The recent uprisings in the Middle East have been dubbed the Arab Spring. I infer from this name that the revolutions are spontaneous combustions in Arabia. I believe underlying these disorganized rebellions, there is something noble and generous beyond belief.

During the years of the Vietnam War, the liberal press coined the phrase The Domino Effect to describe Communist takeover of all the nations in the Asian theatre if we allowed Vietnam to fall to the Communists.

The Domino Effect in today’s term is more descriptive than the romantic Arab Spring. The former is now a positive statement. It gives credit where it is due. President Bush, answering the attack on 9/11, declared war on terror and invaded Iraq. The military mission was accomplished in days (remember mission accomplished!), but the political aspect has taken years. The successful effort was not recognized by the press, but the people of the Middle East have had their eyes opened to the joys freedom. This revelation is due entirely to our victory in Iraq. That is the Domino Effect. The so-called Arab Spring would have been impossible without it.

Question: Do we arm these demonstrators? Do we take the risk that we may have to fight the people using our arms against us?

The answer is yes. The tens of thousands who are demonstrating are not all al-Qaeda. The small arms they have separate them from the rock throwers they have been for decades. Their void in military discipline is evident in their reckless firing of scarce automatic weapons into the air. Even if they have been supplied by the terrorists, they could not have had any military success without our air support. With small arms and our air support, they can topple Gaddafi and all the other oppressive regimes in the Middle East. This opportunity is a dividend on our investment of blood and treasure in Iraq, and if this opportunity is squandered, it is more evidence that our leadership is incompetent, or is working to advance the cause of our declared enemies.

The hard work is done. It was done in Iraq, where we planted the seeds of freedom and where natives are deciding the shape of their new freedom. We are now at the tipping point in world history with Libya. The dominoes are beginning to fall our way. It is a rare opportunity and it is to be hoped that our diplomats are equal to it...