The great issue in the 2004 election-it seems to me as an Englishman-is,
How seriously does the United States take its role as a world leader, and
how far will it make sacrifices, and risk unpopularity, to discharge this
duty with success and honor? In short, this is an election of the greatest
significance, for Americans and all the rest of us. It will redefine what
kind of a country the United States is, and how far the rest of the world
can rely upon her to preserve the general safety and protect our
civilization.
When George W. Bush was first elected, he stirred none of these feelings,
at home or abroad. He seems to have sought the presidency more for dynastic
than for any other reasons. September 11 changed all that dramatically. It
gave his presidency a purpose and a theme, and imposed on him a mission.
Now, we can all criticize the way he has pursued that mission. He has
certainly made mistakes in detail, notably in underestimating the problems
that have inevitably followed the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in
Iraq, and overestimating the ability of US forces to tackle them. On the
other hand, he has been absolutely right in estimating the seriousness of
the threat international terrorism poses to the entire world and on the
need for the United States to meet this threat with all the means at its
disposal and for as long as may be necessary. Equally, he has placed these
considerations rig ht at the center of his policies and continued to do so
with total consistency, adamantine determination, and remarkable courage,
despite sneers and jeers, ridicule and venomous opposition, and much
unpopularity.
There is something grimly admirable about his stoicism in the face of
reverses, which reminds me of other moments in history: the dark winter
Washington faced in 1777-78, a time to "try men's souls," as Thomas
Paine
put it, and the long succession of military failures Lincoln had to bear
and explain before he found a commander who could take the cause to
victory. There is nothing glamorous about the Bush presidency and nothing
exhilarating. It is all hard pounding, as Wellington said of Waterloo,
adding: "Let us see who can pound the hardest." Mastering terrorism
fired
by a religious fanaticism straight from the Dark Ages requires hard
pounding of the dullest, most repetitious kind, in which spectacular
victories are not to be looked for, and all we can expect are "blood, toil,
tears, and sweat." However, something persuades me that Bush -- with his
grimness and doggedness, his lack of sparkle but his enviable concentration
on the central issue-is the president America needs at this difficult time.
He has, it seems to me, the moral right to ask American voters to give him
the mandate to finish the job he has started.
This impression is abundantly confirmed, indeed made overwhelming, when we
look at the alternative. Senator Kerry has not made much of an impression
in Europe, or indeed, I gather, in America. Many on the Continent support
him, because they hate Bush, not because of any positive qualities Kerry
possesses. Indeed we know of none, and there are six good reasons that he
should be mistrusted. First, and perhaps most important, he seems to have
no strong convictions about what he would do if given office and power. The
content and emphasis of his campaign on terrorism, Iraq, and related issues
have varied from week to week. But they seem always to be determined by
what his advisers, analyzing the polls and other evidence, recommend,
rather than by his own judgment and convictions. In other words, he is
saying, in effect: "I do not know what to do but I will do what you, the
voters, want." This may be an acceptable strategy, on some issues and at
certain times. It is one way you can interpret democracy.
But in a time of crisis, and on an issue involving the security of the
world, what is needed is leadership. Kerry is abdicating that duty and
proposing, instead, that the voters should lead and he will follow. Second,
Kerry's personal character has, so far, appeared in a bad light. He has
always presented himself, for the purpose of Massachusetts vote-getting, as
a Boston Catholic of presumably Irish origins. This side of Kerry is
fundamentally dishonest. He does not follow Catholic teachings, certainly
in his views on such issues as abortion-especially when he feels additional
votes are to be won by rejecting Catholic doctrine. This is bad enough. But
since the campaign began it has emerged that Kerry's origins are not in the
Boston-Irish community but in Germanic Judaism. Kerry knew this all along,
and deliberately concealed it for political purposes. If a man will mislead
about such matters, he will mislead about anything.
There is, thirdly, Kerry's long record of contradictions and uncertainties
as a senator and his apparent inability to pursue a consistent policy on
major issues.
Fourth is his posturing over his military record, highlighted by his
embarrassing pseudo-military salute when accepting the nomination. Fifth is
his disturbing lifestyle, combining liberal-even radical-politics with
being the husband, in succession, of two heiresses, one worth $300 million
and the other $1 billion. The Kerrys have five palatial homes and a
personal jet, wealth buttressed by the usual team of lawyers and financial
advisers to provide the best methods of tax-avoidance. Sixth and last is
the Kerry team: who seem to combine considerable skills in electioneering
with a variety of opinions on all key issues. Indeed, it is when one looks
at Kerry's closest associates that one's doubts about his suitability
become certainties. Kerry may dislike his running-mate, and those feelings
may be reciprocated-but that does not mean a great deal. More important is
that the man Kerry would have as his vice president is an ambulance chasing
lawyer of precisely the kind the American system has spawned in recent
decades, to its great loss and peril, and that is already establishing a
foothold in Britain and other European countries. This aggressive
legalism-what in England we call "vexatious litigation"- is surely
a
characteristic America does not want at the top of its constitutional
system.
