Just because you are paranoid, does not mean they are NOT out to get you! Or so goes a Jewish saying.

I was reading the excellent article by Morton Nadler Oct 9, 2004 entitled: The Russians Are Coming! and I applaud what I would call the graciousness of it. Of all the things I have read leading up to the American elections, this was undoubtedly the most genuine I have read, and its point is legitimate, if 'impeachment' of the President is demonstrably valid.

Even the expression 'unnecessary war', is valid. There is however one thing with which I would disagree, and that is the implication that the continuance of the war is 'unnecessary'.

I am Australian. Australia is a parliamentary democracy, and our Prime Minister has not only 'not been forced to resign', but was in fact 'Re-elected' for a 4th term. This is very significant, for despite all the pundits; despite all the same rhetoric directed at him as has been directed at President Bush, the people, contrary to a promise by the other side to bring the troops home, have chosen to stay with the current decisions of the Government. Why?

I cannot speak for others. I can only speak for myself. All my life I have voted for the Labour party (the opposition party � the ones who want to bring the troops home). I have known a number of political figures, including the encumbent (Labour Party) Premier of my state. I have always voted for this workers party. I never dreamed I would ever see a day that I would vote otherwise.

But the one thing I could not do this time around, was support the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. I was totally against our involvement in Iraq. I believed that we should have waited for the U.N. I don't think Australia should be the US's 'little buddy'. 'Lapdog' is the usual expression in Australia.

Nevertheless, for the first time in my life, I have voted for the Liberal Party. Why? For several reasons.

Firstly, I would rather bear the guilt of my country's invasion of Iraq, than the guilt over what would happen if we suddenly packed up and went home.

Secondly, because I believe that the very thing of which President Bush is accused in Mr. Nadler's article, is the very thing that is needed in the world today, not only in relation to Iraq, but in relation to all the terrorist activity taking place.

As Judson Cox, writes (October 11, 2004) in an article entitled: The Bush plan is...we win! the President is taking a stand to ensure that the war takes place away from America.

Naturally some people will think this is an absurd idea, but the reality is that Islamic terrorism is a political tactic that has little to do with Iraq, the middle east, Afghanistan or any other place. It is a tactic designed to gain control of the world. It stems from a specific Islamic ideology that seeks to raise itself up in the service of Allah in order to fulfill the will of God in bringing the whole world into submission to him. It is, in short, Christianity, where it was a thousand years ago.

Whatever has been the cost of the ill planned invasion of Iraq, self seeking withdrawal will have a far greater cost. 'In for a penny, in for a pound' is an old expression which translates to 'we might win or we might lose, but I'll be damned if I will just give up.'

***image1*** We live in a world that doesn't play by the old rules. War is everywhere, and nowhere because the war goes where declarations of war have not been announced. And the war is impacting countries that had no involvement in the war. It is a propaganda war and a war of blackmail. It is a war being carried out by 'REAL MEN', ones who don't give a damn about niceness and decency. It is being waged by Men and Women who are ready to 'die for the cause'; who will blow themselves up, blow their countrymen and children up, and blow you and your family up, just so that they can be martyrs and go to heaven.

I know that there are many people in the world who think that if we just do what the terrorists want, then they will change. I believe that is suicide.

Your President and my Prime Minister were wrong to go to Iraq when they did, but I am most assuredly certain, that it is wrong for them to pack up their kits and head home, because the going has got tough, and people on both sides are dying.

Then again this is just MY opinion.

R.P.Bendedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

R.P.BenDedek is the pseudonym of the Author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' (www.kingscalendar.com), and he is a guest columnist at Magic City Morning Star News. An Australian, he currently teaches Conversational English in China. King's Calendar Social Commentaries

"The King's Calendar" is a chronological study of the historical books of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles), Josephus, Seder Olam Rabbah, and the (Essene) Damascus Document of The Dead Sea Scrolls.