In case you haven’t noticed recently, we are at war.
You are forgiven if it slipped your mind. The Bush Administration, now that it has its funding for the troops through September, will probably go back to its curiously quiescent attitude about informing the American people of the stakes and warning of the consequences of failure in Iraq. It is one of the great mysteries of this conflict, this on again, off again, start and stop effort by the President to remind us of the fact that 150,000 of our fellow citizens are engaged in a vital conflict that as I write this, is deciding much about our future.
The blockheads at the White House have never gotten it. They’ve never understood that their long, unbroken silences on the war have allowed their political opponents to define every aspect of it – why we invaded, what’s at stake, even what is really going on in Iraq. (It would have helped when bothering to inform us of what was going on there that they had actually been realistic and honest about what was transpiring rather than childishly optimistic and myopic.) And by allowing the Democrats to accuse them of all sorts of perfidy in the lead up to the conflict without constant, detailed, and passionate rebuttals, the President and his people have shattered any hope that the American public would stand by the Administration when the going got tough. The people have bought into the “Bush lied, people died” meme – or some variation – almost universally which has helped sap the will of the electorate to stay with the President on the war.
Of course, other matters also helped sap the will of the people. Blunders on the battle field that turned much of the population against us, misreading the situation on the ground, not changing strategies fast enough to reflect the true nature of the enemy we are fighting all contributed to the people’s sense that the folks running the war are either incompetent or had no workable plan for victory. The tremendous support given the President by the American people in the first few months after the invasion has been pissed away thanks to a political leadership that has not only failed to anticipate what the enemy in Iraq was going to do but also failed to realize the political threat here at home. They underestimated the desire and ability of the left to undermine the war effort by promulgating conspiracy theories, ascribing false motives to their actions, and even twisting the facts to paint a false picture to the American people of the war. The left is very good at storytelling. And the narrative they have so lovingly developed on the war has taken hold with the public thanks to the inexplicable and deplorable refusal of the Administration to defend itself in any useful way.
But as it becomes more and more apparent that our adventure in Iraq will sputter to an unsatisfying and potentially dangerous conclusion, my thoughts turn to those who have given so much in a cause that while good and noble, was mismanaged by their political and military leaders. The abilities, the courage, and the dedication of our military people in Iraq has been horribly misused. And I can’t escape the feeling that many of them will hold resentments when this is all over – resentment towards people like me who stopped being a cheerleader and became a critic (the reasons aren’t important) or perhaps even resentment at a government that gave them a job to do and then lost its way as well as losing the support of the people.
But they are not alone. They are brothers with those who for 230 years have bled out on battlefields all over the world. We like to think of ourselves as a peaceful people but I’m afraid history has a different take on the United States. We have fought wars for independence, for self defense, and to make the words in the Declaration and Constitution mean something. But we have also fought wars of belligerence, for conquest, for empire, and even for spite. And since the end of World War II, we have been at war almost constantly. And that’s not even including the “dirty wars” fought by our intelligence agencies in corners of the world where it seemed a good idea at the time to fight for dominance or for a change in government, or even for commercial interests.
But why we have fought doesn’t really matter. History’s judgement in these matters is, after all, seen through the prism of time with little thought to what kind of nation we have become as a result of those wars. We were a different nation 150, 100, even 50 years ago. We have grown up. We have responsibilities no nation has ever had – not Rome, nor Spain, or England or France when those nations dominated the planet. When a Tsunami devastates the South Pacific, no one thinks of calling in the French or Germans or even the Russians for assistance. They call upon the United States not only because we have the capability but because they know we can’t say no. There is no other nation in the history of human civilization who has had this kind of responsibility.
And that responsibility extends into the military sphere as well. Despite the public criticism, there is an almost universal recognition among the nations of the world that deposing the dictator Saddam was a good thing, a noble cause. What has happened in Iraq since then has been an occasion for much posturing and anti-American domestic politicking by many nations who should know better. They don’t speak German in France because American boys bled and died driving Hitler’s army from that sacred soil. And Soviet troops aren’t occupying Mittel Europa anymore because generations of American boys stood watch in places like Alaska, Germany, Greece, and Great Britain.
