We’re being put to the test

Roger Warrick, Las Vegas

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 | 2:03 a.m.

First, allow me to say that as a Vietnam War-era veteran, I am not a so-called “hawk.” I thoroughly detest war.

However, with the threat of military action in Syria, I feel the need to speak up.

I think of the many brave pilots that had to knowingly fly into hot zones in Vietnam, where a bunch of GIs were dead and wounded, and were shot to hell and back by a superior enemy force.

We know for a fact they did not want to land their helicopters in a fire storm, but they did because they knew that they had to take a stand. They realized that to do nothing was out of the question.

Our enemies are aware we are war weary and decided to test our resolve as the world’s only superpower.

Make no mistake: Iran and North Korea are watching every move to see how America will respond.

This problem is larger than a dislike for President Barack Obama; the prestige of America is at stake. This insult will last long after he leaves office.

If this Syrian affront goes unchallenged, then the word of future presidents will be thought of as being hollow and can be expected to be ignored. Our enemies’ favorite retort in the past was that America is just a “paper tiger.”

This would be a profound mistake and cannot be allowed to stand.

America has a strong moral code, and sometimes you have to take a stand and fight for these values — that is, if you want others to respect America’s word.