By Judi McLeod
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Fading Washington film stars who turn out with sunshades at protests like the one staged in Washington last weekend, present American troops as hostile aggressors. Speaking in bumpersticker language, Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Tim Robbins consistently side with America's enemies. They'd be the last that would ever admit that American troops are curtailed by rules of engagement that put their safety at risk.
The days of GI Joe went out with Barbarella.
Don Swarthout, President of Christians Reviving America's Values (CRAVE), who doesn't wear shades or rate autographs, is trying to get the message out to the public that American troops fighting in Iraq, have been hobbled by their own rules of engagement.
Many Americans heard the strident messages of fading film starts, Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn on the nightly news.
Most people in America would be "shocked" to learn that there has been a long list of restrictions placed upon troops fighting in Iraq.
"Sadly, we have apparently been fighting the War on Terror with one hand tied behind our backs, concludes Swarthout.
President Bush admitted in his January 10th speech to the nation, that restrictive rules of engagement have been in place for American troops in Iraq. But the somewhat startling admission was lost in media coverage of what Nancy Pelosi was wearing, and the latest theory about how suicides can be blamed on global warming.
"We have since found out that our soldiers were required to go through a 'seven step mental checklist' before they could pull their triggers against insurgents in Iraq," Swarthout laments. "Additionally, American troops were not allowed to go into certain areas (including mosques) in Iraq."
Making the plight of American troops in Iraq worse is that unlike the mainstream media, intelligence for the insurgents pores over presidential addresses.
"How foolish can we be," asks Swarthout. "I was amazed to learn about these restrictions on our troops. It is time for America to fight this war and win."
Swarthout joins other Americans in the belief that part of America's winning strategy in the war on terror should be to increase the size of America's all-voluntary military. Anti-war critics will claim that this is impossible, but they are wrong.
"In the Reagan years America had more than 2.1 million troops deployed--and that was an all volunteer force as well," said Swarthout. "With an even larger population today, the United States could easily restore our military forces to 2.1 million or more, up from the current level of 1.4 million. This is what will be required to fight and win the war on terror."
The cut-and-run strategy advocated by anti-war activists would result in more loss of life if implemented.
In the sea of signs, including ones reading "Impeach Bush, only film stars like Fonda, Sarandon, Robbins and Penn had recognizable faces at the latest Washington protest.
Media reports noted that not one big name politician in Washington turned out for the rally.
Meanwhile, CRAVE is calling on Congress to authorize funding necessary to increase the size of the military to at least 2.1 million in order to win the war on terror.
"We have been called to Sound the Trumpet and warn the citizens of the United States and that is exactly what we are doing," said Swarthout.
"Radical Islam has become a formidable force and it time for us to fight and win. World War III is already here and we must come to that realization."
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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