Is There a Decline in America's Courage?

Is there a decline in the courage of Americans? The answer in this writer's opinion is a resounding no. Any country that would attack America would find that Americans step up and do whatever is necessary to ensure safety, freedom, and prosperity. There has been a lot of talk that our soldiers should be brought back from Iraq.

This is a topic, which serves only to ignite a fiery debate, and it usually falls along party lines. However, there seems to be a new sentiment among Republicans and it is growing exponentially. I believe that this issue is no longer determined by party lines, but by an individual's beliefs. I must tell you a little about myself, just so I don't misrepresent myself. I served in the United States Army from 1983 to 1986.

I received an honorable discharge. Out of Patriotism, after 911 and before we went to war with Iraq, I signed up again and did three more years in the Army National Guard from 2002 until 2005. Again, I received an honorable discharge. I did not go to Iraq, but many of my friends did and some did not come home, while many others have served more than two tours over there.

Some were even stopped from retiring and sent to Iraq as well. I am a registered Republican and I have been since I first registered to vote and yes, I voted for President Bush both times. When 911 first happened, we were all quick to believe whatever the government told us. We were told that terrorists from the Middle East attacked us. As a matter of fact, within two days we had pictures of the terrorists posted on the nightly news.

Looking back, I believe this may have been some fast work even with government agencies in charge. Remember, these were the same agencies that could not connect a decades worth of dots together. There are even news reports of the FBI as being quoted as saying that, "We do not have enough proof to say that Osama Bin Laden was involved with 911." Okay, that is a big warning bell to me and now I wonder how they possibly connected Saddam Hussein to 911, or were it weapons of mass destruction, oh wait it was because he was mean to his people.