too late to win the battle for peace and stability in the region. It will be too late for us to buy our oil at an affordable price. The price of oil may not be the main reason we have maintained a significant force in the Middle East, but it will be one of the biggest casualties of an American withdrawal. If we want the price of gasoline to stay low, we have to win the war on terror and the battle for peace in the region. We also have to win the hearts and minds of the Arab people.

America needs to embrace the good that is happening in Iraq and make sure the rest of the Arab world sees the positive side of our involvement in Iraq’s recovery. Americans need to do their part to win the hearts and minds of the Arab people. America needs to see the world as it is and make a choice to either live with it “as is” or make it a better place for all. We need to quit whining about the war and quit giving our enemies fuel for their fires. We need to quit whining about the price of gasoline while there is instability in the Middle East. We need to get unified as a nation and focus on victory. This victory will only be obtained when there is stability in the Middle East. We need to accept the fact that global terrorism will only get worse if we don’t defeat it where it lives. We need to recognize the courage that it takes to make things right in the world, support our leadership and be strong as a nation.

Gun control is not the answer

Unpublished - Gun control is not the answer; a letter by Alan Helvig written shortly after 9/11/01.

I have said it before and will say it again.  Gun control is not the answer to our problems.  Living by established morals, accountability and responsibility are what we need in this country. 

The events of September 11th and again today go to show that guns are not the problem.  People are the problem.  Not one gun was present; not one shot was fired; and yet, our great nation suffered it's worst single attack against human life on September 11th.  Today, a man used a knife on a bus and cost 6 people their lives.  Neither incident involved the use of guns and yet, many people suffered and lives were forever changed. 

The bible clearly established the rules and morals we should be living by.  If we, as a nation, would return to a lifestyle which is governed by the word of God, we might yet survive.  We must be responsible and be willing to hold people accountable for their wrongdoings.  We must abide by the law and be willing to treat criminals as criminals.

Our legal system is supposed to serve as a deterrent against criminal behavior.  Instead, we have taught our children to fear and disrespect the law.  We teach people how to "Get Off" in court.  We have made heroes out of criminals who have gotten away with heinous crimes.  As long as we continue to allow this type of activity to flourish, we will continue to have the problems which destroy our way of life. 

Some criminals may use guns, but guns don't turn people into criminals!  The problem is people.  The problem is attitude.  The problem is a lack of respect for others.  The problem is a lack of respect for the law.  The problem is a lack of respect for God. 

The SOLUTION has been here all along.  The SOLUTION is people.  The SOLUTION is attitude.  The SOLUTION is respect for others.  The SOLUTION is respect for the law.  The SOLUTION is GOD.  Let's work together to SOLVE our problems.

The time is now

Unpublished - The time is now; a letter by Alan Helvig shortly after 9/11/01

Dear Representative Hoekstra and Senator Levin, I know this is a long email, but I believe it to be worthy of national attention.  I would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to read and reply to this message.

I don't understand how our legislators can stand in the halls of Congress, openly pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, but they won't pass a law protecting our flag from public desecration or burning. 

I don't understand how our legislators can stand on the steps of the Capitol, singing "God Bless America", but wont stand up against these losers in our country who are claiming that the separation between Church and State means that any state funded organization (including our school systems) cannot have anything to do with or say about God.

I don't understand how our legislators can come on public television and ask for people to pray to God for the victims and the families of the victims, but won't allow our kids to have a Bible Club in our public schools.

This country used to be full of God fearing Patriots who would never allow someone to disgrace our nation or it's flag.  Our forefathers came to this land to get away from religious persecution and state mandated churches.  They fought for their freedom and wrote our declaration of independence, our constitution and our bill of rights.  Not one of these documents prohibits a belief in God.  Not one of those documents says that it is okay for someone to spit on, crap on, stomp on or set fire to our national flag.

