Shame on You: The False Testimony of the Antiwar Movement

Via Midnight Blue, be sure to watch this powerful video of pro-victory counter-demonstrations against last week's Winter Soldier II gathering of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

The latest protests allege American atrocities in Iraq. Beverly Perlson, founder of Band of Mothers, tells the antiwar agitators, "Shame on You" (at 1:30 minutes):

Also, check out FrontPageMagazine's analysis of recent antiwar activity, "The Protesters Fizzle":

Over the last week, various groups of anti-war protesters have gathered in front of U.S. government buildings to mark the fifth anniversary of our campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Around the nation, these protests have been a monumental flop. In our home town, a building which houses military recruiting was targeted. The protesters there were met by a crowd twice as large of individuals who support the troops, along with dozens of police officers, some dressed in full SWAT gear.

One man in attendance as a counter-protester was Sam Bell, a Marine during Vietnam, who remembers how he and other service members were treated upon their return stateside by many of the American public. “I want (the troops) to make sure we back them,” said Bell. “They have a job, they’re doing their job, and they should be respected for that. No matter what.”

Naturally, we tend to notice when things happen more than when they don’t. But like the old saying, no news is good news; the same could be said of the war on terrorism. The protests are a flop because America is beginning to see light ahead.

Let’s look at the positives. There are major benefits as a result of the sacrifices of those serving America and defending her in this noble cause. Great strides have been made in Iraq in the last five years since Operation Iraqi Freedom was launched against Saddam Hussein. But the greatest success is inside our own borders. It’s been six and one-half years since the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11 in which over 3,000 American lives were lost -- and there has not been another attack on American soil since then. This is an outstanding accomplishment considering that al-Qaeda is still bent on the destruction of America. Multiple potentially deadly plots against the United States have been disrupted and numerous terrorists have been captured, including some top al-Qaeda leaders. Increased worldwide counterterrorism efforts since 9/11 have constrained the ability of al-Qaeda to attack the U.S., and this means America is safer.

Of course war is a fluid enterprise which needs to be constantly analyzed and reassessed so that changes can be made as necessary. Such a reappraisal was carried out in 2007 with the “surge” of 30,000 American troops sent into Iraq. This surge has forced out Islamist extremists and decreased the sectarian violence and bloodshed. Iraqi violence rates have dropped 60 percent since last June. There has been a significant decline in civilian casualties. Sen. John McCain, a strong supporter of the surge, recently said following his visit to Iraq, “We have achieved enormous success but they are still a very viable and tough enemy. There is no doubt in my mind that the surge is succeeding. Thank God for Gen. (David) Petraeus, one of the greatest generals in American history.”

Leaders from several branches of the military, recently arrived to help the new Iraqi government get up and running, say things are moving in the right direction. One Marine said these are “amazing times.” The new Iraqi leaders are “all patriots who are trying to rebuild their country. Most have been the subject of multiple assassination attempts.” He called them “very brave men.”

Much has been said about this being an “unpopular war,” but we need to engage in a national paradigm shift and begin to see the glass as “half full” instead of “half empty.” We all want our service men and woman to come home as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of making a huge mistake. By withdrawing the troops before the new Iraqi government is fully up and operating -- and before the al-Qaeda terrorists have been rooted out -- will make it likely that terrorist will have the ability to strike and harm America again. Vice President Cheney, while visiting in Iraq, told soldiers in Balad, “We have no intention of abandoning our friends or allowing this country of 170,000 sq km to become a staging ground for further attacks against Americans.”

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reminds us that good things take a long time and great achievements don’t happen over night. Examples she used are the founding of the United States, the end of slavery in America and the fall of the Soviet Union. We need to be patient and stay the course. In our fast paced society we have all gotten used to quick results but there are times when perseverance and patience are rewarded. It’s been a matter of two steps forward and one back, but wonderful improvements have been made for the people in Iraq since the downfall of Saddam Hussein. A critical key to keeping Americans safe from terrorists is the stabilization of Iraq and the destruction of terrorist strongholds.

That's well said.

See also, "The Lessons of Iraq ," and "The Resilience of Power: The Strategic Implications of Iraq."