Remember the Cold War?

A large number of Americans believed that the Soviet Empire didn't really threaten the USA, despite the fact that they told us, on at least one famous occasion, that they would bury us. Cold war strategies dragged on and on and peaceniks across the nation didn't see any bodybags coming home and they believed that this military posturing was all a scheme to enrich the military contractors around the nation. They thought it was the perfect gig... there's no war but we've got to produce more and more sophisticated and expensive weapons technologies that never get tested in real life. The money pours into the pockets of the already wealthy Big Businesses that make jets, bombs and rockets.

Then Reagan came into office and was publicly ridiculed and mocked on the pages of newspapers around the country. After all, he was just an old washed up Hollywood actor that had slipped into politics in California. What did he know of political strategy and worldwide dynamics? Nothing. He spoke of right and wrong, good and evil. He spoke of America the generous, benevolent, bringer of freedom. He spoke of the Soviet tyranny, seeking to wrap it's Communist claws around the world. The message resonated with the Americans who continue to think in such terms. The message sounded like a return to a truth that had been so diluted by our culture that it had almost ceased to be recognizable. The mockers could not get enough of lampooning this old fool. Then, we found out he was right all along.

Now, we face another enemy. A jihad has been declared against the USA and all our allies. In other words, they want to bury us. Preferably after they behead, burn and mutilate our corpses. They are not even putting up the artifice of the Cold War. They want us dead and they preach it in their churches and they print it on banners and they sing it on the streets of dusty little countries all over the world. They are assured a place in heaven if they give their lives to take ours. The Soviets weren't that clever or that dedicated.

Again, in our country a leader is in place who calls it right and wrong. A leader is in power who makes plain that it's us or them and there is not room in our enemy's lexicon for a peaceful coexistence. And, like Reagan, our President is mocked and called a buffoon for expressing any moral clarity. He is called an idiot and a fool. The mockers are so enraged by this man that they will vote for anyone else. Some day, hopefully sooner than later, we will see that this President was right all along.

The war is on. When will we beat our plowshares into swords? When will we break out of our overstuffed, comfort worshipping, consumerism and see that there are warriors coming to kill us? (We don't mind war as long as it's not an inconvenience to us. Remember the Balkans? No American outrage there.) These fighters are not wearing the red and gold hammer and sickle. They're not flying MiGs. They're not even wearing uniforms. They're not building ICBMs but they are coming and they will not stop until they're dead.