Our flag is a symbol of freedom.  Our flag is a symbol of liberty.  Our flag is a symbol of our belief in God.  Our flag is a symbol of the sacrifices that have been made by the men and women of this country for over 225 years.  Our flag is a national treasure.  Our flag deserves to be protected and defended against all enemies foreign and domestic. 

When I was a kid, I would wake up early on Saturday mornings so that I could watch cartoons.  Sometimes, I would get up before the T.V. station had come on the air.  Remember those days?  The color bar was on and there was a tone that would drive you up the wall.  Next thing you knew though, the bar would disappear and you would hear music.  It was our National Anthem.  I would stand tall while they showed pictures of our flag during the playing of my National Anthem.  Television did not begin it's day without paying respect to our flag, our country and our God.  Television ended it's day with a similar program.

As a Marine, whenever I would go to the movies on base, we could not see the movie until after standing tall for the playing of our National Anthem.  My friends and I always wondered why this only happened on base.  Why don't all of the theaters play the National Anthem prior to showing their movies?  Why is it that sporting events are about the only place you hear our National Anthem in public anymore?  And even then, you usually have to be at the game to participate in this patriotic event.  The networks generally cut to a commercial during the playing of our National Anthem unless they are broadcasting a championship game.  These are the same networks who, just a few years ago, did not start or end their broadcasting day without performing their patriotic duty.

The motto of this country is "IN GOD WE TRUST".  You will find this motto printed on the walls of almost every federal building in Washington.  You will find our motto printed on every American dollar bill and on every American coin.  The separation of church and state was established to ensure that our Government was not run by any specific Church.  Our right to freedom of religion was established to ensure that our government doesn't tell you when, where, why and how to worship God.  Every president has been sworn into office holding a bible.  Every person testifying in our courts used to be sworn in on a bible before giving their testimony.  Every school classroom began it's day with the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag, which declared us as being "One Nation, UNDER GOD, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice For All".  Remember those days?

Had we misunderstood the intent of our fathers?  Did we spend almost 200 years doing it wrong?  When they wrote about having a separation between Church and State, did they mean God wasn't allowed in our Government?  When they wrote about freedom of religion, did they mean that my kid can't thank God for his blessings when he gives his acceptance speech at a public school?  Did they mean that our children couldn't say the Pledge of Allegiance in class because of it's reference to God?  NO!  That is not what they meant!  We didn't misunderstand them!  We were doing it right for almost 200 years!  IN GOD WE TRUST!  IN GOD WE TRUST!  IN GOD WE TRUST!

Do we get it yet?  This country was created by God fearing people who's morals, convictions, and beliefs were based on the word of God.  Our laws are based on the laws of the Bible (thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, etc.).  We have strayed away from the intent of our fathers.  We have strayed away from their beliefs.  We have strayed away from their legacy.  We have strayed away from our God.  "In God we trust" is more than just our national motto.  It is the premise by which this great nation was formed and reality by which this great nation has survived.  We are a strong nation because of our religious foundation.  We are a strong nation because of our faith in God. 

The farther we get from God, the weaker we become.  God has spent over 200 years blessing this country.  How did we honor him?  We took God out of our schools and look at what has happened.  We took God out of our courts and look at what has happened.  We took God away from our leaders and look at what has happened.  We took God away from our children and look at what has happened.  Do we get it yet?  It is our patriotic duty to put God back where he belongs.  It is our patriotic duty to believe in God.  It is our patriotic duty to obey God.  It is our patriotic duty to trust in God. 

IN GOD WE TRUST.  IN God we trust.  In GOD we trust.  In God WE trust.  In God we TRUST. 

Let's get back to the basics.  Let's get back to being patriots.  Let's say the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and mean it.  Let's establish laws which protect our flag from all enemies, foreign and domestic.  Let's reestablish the true definition of the separation of Church and State and allow God to have His seat in our government.  Let's reestablish the true definition of the right to freedom of religion and allow our kids to openly express their belief in God.  Let's get back to being patriots.

