I know this is off topic, but I feel compelled to write the following. For more than a year news reports of atrocities on a scale that only the Nazis committed against the Jews has been filed from the Middle East. There is now genocide being perpetrated against Christians in Iraq. Thousands of people are trapped atop a mountain in blistering heat without food or water. They also have no protection against the rampaging terrorist army surrounding them. It was reported today that at least 500 were taken and buried alive, the number includes women and children. Furthermore several hundred women have been taken away, their fate one does not even want to imagine. Another report I just heard stated that up to 70% of the estimated 20,000 men, women and children who went up the mountain have now died or have been murdered.

While this is going on the United States drops a few bombs on a few targets and sends some humanitarian aid to those on the mountain, our President afraid to take decisive action. Not afraid of the terrorists, but of what his political base in the U.S. will say about him. It appears that he will let thousands die just so he will not have to send U.S. troops back to Iraq. He is not alone, many Americans have the same opinion, no U.S. troops to Iraq. Seventy years ago people like this wanted us to stay out of World War II, no U.S. troops to Europe. This attitude was changed on Dec. 7, 1941.

After the war and the atrocities of the Third Reich were learned by the public (it was not a secret in Washington or London) people asked "why did we not do something sooner"? Generations have asked their parents why did we stand by and watch the Jews be exterminated? Why did America do nothing? Years from now the question will be asked why did America and the world do nothing about what happened in the Middle East in 2010's?

If the images of suffering women and children, decapitated bodies, mass shootings, crucifixions and other atrocities are not enough to make the world act, what will? How many dead bodies do we need so see before we say no more? Make no mistake, just like before the Great War and the Second World War the great western powers were unprepared to conduct a real war, but their enemies were. The U.S. and Britain were shocked by the ferocity of the Germans, who were prepared to fight a real war. It took some time before we realized that the only way to win is to fight a real war, Göbbels called it Total War. Today and for many years the Islamic jihadists have been at war with the west, but we are not at war with them, not really. It is time for the west to finally be at war with the Islamic crazies.

There is only one solution to the current crisis in Iraq, the complete destruction of the ISIS army. No surrender, no prisoners, only total destruction will stop them. I realize that the U.S. military is war weary and I doubt they want to fight another war, however I suspect that if asked they would take up the task. I know that most Americans are disgusted at the sight of what is going on over there, and would do what it takes to save those people, our military would be the first ones to volunteer. But I am sure they would want a clear and decisive mission, destroy the enemy to a man. No more pulled punches wars like Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War and the earlier war in Iraq. Since the end of the Second World War our political leaders seem afraid to do what it takes to win a war, well now we have no choice.

The President's wife said after he was nominated that for the first time in her adult life she was proud of her country. A silly and selfish statement, so she was only proud when people voted for her husband. Well for the first time in my adult life I am ashamed, not of the country, but of the lack of fortitude on the part of the political leaders of my country. When Berlin was cut off by the Communists we dropped in food and water, I know we could do this again for those people on the mountain. But there seems to be no real hurry on the part of our President, he is busy on vacation and playing golf on Martha's Vineyard. I do not have the vocabulary to express the disgust I have for this man. He appears to be the most self-centered individual I have ever known, even to the point of allowing thousands to die. Well soon they may all be dead and he will not have to make a difficult decision after all. What will it take Mr. President for you to act like a man, like the leader of the free world and do what needs to be done? Will it take more buildings in New York to fall before you act, it appears that thousands of dead in the Middle East will not compel you, will it take complete genocide?

© 2014 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com