Of Kerry's backers, maybe the most prominent is George Soros, a man who
made his billions through the kind of unscrupulous manipulations that (in
Marxist folklore) characterize "finance capitalism." This is the man
who
did everything in his power to wreck the currency of Britain, America's
principal ally, during the EU exchange-rate crisis-not out of conviction
but simply to make vast sums of money. He has also used his immense
resources to interfere in the domestic affairs of half a dozen other
countries, some of them small enough for serious meddling to be hard to
resist. One has to ask: Why is a man like Soros so eager to see Kerry in
the White House? The question is especially pertinent since he is not alone
among the superrich wishing to see Bush beaten. There are several other
huge fortunes backing Kerry.
Among the wide spectrum of prominent Bush-haters there is the normal
clutter of Hollywood performers and showbiz self-advertisers. That is to be
expected. More noticeable, this time, are the large numbers of novelists,
playwrights, and moviemakers who have lined up to discharge venomous salvos
at the incumbent.
I don't recall any occasion, certainly not since the age of FDR, when so
much partisan election material has been produced by intellectuals of the
Left, not only in the United States but in Europe, especially in Britain,
France, and Germany. These intellectuals-many of them with long and
lugubrious records of supporting lost left-wing causes, from the Soviet
empire to Castro's aggressive adventures in Africa, and who have in their
time backed Mengistu in Ethiopia, Qaddafi in Libya, Pol Pot in Cambodia,
and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua-seem to have a personal hatred of Bush
that defies rational analysis.
Behind this front line of articulate Bushicides (one left-wing columnist in
Britain actually offered a large sum of money to anyone who would
assassinate the president) there is the usual cast of Continental suspects,
led by Chirac in France and the superbureaucrats of Brussels. As one who
regularly reads Le Monde, I find it hard to convey the intensity of the
desire of official France to replace Bush with Kerry. Anti-Americanism has
seldom been stronger in Continental Europe, and Bush seems to personify in
his simple, uncomplicated self all the things these people most hate about
America-precisely because he is so American. Anti-Americanism, like
anti-Semitism, is not, of course, a rational reflex. It is, rather, a
mental disease, and the Continentals are currently suffering from a
virulent spasm of the infection, as always happens when America exerts
strong and unbending leadership.
Behind this second line of adversaries there is a far more sinister third.
All the elements of anarchy and unrest in the Middle East and Muslim Asia
and Africa are clamoring and praying for a Kerry victory. The mullahs and
the imams, the gunmen and their arms suppliers and paymasters, all those
who stand to profit-politically, financially, and emotionally -- from the
total breakdown of order, the eclipse of democracy, and the defeat of the
rule of law, want to see Bush replaced. His defeat on November 2 will be
greeted, in Arab capitals, by shouts of triumph from fundamentalist mobs of
exactly the kind that greeted the news that the Twin Towers had collapsed
and their occupants been exterminated.
I cannot recall any election when the enemies of America all over the world
have been so unanimous in hoping for the victory of one candidate. That is
the overwhelming reason that John Kerry must be defeated, heavily and
comprehensively.
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Feb 17, 2004 Jake called home. He seemed quite impressed with the Army's choice of beverages especially their storage, and access at camp... apparently your tax dollars are providing sufficient nourishment. We will let you know as soon as his promotion goes though and then you can call him Sarge... Their is an active and vibrant resale of tech devices in camp - cell phones are apparently more reliable than email so used international phone sales from the retiring company are boistrous. Its just nice to know we should be in touch in the near future. I MAY have gotten the above address right. First mission should be soon.
Feb 20, 2004 - Jake called this evening just before formation at 7:30 his time.. they have been assigned their truck, first mission tomorrow.
Feb 25, 2004 - Call from Jake today, he is in Baghdad and surprised at how green and beautiful it is. He remarked that being this close to the Euphrates and appreciating the beauty of the region made him mindful that this is the historical region for the Garden of Eden. He is sending a slide show of pics.. Hopefully I will figure out how to post them here.
Feb 25, 2004 - (email)
Hey everyone, how are y'all?
Everything is going well here. I feel good, except I think I am getting a cold
from sleeping out in the cold. It has been pretty cold here lately. Our first
mission went well, we went to a place called Udari. I am not allowed to tell
many details, so I will have a lot of stories when thew war is over. Today I
am in Baghdad, we had some down time on our current mission, and they only charge
3 dollars and hour to use the internet. I would call but it is like 2 AM back
home.
I haven't bought the cell phone yet, i need a chance to go to finace to withdraw
money for cash, but when i get it i will have my mom post the number and times
to call on my site she has set up. By the way it is pretty neat, and the address
she has up there is the right one for right now. Again if and when it changes
I will let you know.
I am making another little slideshow video of me working, our bunks (very neat
some guys have satellite tv's), us playing ball, and of the plane when we took
off. A copy or viewing, for those terribly interested will be available at either
myh parents house or my house.
As far as care packages i really appreciate them. It takes mail about three
weeks to get here and all junk food, little cheap road games, and stuff like
that really helps pass the time on the road. I am not asking for you guys to
send them, but it is neazt to get them, after all i can buy that stuff here
with all the money i am makeing tax free.