Thank you!  May God bless you and may God bless America.

It's Hollywood's Turn

Unpublished - It's Hollywood's Turn, by Alan Helvig

Congratulations America!  You are finally starting to get it.  For years we have listened to the likes of Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen and Tim Robbins without taking any serious steps to hold them accountable for their words and actions.  It has always amazed me that people like this will go out of their way to bad mouth America, and we as Americans do nothing about it.  It is time for Hollywood to be held accountable for their left wing position and their destructive actions. 

If you want to go against the grain of this nation, you had better be prepared to pay the price.  Some have taken heat for their traitorous words, like Peter Arnett and the Dixie Chicks.  But there are many more out there who have not yet felt the wrath of American Patriotism.  It is time for America to hold these people to a higher standard. 

If we were to elect a politician to office, who later betrayed our trust and turned on the very people who elected him, we would do everything in our power to remove him from office.  At the very least, we would make sure they didn't get reelected.  Yet, we have all of these celebrities publicly denouncing our country and its leadership, while we continue to watch their movies and TV shows.  It is time to let them know what is acceptable and what is not.  It is time for Americans to stand up and let these people know how we feel about them.  We need to boycott their movies, quit watching their TV shows and give them a taste of their own medicine.

With approximately 75% of the country supporting the war on terrorism, we have an opportunity to let the extreme left know just how we feel. 

We are all shocked and dismayed when we learn about people in our own government or military who turn traitor and sell secrets to our enemies, yet we support entertainers and celebrities after they turn on our government and our people.  Why should we be shocked or appalled at the firing of Peter Arnett?  Why would we continue to watch the West Wing (a TV show about the President of the United States) when Martin Sheen is actively protesting our President?  Why would we continue to buy music or go to concerts of groups like the Dixie Chicks, when they stand on foreign soil, bad mouthing our President and our nation? 

What ever happened to the days of "You'll never work in this town again"?  It amazes me that someone like Jane Fonda can do and say the things she has done, and yet still get hired for big movies and even receive awards for her performances. 

To be honest, I like the music of the Dixie Chicks.  I used to watch the West Wing quite regularly.  I have seen the Shawshank Redemption a number of times.  But, if I continue to buy to their music, watch their TV shows and go to their movies, it is as if I am saying to them "it is okay".  It is not okay!  We have to let them know how we feel.  We have to take action to let them know that what they did is not okay.  We have to let everyone know that when you go against the majority of Americans, you will be held accountable.

Here in America, we mourn the deaths of our children killed in school shootings, but we refuse to do the right things to prevent them from happening again.  We scream at our police to protect us, and when they do their job, we sue them for violating our civil rights.  Here in America, we stand in shock at the site of the collapse of the twin towers, but aren't willing to send brave men and women into harms way to bring an end to terrorism and tyranny around the world.  We elect our public officials, then spend the majority of their term in office protesting the way they do their jobs.  Here in America, we want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but we are not willing to pay the price for it.

Wake Up Call

Unpublished - Wake Up Call, written by Alan Helvig immediately after the 9/11 attacks

Greetings to all.  In light of recent events, I have had a lot of people asking me about what is going on and what we can expect in the near future.  Having been so close to the fire for so long, as many of you were, I have a pretty good idea of what's coming.  Here is a brief editorial in response to some of the questions.

Who's behind this?  Osama bin Laden maybe the mastermind and the initiator of the attacks on New York and Washington D.C., but he most likely received significant financing and other types of support from countries like Iraq.  They have been planning this for months (over a year) and have been training and preparing for this day.  They had numerous connections here in the States and abroad.  Establishing and funding their support network, learning to fly jets, repeatedly flying on domestic flights to get the routine down, and countless rehearsals were just parts of the prelude to this attack.  This had been so well planned and well executed to the point that our intelligence community was unable to fully interpret the events that were about to unfold.

