ã 2003 M. Keaton

The Lights of Baghdad

War is a clarifier of men. There is no neutral ideology; war forces commitment, for or against. To stand otherwise is to forego the right of self-determination.

Behind the lines, civilians may dissemble and attempt to obfuscate their choice but they choose, nevertheless. Too often, we hear those who oppose the war but have no wish to suffer the consequences of their decision. Cowardice begets cowardice. “I do not oppose war; I oppose this war. It has not been explained to me. I do not like the way the diplomacy was handled. I support the troops but oppose the war…” and so the mantra of the morally weak and politically ignorant rambles.

The founders of this nation were not fools; they did not bequeath us a democracy, but a republic. The populace may choose their leaders and judge them by their character and actions but it is those leaders, the representatives of the people, who shoulder great responsibility and make difficult decisions. It is for them to know the specifics and explanations and it is for them to make the difficult case specific decisions. In the end, it is for them to lead and for the people, from the wisdom of their initial choice, to accept, to support, and to follow.

This may seem unusual, even wrong. A vast majority of people have never bothered to learn the mechanisms of their government or their own civic duties. But, it is true and, as our forefathers knew, it is wise. Just as a soldier follows his orders with faith that his general understands the course of the war better than he, so too the citizen must yield proper honor and duty to his leadership, lending them benefit of doubt, and stand united against the foe. When boots hit sand, the time for protest passed. In time of war, the citizen, as well as the soldier, had a duty.

I do not make a case for blind complicity or willful ignorance. Rather, I appeal to mature action—debate must be set aside for other days, days when the urgencies of need and sacrifice subside. We have been given a surplus of explanations and an unprecedented level of information on the justifications of this war. For those who have ears to hear, the case has been made and the diplomacies detailed. Never before has a civilian populace known more of their government’s actions. Those who, at this point, protest ignorance merely advertise their stupidity.

Those who oppose the war because if might make the U.S. disliked on the world stage should have their G.E.D.s revoked. Anyone who believes that being popular is more important than being right has not matured beyond high school. They have replaced their parents with government and continue an adolescent rebellion, wishing for “the cool parents”, and transposing their personal issues by grotesquely irresponsible proxy.

Let us be clear. Tyrants and those who, given the chance would be tyrants, have and always will, hate free men. America is already hated, not because of what we do, but who we are. The evil murders of September eleventh needed no provocation beyond our merest existence.

I hold an especial rancor for those who “oppose the war but support the troops” and I wonder if Dante overlooked a portion of the Inferno marked ‘Reserved’. I am sickened at addressing this argument, sickened by its very existence, but let me mitigate an unintentional insult that I may have given. There are responsible citizens who do not support the war and do, indeed, support the troops. They perform their civic duty the only way they can—by remaining silent. To these people, I yield respect. It is more difficult in adversity to remain stoic that to cry in protest. These noble few show a commendable strength and responsibility and their compassion is much to be admired. It is for those who throw up this weak diversion to shield themselves from accountability as they engage in subversion that I express my contempt.

To oppose the war is to oppose the objective. To oppose the objective is to oppose victory. To oppose the victory is to oppose our troops! Anything else is a wish that our fighters experience a glorious death, a noble failure. The only people who think wishing for a dramatic suicide is expressing support for the troops are the leaders of terrorists who fly planes into buildings! The very ideological underpinnings of this oxymoronic support and opposition clearly illustrates where the loyalty of these people ultimately lie.

Yes, war is a clarifier of men. At home and abroad, it is the kitchen light which sends roaches scurrying. It is the halo of saints which limns virtue. Upon the field of battle, the contrasts rise starkly. Some men sink to animals. Some men rise toward God. How very poignant is the juxtaposition of our warriors and our enemy.

The enemy violates, not simply conventions of war, but their own humanity. Their actions embody the depths of depravity to which our species can sink. They torture and execute prisoners then glorify it on their television. They attack under flag of truce and hide behind the blood of children, cowering behind the skirts of women. In their tongue, there is no word for honor. They embrace their brutality. They hold iniquity as a virtue. These beasts revel in their perfidy.

If it is the approval of those forgiven nations who support this regime, if it is the favor of France, Germany, Russia, China, and their ilk that we wish to curry, then, by all that is righteous—let me be hated!

For Americans are made of better stuff. Our valorous men who fight this evil, who fight to free a people beset by this heinous plague, our men are cut of a finer cloth. While the enemy tortures and oppresses, while they execute and rapine, while they wallow in the darkest murk of their damned souls, for our part—

The lights in Baghdad remain on!