VIEW FROM THE TOP
LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com
It might surprise you to find that experts believed during the Cold War that Colorado Springs would be the first city in America to be destroyed in the event of World War III.

This rational is based on the fact that with the Air Force Academy, NORAD, numerous military bases and a large presence of military officers in training, Colorado Springs would make a good target because the U.S. Military would suffer a devastating blow, while the country's leadership would be left intact to negotiate a surrender.

Whew! Glad that did not happen. However, the Springs military prominence brings me to my topic today.

With the Iraq war going on, and Congress balking at the idea of deploying additional troops, many are comparing this war to Vietnam. There is one glaring similarity between Vietnam and Iraq. That is the anti-war protests.

The anti-war movement during Vietnam labeled our soldiers "baby killers" and threw dog food at them upon their return.

Today, our soldiers are accused of committing heinous crimes against Iraqis and these allegations are being promoted and repeated by our own people.

Let's get something straight. Our soldiers in Iraq are not fighting an organized military from an enemy country, or the Iraqi people. They are fighting terroristic militants who are imported from neighboring Syria and Iran. These militants, having no uniforms, credentials, etc, are disguised as civilians. Moreover, they hide behind civilians and use civilians as pawns in their strategy.

With that in mind, our soldiers are told that when combat situations arise, they are to follow the rules of engagement to the letter. However, even if they follow the rules of engagement, they may still face charges.

What kind of directives are those? What kind of war are we asking our soldiers to fight if they have to radio for permission to return fire on a group of men firing at their vehicles and still face the possibility of charges even when permission was granted?

Our soldiers, past and present, are not criminals, baby killers or murderers. They are soldiers, sent to fight a war and accomplish a mission. That mission is to fight off the insurgency until the Iraqis can do it for themselves. This mission is being accomplished and this war is winnable.

No one likes war, and everyone wants this war to be over. However, if we quit too soon, the consequences that result will follow us home.