Why would someone do this to America?  We are the self-proclaimed defenders of democracy throughout the world.  In our quest to defend liberty and provide safety for countless people around the globe, we have made a number of enemies.  We go into other countries and tell their leadership what they can and cannot do on their own soil.  We implement embargoes, setup blockades and use force when necessary to uphold our position.  When confronted with a neighbor vs. neighbor situation, we pick a side to defend and attack the other.  In assuming our global position of authority, we have made ourselves targets for countless factions around the world.

Why us? Why now?  This is nothing new for America or Americans.  It isn't even new on American soil.  Our military lives with the threat of terrorist attacks every time they go abroad.  History has warned us that this day would come.  We were just too naive to see it coming.  Americans have been the targets of terrorism for decades.  Examples:

1970: Murder of American University of Beirut President, Malcolm Kerr, in Beirut, Lebanon.

September 1970: TWA #741 and Pan Am #93 hijacked by the PFLP and flown to Amman, Jordan.

March 1973: U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel & DCM George Moore murdered in Khartoum, Sudan.

June 1976: U.S. Ambassador, Francis Meloy and two other Americans killed in Lebanon.

1979­1980: U.S. Embassy in Iran seized, embassy officials held hostage for 14 months.

April 1983: U.S. Embassy in Beirut attacked by Hezbollah suicide bomber; 49 killed, 120 wounded.

October 1983: Marine barracks in Beirut car­bombed; 241 U.S. Marines killed, hundreds injured.

June 1984: TWA #847 to Athens hijacked to Beirut; U.S. Navy diver, Robert Stethem murdered.

1980's: Several Americans in Beirut kidnapped and held hostage.

September 1984: William Buckley, CIA station chief in Beirut, kidnapped, tortured and murdered.

September 1984: U.S. embassy annex in East Beirut bombed; 2 Americans killed.

October 1985: Achille Lauro hijacked; Leon Klinghoffer murdered.

September 1986: Pan Am #73 hijacked to Karachi, Pakistan; 17 people killed, 150 wounded.

February 1988: William Higgins kidnapped in Lebanon and murdered.

December 1988: Pan Am #103 bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland; 270 people killed.

February 1993: World Trade Center in New York bombed; six killed, hundreds injured.

March 1995: American employees of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan killed in response to arrest of World Trade Center bombing suspect.

November 1995: U.S. troops attacked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; five Americans killed.

June 1996: U.S. Marine barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia bombed; 19 Americans killed.

August 1998: U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania bombed;  223 killed, over 4700 injured.

It is hard for Americans to grasp the reality of what is going on around the world and relate it to what could happen here at home.  We live a sheltered life here and need to become better versed at what these kinds of events mean.

Why wasn't this prevented? Here in America, we have fought for the right to have due process.  We believe that everyone has the right to know everything.  We don't think that authorities should be allowed to search for criminals, terrorists or evidence without a search warrant.  If authorities do perform an "Illegal Search", we let the criminals go free on a "Technicality".  We want our freedom and unlimited liberties, but we don't want to have to pay for them.  We whine about having to wait for security at airports.  We protest the actions of our Government and local authorities.  We believe that people should have the right to burn our Nation's Flag.  We believe that the rights of the one outweigh the rights of the many.  We don't allow our military to walk our streets with weapons.  We fear authority instead of respect it.  We are in the middle of an open debate to allow illegal aliens to become legal citizens.  We think that illegal drugs should be legalized.  We don't treat criminals like criminals.  We attack the police every time they shoot someone.  We allow law suits against individual police officers and put our soldiers on trial for shooting suspects.  We don't honor or respect the law, especially if it means an inconvenience to ourselves.  We think that "Red Light" cameras are a violation of our civil rights, even though we get caught "on tape, in the act".  We allow our convicts to file law suits against law abiding citizens from the confines of their jail cells.  We believe that criminals should have the same rights as regular citizens.  We put our military in harms way without the means to properly defend themselves.  We believe that we can only fire upon our enemy if they first fire upon us.  Why wasn't this prevented?  Because we weren't willing to pay the price for security!  We aren't willing to make the necessary sacrifice!