Yes, the world forgets. And they hate being reminded of it. It is a debt they will never be able to repay, especially to those sentinels of freedom who faced down the Russians for 45 long years. Or the 100,000 men who sacrificed their lives in Korea and Viet Nam to make Asia the economic dynamo it is today, at peace for the first time in 100 years. Or the Rangers who scaled the cliffs at Point du Hoc on D-Day. Or the Dough boys who rolled up the Kaiser’s armies after the French and British exhausted themselves almost to the point of defeat.
But as we approach another Memorial Day, I am struck by the connection between today’s American soldier and those of 100, even 200 years ago and all the years in between. Whether fighting for land, for empire, or to defend ourselves from an external enemy, the courage and skill with which the American fighting man has fought has been the envy of the world. European military observers from the 19th century marveled at it. And the 20th centuries dictators came to fear it. A combination of discipline and individual initiative that has been the hallmark of the American fighting man for 230 years is unprecedented. Other nations have tried to copy it and failed. It has proven to be an unbeatable combination on the battlefield.
But for all their skill. For all their sacrifices, the American soldier ultimately is only as successful as those who set policy and strategy and point him towards the enemy. In every war America has fought – from the Revolution to Iraq – the ineffable qualities in the American fighting man have been wasted by poor leadership. The Revolution had, among other disasters, General Charles Lee, an incompetent fop of a general. And there was the Congress who insisted Washington attempt to keep New York out of British hands – a disaster that almost ended the war before it started.
The Civil War had a veritable cornucopia of bad generals, stupid mistakes by Lincoln, and a Congress who stuck its nose constantly into the army’s business. The list goes on through World Wars I and II, Korea, Viet Nam and beyond. The fact is, our fighting men have been constantly ill served by those who ask them to die. I suppose war is fraught with this kind of peril. But it doesn’t make it any easier for the men who must suffer the consequences of others mistakes.
On Memorial Day, none of this matters. We don’t think much on why they died or even how they died. All we know and care about is that they died for us. We, the people, asked them to go in harm’s way and they responded courageously, giving that “last full measure of devotion” as Lincoln called it at Gettysburg. Sometimes we may have been wrong. Sometimes the conflict couldn’t be avoided. And sometimes, we were right. Circumstances, blurred by time and softened by memories of loved ones lost, are of secondary consideration. When the political leadership, freely elected by the people, decides to take the United States to war we are duty bound to support our fighting men – even if we disagree with the decision to fight. For in the end, it is their sacrifices that define us as a people.
5:49 pm
Rick
As always, great post. For the most part I think you nailed it. You write that no other nation in the histroy of the world has had the responsibilties that the United States has. We no longer want that responsibility. There is no reason we cannot say no. It is really quite simple. Just say NO!! We don’t want to be nanny to the world nor do we wish to play global traffic cop. I’m not sure we ever wanted those responsibilities. Because the US government tried to assume global responsibilities that the electorate does not want us to assume is one of the big reasons the Republicans lost the last election. Other nations, such as Russia and China, have the capabilties to carry out the foreign aid actions that we currently do. Let them do this. At least, let them carry more of the load.
You state that it is almost universally agreed that removing Saddam Huessein was a good thing. You may well be correct but I’m a little bit skeptical. Saddam had numerous global business dealings and had many friends in high places. Whilte we might think it was a noble act, I’m not sure most of the world would agree.
You point out that the American fighting man is only as successful as the policy makers who set the strategy and point him toward the enemy. This is so true. Right now our most dangerous enemy is Russia. The Russians are largely being ignored. Russia has been the chief benefactor of our current policies in Iraq. It seems we have allowed ourselves to become distracted. This will need to change. Our strategy will need to be redirected to mount an effective defense against Russia.
