The Speech President Obama Should Give on the War (Part 2 of 3 in speech series)
My fellow Americans, nearly a decade ago America bore witness to the deadliest attack since Pearl Harbor. Planes high-jacked by jihadists flew into the twin towers and Pentagon. Another was headed for the White House, but crashed into a Pennsylvania field due to the heroic efforts of a group of passengers who had realized their plane had been turned into a weapon of the enemy. Following the attacks, we recognized that we were now at war with an enemy that had been at war with us for the past 20 years.
Before I address the war further, I must first state unequivocally: The United Military has, and continues to be the finest fighting force in the history of the world. I am so honored and blessed to be your commander in chief. Every morning Americans wake under the freedom you provide, and every night we sleep in security because of your defense, THANK YOU.
Today America finds itself on multiple fronts in the current war on terror. What some have called the endless war, this conflict is unlike the World Wars and Cold War in many ways. However, wars share commonalities: they have an enemy, and end in victory or defeat. Approaching a decade after 9-11 we have yet to clearly define our enemy despite the fact that the enemy continues to murder and terrorize the free world. Just who is this enemy?
The enemy is network of terrorist organizations, who in the early 1990’s decided to lay aside their inter conflicts and unite against America, Israel and other democracies. They are jihadists. Their vision is to subjugate the entire world under a Caliphate. The religious doctrine they use to justify this war is found in the doctrine of Islam. They have taken Islam from a religion to an ideology, radical Islamism. Currently we witness elements of this ideology in countries like Iran and parts of Somalia and Sudan among others. Before 911, it was in the Taliban ruled Afghanistan with this ideology.
Notice, these are all majority Muslim populated countries, which is why this radical ideology must be publicly addressed, challenged and unambiguously rejected within the Islamic community as well as the world. For the victims of jihadists know no one color, gender or creed. Black or white, male or female, Muslim, Christian or Jew, they have, and continue to be attacked. They are attacked because they don’t share the jihadist vision; they desire to be free. This war is not between Muslims and America, nor is it a war between Christianity and Islam; it is a war between jihadists and the free world. There is an enemy and it has allies. These allies manifest themselves in silence, obfuscation and willful blindness; they are leaders who don’t understand the difference between engagement and surrender. However well intentioned, these leaders make the mistake of either signing treaties with jihadists, or reaching out for moderate jihadists. In the past, the governments of Pakistan and Yemen have tried this approach with Taliban and Al Queda. The result was more aggression from a stronger, more organized enemy. You must be clear when confronting evil; clarity is power.
President Reagan understood the power of clarity when he declared the Soviet Union the evil empire. That declaration provided a choice to the world: you are either on the side of freedom or tyranny (side of good or evil, respectively). Ten days after the September 11th attack, President Bush offered the same basic choice with: “either you are with us or with the terrorists.” Today I call for Americans as well as the world to make this decision, and thereby confront this ideology. The decision is not about supporting one particular nation. This is about supporting people who desire to be free. Be they in Iraq, Iran or Afghanistan, we will support them by funding NGOs, recognizing and aiding political dissidents and oppressed groups, and yes, at times military force. As the Salafists and Khomeini-ists unite in their desire to subjugate and murder, the democratic world unites in defending and spreading freedom to all of those who desire it.
We can, and will defeat this evil scourge, just as we have done in the past. Once again, America embraces this challenge and will, along with our allies, put this ideology where it belongs in the dustbin of history right alongside Nazism and Communism. Regimes that currently support this enemy, your days are numbered. And to the citizens living under this tyranny, America and the free world stand with you, and we ask you to stand with us! We realize the defeat of this evil foe will not end the eternal struggle between good and evil. However, it will again demonstrate that evil will not go unchallenged and when it manifests; it is defeated. Thank you and God bless America, and all those who both desire and defend freedom.
*This was written before the Christmas day attempted terrorist attack; I will be publishing an article Monday regarding the 2009 terrorist attacks (Arkansas, Ft. Hood etc.)