What happens now?  Here in the country, we will have to allow our Government to heighten security.  We have to allow them to take the steps necessary to protect our citizens.  We have to allow them to exercise force when necessary.  We will have to endure realistic security checks at the airports and in government buildings.  We will need to learn about terrorist security measures and exercise them on a regular basis.  We will have to grow up and make some personal sacrifices.  We have to learn that liberty comes at a price and be willing to pay it.  We will have to gladly change our way of life.  This cannot be something we do for a couple of months, then slip back into the fold.

Anyone who has traveled to cities such as London knows that terrorist threats and heightened security are a part of daily life.  In walking through their airports, you will pass a number of armed soldiers, who are there to protect the facility and the people in it.  Their security checks are far more stringent than ours here in America.  They are not afraid to dig through baggage and check out anything that might pose a threat.  Most people accept these activities and even appreciate them.  Here in America, we would never stand for such a showing of authority.  We get offended every time someone accuses us or suspects us of doing something illegal.  We get offended when people in authority are just doing their jobs.  We get offended by the smallest of issues.

Our Government will need our support and the support of a number of allies to carry out what needs to be done in response to this terrorist attack.  The world needs to know that we will not tolerate this type of activity.  We need to rally behind our president, our leadership and our military.  We need to stand tall as Patriots and be strong as a Nation.  We need to let our military and our local authorities do their jobs without hearing America whine about how they do it.  We need to readdress our legal system and put the rights of the victims and potential victims before the rights of the suspects and the accused.  As a nation, we need to turn to God for guidance.  We need to put our faith in the Lord and allow Him to be our light.

Most of all, we need to reestablish ourselves as "ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL". 

Sincerely,

Alan

True protestor motivation

Unpublished - True protestor motivation

What is the real motivation of the anti-war protestor? Is it really the preservation of life? Do they really care that much about American troops getting killed on foreign soil? Is the death toll from the Iraq war so bad that these people can’t sleep at night, knowing that Americans are dying and more are going to die?

At no time in our history have we been engaged in such a long conflict with such low numbers of American casualties. Although the loss of even one American soldier is painful, the fact is that the casualty rate from over 2 ½ years in Iraq has not yet reached the level of the civil war battle at Gettysburg. We lost more men on Omaha Beach during D-day than we have lost in Iraq. War is an ugly and costly business. The war in Iraq has cost us billions of dollars and over 2000 American lives. However, the price of life has paled in comparison to every other long term engagement in history.

Motor vehicle incidents caused over 43,700 American deaths in 2004 alone. Some 15,000 Americans died from falls and over 14,000 died from poisoning last year. There were over 3,300 deaths by fire, flame and smoke, over 3,200 drowning fatalities, and over 1,300 Americans who suffocated to death in 2004. The total number of unintentional fatalities in America for 2004 was over 101,500. If the protestors truly want to preserve life, why aren’t they doing something about these figures? How many of the anti’s are involved in safety programs designed to prevent incidental deaths here at home?

If they really cared about saving American lives, they would dedicate their time and energy in a positive and productive way. Instead of protesting the war and the administration, they could form a safety alliance which could launch a campaign to cut the number of automobile deaths in half. In stead of crying every time they see a flag at half-staff, they could volunteer to pass out smoke detectors. Instead of voicing their anger at the President, they could hold safety seminars at schools and factories across the nation.

My son has completed two tours in Iraq. I do not want to see him go back for a third tour any more than any other parent in America. However, if he does go back again, he will know that his father loves him and supports him in every way. He can rest easy knowing that his father will never be seen on the steps of the Capitol building or on the streets of Chicago protesting his presence on foreign soil. He can accomplish his mission knowing that his parents will never be quoted in the press as being against that which he is defending. And if he were to die in combat, he could rest in heaven knowing that his parents would never bring shame upon his sacrifice by publicly denouncing the cause for which he died.

