March 3, 2008

"I have not yet begun to fight."

Whenever I hear a Democrat talk about how tough the Iraq war has been, and how it is time to bring the troops home whatever hell may come to Iraq, I think back to one of my favorite heros of the American Revolution, the naval captain John Paul Jones who, when the going got tough, he got tougher:

In command of Ranger in 1777 and 1778, he operated in British home waters and made audacious raids on England's shore.In recognition of his exploits, he was placed in command of five French and American vessels. Aboard his flagship, the Bonhomme Richard, Jones led his small squadron in the capture of seven merchantmen off of the Scottish coast. On September 23, 1779, Jones fought one of the bloodiest engagements in naval history. Jones struggled with the 44-gun Royal Navy frigate Serapis, and although his own vessel was burning and sinking, Jones would not accept the British demand for surrender, replying, "I have not yet begun to fight." More than three hours later, Serapis surrendered and Jones took command.

I have often wondered what the sailors on that first Bonhomme Richard were thinking, as their ship was burning and sinking in the middle of a four-hour battle in which nearly half of the crews on both vessels lost their lives, before their captain voiced his brave defiance. I have no doubt that some of them were wishing for surrender and an end to the horrific battle and the bloodshed.

Just like today, when millions of Americans are following the siren song of a smooth-talking candidate who promises that if he's elected President, we can just walk away from the tough fight and the world will love us once again.

American faces a crossroads vote this year - whether we'll chose to slink away from Iraq and let al Qaeda have it, or whether we'll stand tall like John Paul Jones 229 years ago and declare that we have not yet begun to fight.

A year ago, - or John Sidney McCain III stood tall and said, in effect, "we have not yet begun to fight," as he backed President Bush's much-derided "surge" strategy in Iraq. Even before the first additional boots touched Iraqi ground, Harry Reid proclaimed the war lost, and every Democrat presidential candidate from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on down to the future footnotes in the race declared it was doomed to failure.

They were wrong. Defeatists always are.

John McCain was right. He still is right. And he has not yet begun to fight.