Leaders in the War on Terror

I was recently impressed by this quote from Tony Blair about the fight against Islamic extremism---

"It is said that by removing Saddam or the Taliban---regimes that were authoritarian but also kept a form of order---the plight of Iraqis and Afghans has worsened and terrorism has been allowed to grow. This is a seductive but dangerous argument. Work out what it really means. It means that because these reactionary and evil forces will fight hard, through terrorism, to prevent those countries and their people getting on their feet after the dictatorships are removed, we should leave the people under the dictatorship. It means our will to fight for what we believe in is measured by our enemy s will to fight us, but in inverse proportion. That is not a basis on which you ever win anything... The truth is that the conflict in Iraq has mutated into something directly fuelled by the same elements that confront us everywhere. Yet a large, probably the larger, part of Western opinion would prefer us to withdraw. That is the extraordinary dulling of our senses that the terrorism has achieved... There is no alternative to fighting this menace wherever it rears its head. There are no demands that are remotely negotiable. It has to be beaten. Period." (Thanks to the Patriot Post's 07-24 Brief)

I have always had a lot of respect for Prime Minister Blair and his stance on the War on Terror, and this shows once again how well he understands the real threat that we face. America has been very blessed to have such an ally in this war. In a time when many would rather appease terrorists, Blair, like Sir Winston Churchill before him, recognizes that the only way to defeat evil and preserve freedom is to fight. Blair has faced this task with great courage-- especially considering the stiff opposition that he has faced at home. While I may disagree with many of his social positions, I think that Tony Blair deserves a place among the great prime ministers of of Britain. I can only pray that his successor will be as staunch as he was.

This brings me back to America and the decision that we face in 2008: who will replace George Bush as commander-in-chief? Who will we entrust with leadership in regards to national security? One thing is certain-- it must be someone who has both the will and the courage to continue the battle against Islamic extremism, whether fighting it in Iraq or here in American (through border security). As I look at the field of Republican primary contenders, I see only one man whom I would want to trust to fulfill this role. Everything that I have so far read and heard about Senator Fred Thompson leads me to see him as a man who has what it takes to lead in the national defence of America. He knows the importance of, and will continue, the fight against terrorism in Iraq. He understands the great dangers posed by Iran, and is willing, as he said on FOX's Hannity & Colmes recently, to use a preemptive strike to prevent them from becoming a danger to America. He understands the dangers to freedom caused by dictatorships like those in Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Last, but certainly not least, he understands the vital importance of border security to national security.

As the race for the nominations heats up, I hope that all Republican voters will think seriously about who they want to lead in protecting America, and I urge them to support Fred Thompson for the nomination-- he is the leader that America and American security needs. Please go to Fred's official site to sign up and donate to the campaign and to The Fred Thompson Report to research his opions.