War was more than justified

Published April 25, 2003 - A letter to the editor by Alan Helvig

To the Editor: There is a lot of shifting going on in the anti-war movement now that the main hostilities are over. The whiners and protesters are shifting their attention to the collateral damage and the wounded civilians. I have heard a number of claims lately regarding some 1,500 civilians that were wounded or killed, emphasizing "including women and children." There is also a lot of whining regarding the looting and the stolen artifacts.

The war has come to a swift end and these people need something new to complain about. First off, where are they getting their numbers for the civilian casualties? Out of the alleged 1,500 civilians, how many of them were hurt by coalition forces and how many were wounded or killed by the Iraqis? How many of these alleged civilians are men of fighting age? Were they really civilians or were they enemy combatants in civilian clothes? How many of the civilians were wounded or killed by coalition forces as they were trying to attack our troops? Let's weed out these numbers and see how many true civilian casualties there were in this war.

As for the civil unrest, what do people expect? These Iraqi citizens have been under the thumb of a vicious dictator for over 25 years. They needed a little time to vent out their frustrations against an evil regime that controlled everything they had, including their children. Most of the looting and damage was directed at regime buildings and sites. Much of the civil unrest is being committed by a small number of instigators. The majority of Iraqi citizens are good people who are staying away from problem areas and waiting for their new life to begin. Things could have been much worse.

The coalition did everything it could to keep the collateral damage down to a minimum. There isn't really any such thing as "Acceptable losses." There is however, a level of "understandable losses." We are well inside the realm of understandable losses. This brilliant war plan was executed almost flawlessly with the specific intent of keeping civilian casualties and collateral damage at a bare minimum.

Where do we draw the line? What would be acceptable or understandable losses to these complaining people? Is there never to be any justification for war? Which would be better? Should we have left the regime in control of the country for another 25 years at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives? Should we have allowed Saddam to continue to torment, torture and murder his own people? Should we allow them to continue to be a threat to entire middle east?

The line was drawn, the regime crossed it and we took appropriate action. Should we just stand by and watch every time some evil empire decides to commit such atrocities? I say no! The definition of courage is doing the right thing for the right reason, and that is exactly what we did. If anything, it could be argued that we didn't do it at the right time. I agree. We could have done it sooner.

We as a nation and as a globe need to grow up and get over ourselves. We need to start thinking more about others and less about ourselves. We need to have the courage (as our administration did) to stand up for what is right and do what needs to be done. Our leadership did a great job of keeping the collateral damage and civilians casualties incredibly low. How about giving them some credit for a job well done? How about thanking them for taking the steps necessary to improve this world we live in. How about praising God for giving us an administration that believes in action, not appeasement.

Military service is not enough

Published February 8, 2004 - A letter to the editor by Alan Helvig

To the Editor: Americans should not be fooled into supporting Democratic presidential candidates because of their military backgrounds. John Kerry is a highly decorated Vietnam War Veteran and deserves the respect and admiration of all Americans for his service. Wesley Clark was recently a general in the U.S. Army and also deserves our gratitude for his service. Both of these men served their country with distinction and have earned themselves a place of honor. However, it takes more than a prestigious military background to be president of the United States.

If we want to know the true value of their military backgrounds in relation to the presidential race, we should ask the people who have been and will be most affected by their election to president. We need to ask the officers and the senior noncommissioned officers of our armed forces what they think of the presidential candidates.

Let's send the pollsters to the bases of our bravest and ask them what they think of the candidates' military backgrounds. Let's ask our soldiers what they think of Wesley Clark as a leader. Let's ask our Marines what they think of John Kerry's voting record in the Senate. Let's ask our airmen what they think of the base closures and personnel reductions they suffered under the last Democratic president. Let's ask the sailors and soldiers with a wife and two kids are making enough money to support their family. Let's ask our active duty military who they think is the best candidate for president.