Getting It Right on Iraq

Cal Thomas details two crucial speeches from this Tuesday concerning the Central Front of the War on Terror:

Perhaps it was only a coincidence, or maybe it was planned, but in choosing the same day, Tuesday, March 21, to speak about Iraq, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said some things that were needed reminders to the American and British people, many of whom are "going wobbly" over the war.

Bush said:

If Iraq is responsible for the recruitment of terrorists, what events led to terrorist recruitment going back more than 20 years and leading up to 9/11? These pre-9/11 attacks occurred before Saddam Hussein was ousted. The only way to end this war - in Iraq and everywhere else - is to destroy the will of the terrorists by neutralizing more of them.

And Blair stated:

This is not a clash between civilizations. It is a clash about civilization."
Blair called for a global interventionist approach to confront terrorism head-on and win a battle over values and ideas: " 'We' is not the West. 'We' are as much Muslim as Christian or Jew or Hindu. 'We' are those who believe in religious tolerance, openness to others, to democracy, liberty and human rights administered by secular courts."

Two determined and inspiring leaders defending the West from the new barbarism. Years ago I penned a tribute to them titled "A Real League of Extraordinary Gentlemen".