For the most part, Americans prior to Sept. 11, 2001 may have taken our way of life for granted. Living in a civilized, peaceful and prosperous society, threats of international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction weren’t making daily headlines or popping up in everyday conversation. For most, it’s difficult to imagine life under the reign of a despotic regime.
We enjoy Constitutional guarantees that protect individual rights and liberties: freedoms of speech, religion, the press and the right to petition our government. And in a free-market system, Americans have the opportunity to scale the economic ladder. The United States is called the land of opportunity for a reason. According to our nation’s founders, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are among our God-given rights as American citizens.
But we know not all men, women and children in the world enjoy the most basic freedoms afforded in a democracy. Consider the 2000 U.S. presidential election. The hard-fought contest underscores the value of each and every citizen’s vote. In a dictatorship, the ballot box is a hoax. The Iraqi dictator "won" by a landslide in his last election with 100 percent of the votes cast. That’s because the people of Iraq literally are afraid to death of him. Vote for Saddam or else. Since 1979, Saddam has ruled the 24 million people of Iraq by tyranny and torture. He doesn’t shape public opinion by political charm and consensus-building. Saddam eliminates opponents of his loyalist regime and uses chemical and biological weapons on his own people.
On March 19, 2003, the United States launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to disarm a dangerous dictator, free the people of Iraq from an oppressive regime, enforce the rule of law and bring democracy to a volatile region of the world. After working for months to seek a peaceful resolution through international diplomatic means, the president’s decision to move ahead with coalition forces acknowledged the obvious. Saddam thumbed his nose for 12 years at the rule of law. He has no intention of complying with the 17 United Nation’s Security Council resolutions to which he agreed after the Persian Gulf War in 1991. In his ominous mission to amass weapons of mass destruction, Saddam poses a grave threat to the world.
I agree with the president that war is an option of last resort. Sending U.S. soldiers into harm’s way is a solemn decision. One American casualty is one too many. And yet the realities of war will require beloved sons and daughters in uniform to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. More than 225,000 men and women of the U.S. armed forces are involved in the Iraqi conflict. More than 200,000 members of the Reserves and National Guard have been called to active duty. Thousands more are serving in civilian support services and civilian national security agencies. The nation is indebted to these duty-bound Americans for their patriotism, courage, selflessness and honorable service.
Meanwhile, the family members left behind are doing their best to shoulder the sacrifice and separation while their loved ones serve their country. Iowa’s first fallen son since the conflict began is a painful reminder about the untold grief for which family members must prepare themselves. Davenport native Bradley Korthaus joined the Marines immediately after graduating from high school in 1992. He drowned in the line of duty while swimming across the Saddam Canal. One other member of his engineering unit also drowned during the mission to set up a weapons system on the opposite side of the canal to provide cover for a water purification team.
Iowa businesses, law enforcement entities, schools and communities also feel the absence of those called to active duty. In my conversations and correspondence with my constituents, I understand some Iowans oppose the war. But the overwhelming majority of Iowans also joins me in supporting our troops. That’s why I’m organizing an effort to help facilitate a way for Iowans to express their appreciation and boost the morale of Iowa soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Liberty Shield.
Patterned after my Adopt-an-Iowa-Soldier program during the first Persian Gulf War, I am urging Iowa families with loved ones serving in the current conflict to contact my office with the names of these service members. Due to security restrictions, this information is not available through the Defense Department. I will then match service members' families with Iowans interested in sending care packages and words of encouragement to an "adopted" Iowa soldier.
Iowans wishing to adopt an Iowa soldier or register an Iowa service member serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Liberty Shield may do so via my website at http://grassley.senate.gov.