We are engaged in a war – though most of us are in complete denial. The “Global War on Terror” (GWOT) is a phrased that is tossed about so often these days that I believe it has lost its meaning. We all know what “global” means; this is a “global economy”, the “global markets” and even “global warming”. We recognize the word “terror” and know how to identify terrorism and terrorist acts. But what we have failed to completely wrap our mind around the word “war”.
The word war is used to convey that this is not a one sided struggle. This is not a police action, this is not a single battle - this is a war. Webster’s defines war as: “A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.”
In the past, both Republican and Democratic leadership alike has treated the threat of terrorism as a nagging concern, as a police action. We appeared more concerned about being able to prosecute the terrorist in a court of law once they were caught, than we were eliminating them entirely. But this is not the Global “Conflict” with Terror – this is the “War” on Terror. We are in a “state of open, armed and (to be sure) prolonged conflict.”
In other wars throughout history, Americans have been asked to make sacrifices for the good of the country. Not a single person living in the Colonies during the Revolution was untouched by that war. Durable goods like steel and rubber as well as the juice that makes the world go ‘round, oil, gas were heavily rationed during WWI and WWII. Women left their role as stay at home moms during WWII to work a shift at the factory making airplanes that would bomb Germany into submission. During Vietnam, the draft ensured that many able bodied men would serve in some capacity to help defeat the spread of communism – they sacrificed as did their families left behind. What is our sacrifice today? What are we, who are not called Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine doing? Are we making sacrifices in our daily life? If not us, who?
In order for the recent terror plot in London to have been disrupted, think about the sacrifices that were made. Someone had to leave their family at night to make contacts with sources of intelligence. Their family ate dinner alone while they were roaming the underground for clues. Someone had to spend hours at the office going through the raw intelligence that was being collected. Someone missed their brother’s birthday because they were following a suspected terrorist across the globe. Someone was manning a listening terminal for 24 hours straight when they intercepted a key terrorist phone call. Someone was called away from their son’s school play because they had to lead the team that was to arrest these terrorist within the hour to prevent the loss of life. And think about those family members left behind while their husband, wife, son was away doing these things. Think about their sacrifice, about their waiting up all night not knowing what they were doing or even sometimes where they were.
But think about the 3,000 people who were to be on those 10 planes who now get to go home to their son’s play, or their mother’s birthday. Think about the young man flying that day from London to New York who was going to see his fiancé after being gone on business for the last week. Think about the surgeon returning from that London conference who can now save hundreds of lives back at home.
So what sacrifices are we making to ensure this way of life? This life that is so hated by a group of people that they will stop at nothing to snuff it out. This is a war. And if we are given the opportunity to serve this country – no matter how big or small – who are we to say “no thanks – I’m too comfortable to help out” or “I cant afford to take that pay cut and go join the army” or “I don’t want to be separated from my family right now”. There were 3,000 people in New York on 9/11 that was separated from their family – forever. And then there are 3,000 people flying from London to the U.S. who were not – because of the sacrifices made along the way.
What sacrifices are you ready to make? Or is your life just too comfortable right now and this is just not your problem? We can’t all be soldiers, but we can all be something. We can all send that care package, or donate to that military support group – we can all do something.
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