The one thing he took a step back on was the Muslim religion. It's not just the stated goal of the terrorists to take over the world, it's the stated goal of the religion. The only difference between the terrorists and other Muslims is method, not end result.
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I agree with much of his assessment, but disagree with his premise. We will not win if (most of the country) is not united behind the war. However, the political left is not just in opposition to this war, they are in total opposition to most traditional Western ethical moral values. They are in vehement opposition to the concept of the United States - of "America", as it was originally established.
The political left equates Bush and conservative Republicans with the Muslim terrorists, at least in principle. Why would they join with Republicans to defeat Muslim "freedom fighters"? From their perspective, the more Muslim's win, the more American soldiers or civilians who die at terrorist hands, the weaker GOP political power becomes, and the more the political left wins.
The political left wing in this country is not "as bad" as the terrorists, but they indirectly support them. They are a "fifth column" for the Muslims within America, and are privately quite proud of that role.
As the author said, though, recognizing the stakes for this war is essential for developing and supporting a strategy for winning it. He's playing "nice nice" with the left, in hopes that they will realize that they are at risk too, and that it's in the best interest of the Democrat left to subordinate their immediate political aspirations for the sake of the country's benefit in a time of war. The Democrat left will never put the country before party and political power; never!
SFS
Here is the bio of the writer...
MAJOR GENERAL (DR.) VERNON CHONG
Retired Nov. 1, 1994.
Major General (Dr.) Vernon Chong is the command surgeon, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany. He advises the commander in chief on all medical matters and health issues that may affect the readiness of military forces in the command. He is responsible for establishing policies for the employment of theater medical resources during crisis, contingency and humanitarian relief operations. Also, he coordinates and integrates medical support activities and develops theater medical plans.
The general entered the Air Force in October 1963 following the completion of a residency in general surgery. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery in April 1964. He has commanded three Air Force medical centers, served as command surgeon of two major air commands, and was commander of the Joint Military Medical Command, San Antonio. The general is a chief flight surgeon, and was a surgeon/flight surgeon member of the DOD launch site recovery team for 15 space launches during the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz programs.
EDUCATION
1955 Bachelor of arts degree in basic medical sciences, Stanford University
1958 Doctor of medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
1963 Board qualification in general surgery, General Hospital of Fresno County
ASSIGNMENTS
1 October 1963 - June 1965, staff general surgeon and chief of general surgery service, USAF Hospital Scott, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
2. June 1965 - June 1968, staff general surgeon, later director of intern and resident education, USAF Hospital Tachikawa, Tachikawa Air Base, Japan
3. June 1968 - June 1970, staff general surgeon and instructor in general surgery residency, David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
4. June 1970 - June 1974, staff general surgeon, chairman department of surgery, and director of hospital services, USAF Academy Hospital, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
5. June 1974 - August 1976, staff general surgeon, director of hospital services, and deputy commander, USAF Regional Hospital March, March Air Force Base, Calif.
6. September 1976 - October 1978, staff general surgeon, director of hospital services, and deputy commander, David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
7. October 1978 - November 1981, commander, David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.
8. November 1981 - March 1985, commander, Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
9. March 1985 - February 1987, command surgeon, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Calif.
10. February 1987 - May 1990, commander, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
11. May 1990 - August 1991, command surgeon, Headquarters Air Training Command, and commander, Joint Military Medical Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
12. August 1991 - present, command surgeon, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Chief flight surgeon
Flight hours: More than 1,600
Aircraft flown: C-141, KC-135, C-130, T-29, C-5, T-39, C-21, C-12, C-9A, T-33, T-38, H-53, H-3, UH-1
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Order of Merit-Brazil
Gold Cross of Honor-Germany
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Order of the Sword - bestowed by enlisted personnel of Air Training Command
Clinical professor of surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio
Ira C. Eaker fellow - Air Force Association, Aerospace Education Foundation
Board of Governors, American College of Surgeons
Board of Regents, National Library of Medicine
Board of Regents, adviser, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Board of Trustees, Air Force Village Foundation
Board of Directors, Alamo Chapter, American Red Cross, San Antonio
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Captain Oct 14, 1963
Major Dec 15, 1966
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 8, 1968
Colonel Jun 15, 1973
Brigadier General Oct 1, 1982
Major General Apr 15, 1987
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Very true. In an earlier thread, Kerry has demanded a 20,000 man troop pull out of Iraq by Christmas. He thus demonstrates that he learned the real lesson of Vietnam, namely how to lose a war in the most humiliating manner and with the greatest long term repercussions.
I would envision the initial stages of the loss of this war to be as follows:
First, turn increasingly large portions of the war over to the Iraqi without answering the challenge presented by the subversion of the Police and Military by terrorist sympathizers.
Second begin withdrawing US troops according to a timetable and without any connection to the situation on the ground.
Negotiate through the UN with the "new' fundamentalist Iraqi government.Watch with "concern" while the fall of Iraq is followed by the fall of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Use the North Korean model for our negotiations with each of these "new" states.
Reelect Hillery to a second term.