Well my hour is almost up, and I will let you all get back to work or school.
God is taking care of me here, just today i was feeling hungry and had no cash
at the PX to buy any Burger King, i figured i would find a chow hall, but this
Colonel walked up and offered me an extra whopper he had bought, and a coke!
So all is good, minus the indegestion.
Take Care and God Bless
Crede DEO
Jake
PS. Dad I am working on my sand shots by my tent there are a variety of types of bunkers ranging from hard to soft. Mom, nicew website you did a good job, put a link up there to Cthree you never know who my check it. Love yall and miss yall, sorry for cutting off the phone the other day, it was the phone center's fault. Tell Grandma, Josh, John, and the Sieferts I love 'em.
PPS. Erin, thanks for the letter, and for keeping me in your prayers, I miss you guys to and don't take that in a "Jacob" way, its a kinda semi-plutontic...no just kidding
PPPS. Mark i have been trying to write some songs, my guitar is not here yet, but should be here soon. Ill send 'em to ya when I get a chance.
PPPPS. Uncle NEil, that whisky was awesome, I look forward to some more, we finished it all (in a responsible way) before we left Bliss, you did a great job. Tell your family I love em, and to do good in school.
March 1, 2004 (email) address change again, you
know the ARMY...
SPC SIEFERT, JACOB 1798
143rd/375th GROUP/766th bn
1836th TC/ 3rd Platoon
Camp Arifjan
APO, AE 09366
Well quick update since the internet time is limited here... all is still ok my cold is gone, and I am back from missions, enjoying a day off. I am fixing to go waste money at the PX since my computer is giving me a hard time burning the slideshow, maybe i will treat myself to the subway. I am still working on the phone situation will be resolved soon. otherwise, i really appreciate all the e-mails it means a lot. I will try to find time to write each of yall individually later today after i get some "work" done. Take care and God Bless
Crede Deo
March 5, 2004
mom please foward this to my normal group of CC:'s and whoever else the computer is being touchy
Hey how is everyone? I am on a another mission, can't tell ya much about it
but im in Baghdad again. Everything is going ok, except none of us can seem
to get rid of this "crud" we all have in the morning. Oour conex's
should be in today or soon, with my guitar so i can start practicing, singing
without any back up is not easy, even for such a talented "crooner"
like myself.
By the way it was neat, on the road the other day going the other direction
was an Army truck full of guys with burlap sacks over their heads, all tied
up and guarded. I don't know where they came from, or where they are going but
keep your eyes on the news.
I want to say again i appreciate all the prayers and e-mails, it means a lot
please continue to pray for all of us, and a peace of mind.
I have finished my first video of pictures here, but haven't had time to mail
it yet, since we have actually been busy, there are at least 2 copies, one to
my house, and one to my parents.
I also am happy to say that in 15 days i will again be debt free. I mailed my
last 2 checks, and with the time it takes for mail, it will take 2 weeks for
them to go through, but it is a good feeling.
To answer Johnathans questions.....the people hear seem mostly concerned with
doing there own thing, expect the kids who run up to the street when we pass
by and scream for food. They have three signs for wanting food: 1)an Aggie "Gig'em"
which Im sure is based not on Texas A&M but the thumbs up we all have a
tendency to do,2) the hand in and out of the mouth like and indian, yopu know
when you are a kid and go ahahahaahah, and 3) a varying amount of fingers sometimes,
1 some times 2, and sometimes the "bird" ( which is not on accident).
These kids to some time look very poor, but that is not to be taken as a lack
of interlligence. When they are thrown MRE's and snacks they quickly hide it
in shirts, robes, and ditches and ask for more. I would be more apt to throw
them stuff, but i saw one boy get the tar kicked out of him by a group of boys
for a box of Jimmie Dean's. That was promplty confiscated by the MP's as they
chased them down in a humvee. also those kids, and
adults, try to sell you contraband, hash, liqour, porn, war trophies, cigarettes,
and saddam money, but some have been known to caryy bombs so the army says to
stay away from those people. but other than that you get a lot of waves, and
shouting in arabic and occasional broken english but only when you ride through
places where people aren't working. The waves kinda remind me of riding the
fire truck.
I guess that is about it, oh yeah Mom and Dad I forgot to mention...Johnathan
owes me an Aggie flag for Christmas so if he hasn't sent it remind him, and
if you can a Texas flag. I love all you guys, take care.
Crede Deo
Jake
April 5 - Jake IM'd this am, he read Sea Bisquit -thought it was a great book and maybe he was impatient with the Colorado horses. The dogs over there make him lonely for Moses. Green season is over and Kuwait didn't move to the time change. He has been listening to Harry Connick, Jr. RE the Passion of the Christ, Jake wondered if any publicity is good publicity with regards to Christ. (Good question in my opinion). In any event, he said the reason he liked the Left behind books was that they made the point it wasn't our job to be concerned about making God's plan work. He found sour gums on some web vending site and bought 850 of them. ? WHo knew?
April News