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War on terror is necessary

December 26, 2007|Mitch McConnell

Nearly every day I receive letters like this one, from the wife of a brave Kentucky soldier serving in Iraq:

"No one wants any more soldiers killed, wounded or missing in action," she writes. "Especially the families of soldiers, like me and my daughter. But knowing he is there making sure we are safe here makes it easier to send my daughter to school."

I hear sentiments like that a lot as I travel to places like Fort Campbell and Fort Knox to meet our troops and their families. I also hear it when I go abroad to see our troops in the field, fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. American service members realize that waging this War on Terror is unpleasant and difficult at times - but absolutely necessary.

More than six years have passed since Sept. 11, 2001, and we have yet to see another major terrorist attack on American soil. I believe that's a direct result of America going on offense, and taking the fight to the terrorists. By fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan, our troops are protecting freedom here at home.

For six years I've watched brave Kentuckians don their country's uniform and take up this fight. I'm in awe of their courage and thankful for their service. As Kentucky's senior Senator and the Senate's Republican Leader, I've fought to provide our troops with everything they need to defeat terrorism and complete their mission.

The military successes we've seen this year are proof that, despite what some say, America can achieve tactical success in Iraq, and if we persevere, protect our strategic interests in that country and the Persian Gulf. I'm confident in our troops' abilities and confident in the leadership of General David Petraeus, the commanding general in that country. I know General Petraeus well from his time commanding the 101st Airborne Division, based in Fort Campbell, and think he's the finest general in the Army today. Our soldiers are in good hands under his watch.

While our troops are seeing great success, there's no denying that the human cost of this war has been great. I've attended the funerals of heroic Kentuckians who have been lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. I've met their grieving parents, spouses, and children who will have to go on without them.

The reactions of these mourning family members touch me every time I stand with them at a funeral or memorial service. It would be understandable for a parent or spouse to feel angry at the funeral of a lost soldier. But more often than not, they are proud of their loved one and his or her service. They know that the soldier gave his or her life willingly to defend all of us here at home.

Doing what I do is easy compared to the hardships our troops must endure. That's why I'm determined to keep visiting with them at home and abroad and to keep fighting for what they need in Congress. The best way to support our troops is to give them what they need to win. That's been my position since this war began, and will be until the last soldier comes home.

Senator McConnell is the Senate Republican Leader and only the second Kentuckian to lead his party in the U.S. Senate.

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