Leadership Quote by Ron Kind

Patriotism does a lot of heavy lifting here. Ron Kind’s line wraps the Iraq War in a moral warm glow by shifting the spotlight from the policy to the people in uniform: “following their orders,” “carrying out their missions,” “sacrificing so much.” It’s a protective rhetorical move, one designed to make dissent feel like misdirected anger. Critique the strategy and you risk sounding like you’re critiquing the soldiers. The sentence builds a permission structure for support: you can be “proud,” even if you’re unsure, because pride is aimed at obedience and sacrifice, not the architects of the war.

The subtext is a careful balancing act typical of elected officials in the mid-2000s, when public opinion was souring but “support the troops” remained politically non-negotiable. “Following their orders” quietly reinforces the chain of command, casting troops as dutiful instruments rather than agents of controversial decisions. That framing lets a politician acknowledge hardship without owning the war’s rationale.

Then comes the moral payoff: “give the Iraqi people a chance” at peace and prosperity. “Chance” is doing strategic work, lowering the bar from guarantee to aspiration, insulating the speaker from outcomes. It also positions American force as benevolent opportunity-creation, not occupation or coercion. The phrase “more peaceful and prosperous” is broad enough to be unassailable, vague enough to avoid specifics like sectarian violence, civilian casualties, or governance failures.

The intent isn’t just to praise; it’s to stabilize a narrative: sacrifice now, redemption later. In a moment of contested legitimacy, the sentence tries to keep the national conscience pointed forward.