7:28 pm
Rick
I don’t know what has happened to you, but I have watched the transition over the last year or so.
Your assertion we fought wars for conquest flies in reality of what we have done.
As to how wars are fought, please give me an example of a war that went by the book and someone had the perfect plan from the git go.
And don’t give me the soft memory of loved ones lost. Each is a searing pain that reaches into our soul to give us the fire to carry on and recharge the resolution we already have.
Do me a favor , take a trip where ever you have to and sit down at a booth in a military bar and just watch and observe for a few hours. You don’t even have to interact with them.
Actually that should be do yourself a favor.
8:19 pm
If you can’t work you way to a military bar , at least try to observe an example of the Patriot Guard riders somewhere near you. It brings to focus a lot of things.
Even in you posts on 24 I have noticed the shift.
In some ways I wonder if your are commenting on Jack’s moral compass or in some way questioning yours in some small way as you carry on.
9:43 pm
There isn’t a historian worth their salt who says the MExican War was any but a war to expand the territory of the United States -a war of conquest. Ditto the war of Spain being a war for empire.
Perhaps what you’re seeing is a little confidence in expressing my opinions. There’s some subtly there that I think you’re missing. I say absolutely nothing against the fighting men of the United States. But I point out that they have been ill-served – especially in this war.
4:52 am
I agree on Memorial Day we need to concentrate on our Military Men and Women who fight to keep us safe 24/7.
!!
I want em home also but if we leave Iraq becomes the main base for em to fester and train.
We need to hear the main leaders there tell us to get OUT, all of them, not just factions like that alsadar(sp) dude hold up in Iran, he can kiss my grits. If I hear that I say pull out, keep some troops close by and bring the rest home to PROTECT OUR BORDERS.
7:12 am
Rick
Each loss is important, but anyone has to concede that the death toll over the length of this war is remarkably low.
If the IED threat could be neutralized a lot of issues would change. Also I note that our side is working as fast as they can to come up with counter measures for IED’s and we are seeing good success in that area. It’s not totally fixed but it is getting better.
I also know the surge will result in higher death rates.
We are taking the fight to areas we have basically skirted around before and the increased level on confrontation will have it’s results.
Prolonged war makes people weary , especially in our short attention span theater society.
Well they better adjust because this is going to be a long haul to stamp out.
If AQ senses the end is near here, they will pop up issues in as many other places as they can.
Witness Lebanon, Morocco, France and some Germany issues.
8:38 am
[...] Right Wing Nut House reflects on 230 years of blood and sacrifice [...]
9:50 am
Rick,
Yes we did flirt with empire in the late 1800’s. And as a nation we decided we did not want that.
We have taken on the responsibility because no other nation or group of nations will. God knows we have tried to get the rest of the world involved through the league of nations and the UN. But the USA is different then the rest of the world. It was founded on an idea. So other nations have a different view of the world they we do. I to have disillusioned with the WH when it comes to this war. They have never asked the country to sacrifice nor have they defended the war and its reasons for the war. In fact they have made more effort with their open borders immigration bill then the war to wins hearts and minds of the US citizen. Be that as it may, that does not mean that the war is not worth winning or supporting. We can support the mission and the troops and not support the leadership.
Becasue of our nation taking our the responsiblity of peace keeping the world as a whole has been at peace for close to 60 years now. Sure we have had regional wars between nations and we have sometimes been required to join in those wars.
However, because of the the fighting strength of our soldiers and the willingness of our nation to sacrifce for the global good we as a people have reaped the benefits of that most noble mission with the highest standard of living, the best healthcare, the strongest economy, the best higher education system, the most freedom in the world.
We have achieved all of these things because of our soldiers willingness to police and patrol the world so that the wars stay far from our shores. For this I am and will be forever thankful of those that enlist.
