New York Post Online Edition: postopinion
September 2, 2005 -- "Sixty years ago today, Gen. Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender on the quarterdeck of USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
World War II was over.
As America marks this anniversary, it again finds itself engaged in a conflict not of its asking, but nonetheless of crucial importance to its peace and security.
"Once again war came to our shores with a surprise attack that killed thousands in cold blood. Once again, we face determined enemies who follow a ruthless ideology that despises everything America stands for," President Bush said on Tuesday. "And once again, we will not rest until victory is America's and our freedom is secure."
The history books are filled to overflowing with debate on whether World War II was properly fought — strategically and tactically — but today there is no doubt whatsoever that it had to be fought.
Unfortunately, while the long-term Islamofascist threat to America is no less deadly than that posed by Axis expansionism, there is no national consensus on the need to win this time, too.
Part of the cause is the media.
If, for example, America's blundering North Africa campaign — a traumatic learning experience for U.S. arms — had been covered with the same gleeful malevolence that marks much of today's Iraq coverage, the country would have had no stomach for D-Day or for the blood-drenched Central Pacific campaign that defeated Japan.
And another part is the simple fact that terrorism — even state-sponsored terrorism — is fundamentally different than conventional warfare. Sometimes it's hard to identify the bad guys.
But, six decades ago, Americans of all political persuasions stood behind their troops and their policymakers. Today, malcontents bent on scoring political points attack not only the president, but work actively to undermine those doing the fighting.
Luckily, America has a president who understands, as he put it Tuesday, that "the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of democracy is the spirit of liberty." It is that spirit, taking hold in Iraq — where elections have been held and a constitution is being hashed out — that will ultimately bring freedom to that tortured nation.
Even then, for America anyway, the war won't be over. There perhaps will never be a V-T — Victory over Terrorism — Day.
That doesn't make the war itself optional."
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