RANT & CHAT - No Politics

[Bird of Prey]

I'm not picking on you Sara, yours is just the last post in the line. <G>

Talk about ranging all over the place! Let's see...

I agree with the notion that we should have the support of the people we might be defending in the event of a war (IE South Vietnam) It certainly helps when you know who is on your side and who isn't.
However we did not have the support of the Japanese or the Germans or the Italians during WWII. Those forces that were our allies (while we could not have won without them) often were secondary or diversionary forces while we took the main brunt of the battle. In those rare instances when they did lead the charge, they were stalemated or routed more than they succeeded.
It is very true that the politicians reign in the military. Patton has been cited several times, how many remember the MacArthur/Truman confrontations?
Our military is the best in the world by far for one reason...from the beginning it's leaders have understood it's purpose (to kill people and break things) and have designed and trained it's resources to do just that. Unrestrained Patton would have captured Moscow and MacArthur Peking (Bejing). Our political leaders at the time felt that these actions were neither necessary or appropriate. We may never know the wisdom or folly of their actions.
As with many aspects of our system of Government this is just another example of checks and balances of power. Whether Bush Sr. was right or wrong in restraining our military during the Gulf War, he was not alone. He had the full support of the Congress and the Cabinet and the populace. Though he gets the credit or blame for the decision, we all had a hand in it.
The same cannot be said for the Clinton decisions concerning Bin Laden. We are only now learning how many opportunities were available during the `90's to rid the world of Bin Laden but Clinton chose not to take advantage of them. Not that it would have made much difference, eliminating Bin Laden does not solve the problem. A hundred more will rise to take his place.

There is no support to be gained in the Middle East. Even the citizens of Kuwait have forgotten our sacrifices on their behalf. There is a large militant Islamic movement taking control of Kuwait today. It won't be much longer before they begin producing suicide bombers to kill the infidel Americans.

It would be nice if we could force these people to act rationally and discuss our differences and make peaceable arrangements that would avoid war. But I fear that would have no more success than Neville Chamberlin, who, though he had a signed agreement to wave at the cameras as he stepped off the plane to declare "Peace in Our Time!", the other signature was Adolf Hitler's. A man who had no problem signing agreements that made his plans for world domination simpler.
There is no evidence that our opponents in this conflict are any more honorable that Adolf Hitler.
Our military is the finest in the world, It is made so by the brave men and women that have chosen to fight (if necessary) for their country. They all deserve our respect. From the first private in the Virginia militia over two hundred years ago, to the last reservist we call to duty today. I hope and pray that none of them will have to give their lives for this country. But I would remind them of the word's of George S. Patton...
"You are not being sent there to die for your country...but to make sure that the other poor dumb S.O.B. dies for his!"

The Bird of Prey
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