Published: August 10, 2005
Iraq Terrorists Killing Indiscriminately
On Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld held a press briefing, making the following statement.
"Some 60 years ago, with the war in Europe turning against them, Hitler's forces faced defeat, and in desperation, the Nazi regime carried out some of the most indiscriminate acts of violence that had been seen during the war. With allied forces closing in on Berlin, Hitler ordered destruction of German infrastructure, and sent Germans, even very young children, Germans, out to face almost certain death as soldiers. If Germans were no longer willing to shed their own blood to ensure their right to survival, Hitler said, they deserved to die. The world saw in these acts the true nature of totalitarianism and its capacity for self-annihilation.
This may suggest why terrorists today in Iraq are indiscriminately killing so many Iraqis, even Iraqi children. They seem to either believe that this could turn the tide their way, or they've given up hope of rallying public opinion to their side. And it could also explain why extremists would risk bombing Londoners, which served, really, to harden the British people's determination to fight extremism.
At some point, most would-be terrorists should see that their cause is a desperate one. They can't hold ground for long, they have little visible political leadership, they have no positive vision to offer. The vast majority of Iraqis have rejected them at each opportunity, as evidenced by their votes in the last election, in a number of public opinion polls, and by lining up in the tens of thousands to defend their country and participate in the Iraqi security forces and in the constitutional drafting process. Even Sunnis, many of whom boycotted the January elections, have now joined the political process and decided to be a part of the Iraq of tomorrow.
In less than a week, Iraqis representing all of the various ethnic factions in the country are expected to have completed drafting the new constitution. It's important that they stay with their timetable. This will be a critical step in persuading the majority of the Iraqis that the new Iraq is worth fighting for; that they have a stake in it. Indeed, their new constitution, a piece of paper, could well turn out to be one of the most powerful weapons to be deployed against the terrorists. The enemy understandably senses this and is determined to stop the constitutional process through terror and intimidation. As the October 15th referendum date on the Iraqi constitution comes and the December elections approach, I think it's reasonable to expect that violence could again increase for a time, as it did during the last elections. But given the political progress, that should not necessarily be considered an accurate gauge of the enemy's future.
As allied forces pushed towards -- forward in both the European and the Pacific theaters in World War II, the enemy's tactics, such as the cult of death among S.S. forces and the kamikazes in the Pacific, led to some of the bloodiest fighting of that war. But those deadly acts -- and they were deadly -- prove not to be harbingers of victory. So if such tactics are used in Iraq in the months ahead, one should be careful not to draw the wrong conclusion. As long as the Iraqi people persevere, the terrorists cannot win.
One additional note. Every year since September 11th attacks, Americans have commemorated that anniversary. This year the Department of Defense will initiate an America Supports You Freedom Walk. The walk will begin at the Pentagon and end at the National Mall. It will include many of the major monuments in Washington, D.C. reminding participants of the sacrifices of this generation and of each previous generation that has so successfully defended our freedoms. Freedom Walk participants will be invited to a special performance by country singer Clint Black. And more information about this event will be on the Department of Defense website, www.americasupportsyou.mil "
Source: U.S. Department of Defense.
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