Tuesday, Sep. 01, 2009

September dates to be remembered

The old history kit bag had some really interesting events for early September. Some of them hit close to home.

You could argue that World War II began on Sept. 1, 1939, when Hitler invaded Poland. That event certainly had a profound effect on a lot of us. World War II was cataclysmic for so many people, families and nations that it makes Sept. 1 a day to remember.

On Sept. 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of Vietnam. I bet most people at the time never dreamed that this announcement would result in the United States sending its soldiers to fight in southeast Asia for years.

Who could have envisioned the turmoil that would engulf our nation and result in the deaths of so many soldiers and Vietnamese civilians? I can’t help but wonder if our leaders at the time might have done something to stop Ho Chi Minh or have found a way to end colonialism and sway reconciliation along a more democratic path.

On Sept. 2, 1962, the Soviet Union agreed to ship weapons to Cuba.

I still remember the duck-and-cover routine in the event of a nuclear strike. Whenever I have a chance to show a visitor at the Infantry Museum, I enjoy pointing out the photo of children running that same drill.

Of course, the event on my mind is Sept. 1, 1969, when a military officer coup resulted in Muammar Gaddafi becoming the leader of Libya.

That’s on my mind because Scotland recently released the only person convicted of participating in the terrorist attack that destroyed Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Ali al-Megrahi was released from prison in Scotland because he was terminally ill. I know the Scottish judges felt they had to show compassion for Megrahi. They erred. I certainly agree with President Barack Obama’s comments that the release was a mistake. Megrahi showed no compassion for the people who died in terror as the plane they were in ripped apart in mid-air.

The deaths of 280 people don’t argue for much compassion in my view.

If Megrahi is terminally ill, then he was in the right place for a terminal assignment in life – jail.

The airport reception in Libya also proved once again that there are people in this world that hate us.

I see no reason to think that something is wrong with us when people decide to praise a mass murderer. Something is wrong with them. There are clear truths sometimes.

Maybe if something had gone a little differently Sept. 1, 1969, Gaddafi would not have risen to power and established his support to terrorists that ultimately killed a lot of people on our side.

I know that no one has a crystal ball, but it does irk me when we or an ally let evil off the hook.

We really need to wise up and accept that evil exists in the world and America had better be ready to play hardball.

John M. House is a retired Army colonel who lives in Midland, Ga. His e-mail is housearmylife@aol.com.