Nevertheless, the proceedings with China continue, and it could get ugly. However, it is far too early to speculate on what will happen.
Thankfully, things worked out, and our men and women were able to leave that hostile land without our giving the ChiComs what they were really wanting.
Still I’m bothered by what went on here in the United States while our military personnel were being detained. Was it just me or did anyone else notice a lot of sniveling all over the media?
I heard various accounts of people saying, “Hey, let’s just apologize so that we can get our men and women back.”
If asked why we should apologize when we were not responsible for the accident, they might have responded, “Let’s do whatever’s necessary to keep them from getting killed.”
In other words, these people cared not about the dignity and freedom of a nation, but rather 24 lives.
Granted, each life is a precious jewel, but when one enters the service, they do so with the full knowledge that they are putting their lives on the line for the sake of this great country.
So, it boils down to a bunch of whiners on TV trying to stir emotion among the people.
Yet, did anyone think to ask the actual detainee what he or she preferred?
One military veteran put it so aptly when he said, “If it were I who was detained, I would rather rot in a Chinese cell than to have the United States issue an apology.”
I’m sure that all 24 detainees had the same thoughts on the matter. Instead of hearing their opinions, however, we heard snivelers all over the media, adding unnecessary political pressure to the president and his staff.
What, pray tell, was the point of getting the parents of the detainees on TV saying, “I just want my baby back home alive”?
Sure, it was sensational and probably delivered high ratings to the station that aired it, but did it do anything productive for the nation? I think not.
Luckily, however, the foreign relations team did not have to cave to such political pressure.
I wish people would think before they get in front of a camera and start sniveling. What if they had gotten what they wanted – an apology from the United States so that the soldiers could come home?
Think of the message that would send to all would-be terrorists out there. “Come and hold a few of our citizens hostage and we’ll give you anything you want.”
That really demonstrates our status as a superpower.
We still have enemies on this planet. Don’t be fooled into thinking that peace abounds.
In the past 8 years, we’ve gotten used to thinking that everyone was our ally. But the truth is that some nations are still against us.
Consider the nuclear secrets of Los Alamos that were stolen by Chinese spies. Or consider Mr. Hanssen’s collaboration with the Russians for FBI secrets.
People who think that the Cold War is over and we have nothing to worry about are living in a dream world.
Peace will never abound, so we must be ever wary and willing to make sacrifices for this country.
There is a price to pay for freedom, but it is that very freedom that makes this nation great.