The Collegian

Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: Opinion

To a winner, quitting is hard. To Americans who believe they live in the world's most powerful country, quitting is very hard.

Americans are used to winning and being on top more than any other people in the world. We think we can do anything, even wage war on something that's not concrete. September 11 reminded us of our vulnerability; but perhaps we've already resorted to our old sense of superiority.

The President is no exception to this "conquer-all" attitude. In his address to the nation on September 11, 2006, he asserts: "We will not leave [Iraq] until this work is done. Whatever mistakes have been made in Iraq, the worst mistake would be to think that if we pulled out, the terrorists would leave us alone."

After five long years, and many more expected to come, the War on Terrorism, along with Bush's War in Iraq, has taken its toll on Americans. With lies coming in from all sides, it's getting harder and harder to decide what's right from wrong. There's a wealth of information from politicians and the media, but there's not enough truth. Manipulated and deceived, we're finding it difficult to think for ourselves and take a confident stance.

The war has cost us thousands of lives and countless resources. In terrorizing the terrorists and other alleged threats, we are only increasing our enemies. Where do we draw the line? Should we, as Bush declares, "confront threats before they reach our shores?"

When we attack so-called threats, we run the risk of mistakenly harming the innocent or uninvolved because we've accused them of having dangerous motives. Bush's offensive strategy to make our country safer is focused on attacking rather than defending, giving citizens even more anxiety.

A man acting in self-defense is legally entitled to do so. What right do we give people who act on "self offense?"

The United States has a Department of Defense, composed of the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, and other defense agencies. Its goal is "to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country." There is no Department of Offense. But when I think about it, the Department of Defense was once called the Department of War.

To act defensively does not mean to sit back and do nothing. In a defensive strategy, we can aim to protect ourselves, not attack others. We should help to prevent deaths, not promote killing.

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