Why we are in Iraq

With all the attention being focused on Cindy Sheehan and the critics of our defense policy, I felt compelled to put down, in as simple a form as I could, the reasons why I believe we are in Iraq, and why we must stay until the mission is completed.

Why are we in Iraq?
Is it solely because of WMDs? No.
Is it solely because of 9/11? No.
Is it solely because Sadam Hussein violated 17 U.N. resolutions? No.
Is it solely because Sadam presented a threat to the United States? No.
Is it solely to bring freedom to a people living under oppression? No.
Is it solely to bring democracy to the Middle East? No.

Neither one of the issues listed above was the reason for us going into Iraq, but taken all together, it became clear that unless we were courageous enough to defeat this tyrant now, the consequences of waiting would only grow worse for the free world.

The American spirit is best described in a speech John F. Kennedy never got a chance to deliver, because of an assassin’s bullet. Nevertheless, his speech concluded with these words:

“We in this country, in this generation, are-by destiny rather than choice-the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth, goodwill toward men. That must always be our goal....For as was written long ago, ‘Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.’ (By the way, that was a Bible verse he quoted to which no one yelled ‘separation of church and State.’)”

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

This is the American spirit. No other nation in all of world history has had so much prosperity and power, and has used it for the good of humankind. This is not to say we haven’t our share of corporate greed, and politicians who are motivated by selfish interests, but these have been the exception rather than the rule. In spite of our shortcomings, our Biblical worldview has always demanded that we consider the plight of others even above our own interests.

Ask any good American soldier who has served in Iraq if we are fulfilling any good purpose. See what they say.

Those who want us out of Iraq want a different America, one that is based in self-interest rather than love for fellow human beings. A secular mindset rooted in the ideas of evolution has no sense of obligation toward others, but is rather consumed with the idea of self-preservation. In that consumption it will consume itself.

For, as our founders believed, God still governs in the affairs of men, and He still shows favor to those nations that acknowledge Him, and have compassion for the poor and the oppressed.

Does this mean that we must liberate every oppressed nation in the world? Of course not. But when all the factors mentioned at the beginning of this article combined, are energized by a sense of “calling” we must respond to the call. To this end we must rely on godly leadership, and a President who knows he must answer to a power higher than the American electorate.

So it is that we are in Iraq, because of a sense of calling to defend the cause of the United States, and to bring freedom to an oppressed people. It is not any one of the reasons listed above, but in fact, it is all of those reasons, and a sense of the will of God that sends us to Iraq to sacrifice for others, also created in the image of God, to whom we owe a debt of love.

God has been good to us. He has shown us favor. His grace truly has been, “shed on thee.” Let us never take it for granted, but always seek to be that “nation under God” that fully accepts our charge to be “the watchmen on the walls of world freedom,” so that we may continue to enjoy, and even spread the gifts of peace, prosperity and liberty to a world so much in need.