10:57 am
Our troops are outstanding in Iraq, but that means nothing if the Iraqis can’t come together as a nation. Our troops can’t force Maliki to compromise.Have we made Iraq a “nanny state”? Eventually we will reach the point of having done everything we can do. Will fighting Al Queda in Iraq make us safer from Al Queda cells in Saudi Arabia,Egypt,Somalia,Indonesia,Germany etc ?Even if the surge works in Baghdad and Al Anbar, what happens in Basra,Mosul,Ramadi,Kirkuk,Najaf, like McCain says, its pop-a-mole. Rick if your going to blame the left, blame the people who said we’d be greeted as liberators,the oil would pay for the reconstruction,etc. The buck stops with Bush, he called the shots,he’s to blame, not the left.Iraq is just a permanent occupation of a failed state. It won’t get better,it will get much worse.
12:57 pm
At some historic moment, not too far off, we need to find military leaders and politicians who are honor bound to aggressively fight our enemies… instead of aggressively cover their politically correct asses while brave men and women suffer their incompetence and disgraceful hypocrisy.
4:32 pm
This is a wonderful post.It is a post that Americans can agree with today and tomorrow. Let us leave the arguments on the way ahead in Iraq for Tuesday.
9:02 pm
I have read your post and agree with the premise of your thoughts. I to would like to have seen the true patriot at heart politicians support what started from the beginning.
This morning I listened to the 9/20/2001 speech by President Bush to congress and remembered where I was when I heard it for the first time and can remember what I was thinking at the time. I listened to the words of the President and thought “After over fifty years of terrorists now we can do away with them and not have to worry about my children having to read about and see things like this when they have a family.”
That was six years ago. From that time of complete unity of the nation on the words of the President until not I have noticed a steady and strong progression by the democrat/liberal political structure around the country do everything they can to tear down our country’s efforts to do away with terrorists and their beliefs.
After reading books like “Story on the Constitution”, “Conciliation with America” and the Founding Fathers papers I have come to the conclusion I have not wanted to come to. That their is a political party in my beloved America that is hell bent on it’s destruction through internal and geopolitical politics.
Pictures of our Presidents that date back to the daguerreotypes as compared to the pictures of modern Presidents tell a deep story and leave you wondering what was on their minds. Take for instance a picture of President Lincoln and compare it to a picture of President Carter or Clinton. You will notice that they do not compare. Take the same picture of President Lincoln and compare it to one of President Bush and you will notice something striking. Its the same thing you notice when you read about President Washington going out into the woods to pray. The same thing the farmer saw in President Washington when he saw him praying on his knees in the dirt and snow.
What is it? What do you see in the eyes of such men? What takes them to a place that puts that much in their eyes? How does one come to understand what his mission is while so many are trying to do so much against you?
I don’t know what I see in their eyes but I know it is good. The sort of good that is deep down inside a man and that almost never comes to the top. The kind of good that you see to seldom in a lifetime.
So, is President Bush doing the right thing taking it to the terrorists? I believe he is and he must. Is their “political terrorists” working on Capitol Hill trying to tear this country down? I believe their are. We see and hear them every day on the media.
So what should we do? Just click the tv and radio off and go to sleep or read about good men and put their ideals forward? Should we cuss the “political terrorists” and then go play golf or should we take after the sons of B!^$#es and put them out of office and in some cases in prison?
You can guess which one I intend on doing.
redbeardguy@hotmail.com
11:06 am
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12:17 am
Submitted for Your Approval…
First off… any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now… here are all the links submitted by members of the Watcher’s Council for this week’s vote. Council li…
10:29 am
[...] Right Wing Nut House, “Reflecting on 230 Years of Blood and Sacrifice†[...]
12:55 am
The Council Has Spoken!...
First off… any spambots reading this should immediately go here, here, here, and here. Die spambots, die! And now… the winning entries in the Watcher’s Council vote for this week are A Cure for “Anti-Zionism&rdq…
3:00 pm
Watcher’s Council Results…
The winning entries in the Watcher’s Council vote for this week are A Cure for “Anti-Zionism” by Joshuapundit, and Sticking To What I Know Best by Dr. Sanity. Here is a link to the full results of the vote. Here are…...