What We Face

Like everyone else in this great country, I am reeling from last week’s attack on our sovereignty. But unlike some, I am not reeling from surprise. As a career soldier and a student and teacher of military history, I have a different perspective and I think you should hear it. This war will be won or lost by the American citizens, not diplomats, politicians or soldiers. Let me briefly explain.

In spite of what the media, and even our own government is telling us, this act was not committed by a group of mentally deranged fanatics. To dismiss them as such would be among the gravest of mistakes. This attack was committed by a ferocious, intelligent and dedicated adversary. Don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t admire these men and I deplore their tactics, but I respect their capabilities. The many parallels that have been made with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are apropos. Not only because it was a brilliant sneak attack against a complacent America, but also because we may well be pulling our new adversaries out of caves 30 years after we think this war is over, just like my father’s generation had to do with the formidable Japanese in the years following WW II.

These men hate the United States with all of their being, and we must not underestimate the power of their moral commitment. Napoleon, perhaps the world’s greatest combination of soldier and statesman, stated “the moral is to the physical as three is to one.” Patton thought the Frenchman underestimated its importance and said moral conviction was five times more important in battle than physical strength. Our enemies are willing - better said anxious -- to give their lives for their cause. How committed are we America? And for how long?

In addition to demonstrating great moral conviction, the recent attack demonstrated a mastery of some of the basic fundamentals of warfare taught to most military officers worldwide, namely simplicity, security and surprise. When I first heard rumors that some of these men may have been trained at our own Air War College, it made perfect sense to me. This was not a random act of violence, and we can expect the same sort of military competence to be displayed in the battle to come. This war will escalate, with a good portion of it happening right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

These men will not go easily into the night. They do not fear us. We must not fear them. In spite of our overwhelming conventional strength as the world’s only “superpower” (a truly silly term), we are the underdog in this fight. As you listen to the carefully scripted rhetoric designed to prepare us for the march for war, please realize that America is not equipped or seriously trained for the battle ahead. To be certain, our soldiers are much better than the enemy, and we have some excellent “counter-terrorist” organizations, but they are mostly trained for hostage rescues, airfield seizures, or the occasional “body snatch,” (which may come in handy). We will be fighting a war of annihilation, because if their early efforts are any indication, our enemy is ready and willing to die to the last man.

Eradicating the enemy will be costly and time consuming. They have already deployed their forces in as many as 20 countries, and are likely living the lives of everyday citizens. Simply put, our soldiers will be tasked with a search and destroy mission on multiple foreign landscapes, and the public must be patient and supportive until the strategy and tactics can be worked out.

For the most part, our military is still in the process of redefining itself and presided over by men and women who grew up with - and were promoted because they excelled in Cold War doctrine, strategy and tactics. This will not be linear warfare, there will be no clear “centers of gravity” to strike with high technology weapons. Our vast technological edge will certainly be helpful, but it will not be decisive. Perhaps the perfect metaphor for the coming battle was introduced by the terrorists themselves aboard the hijacked aircraft -- this will be a knife fight, and it will be won or lost by the ingenuity and will of citizens and soldiers, not by software or smart bombs. We must also be patient with our military leaders.

Unlike Americans who are eager to put this messy time behind us, our adversaries have time on their side, and they will use it. They plan to fight a battle of attrition, hoping to drag the battle out until the American public loses its will to fight. This might be difficult to believe in this euphoric time of flag waving and patriotism, but it is generally acknowledged that America lacks the stomach for a long fight. We need only look as far back as Vietnam, when North Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap (also a military history teacher) defeated the United States of America without ever winning a major tactical battle. American soldiers who marched to war cheered on by flag waving Americans in 1965 were reviled and spat upon less than three years later when they returned. Although we hope that Usama Bin Laden is no Giap, he is certain to understand and employ the concept. We can expect not only large doses of pain like the recent attacks, but also less audacious “sand in the gears” tactics, ranging from livestock infestations to attacks at water supplies and power distribution facilities. These attacks are designed to hit us in our “comfort zone” forcing the average American to “pay more and play less” and eventually eroding our resolve. But it can only work if we let it.

It is clear to me that the will of the American citizenry - you and I - is the center of gravity the enemy has targeted. It will be the fulcrum upon which victory or defeat will turn. He believes us to be soft, impatient, and self-centered. He may be right, but if so, we must change. The Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, (the most often quoted and least read military theorist in history), says that there is a “remarkable trinity of war” that is composed of the (1) will of the people, (2) the political leadership of the government, and (3) the chance and probability that plays out on the field of battle, in that order. Every American citizen was in the crosshairs of last Tuesday’s attack, not just those that were unfortunate enough to be in the World Trade Center or Pentagon. The will of the American people will decide this war. If we are to win, it will be because we have what it takes to persevere through a few more hits, learn from our mistakes, improvise, and adapt. If we can do that, we will eventually prevail.

Everyone I’ve talked to In the past few days has shared a common frustration, saying in one form or another “I just wish I could do something!” You are already doing it. Just keep faith in America, and continue to support your President and military, and the outcome is certain. If we fail to do so, the outcome is equally certain.

I just finished reading "Johnny Tremain" for the first time (it's an assignment for homeschool and the 'teacher' needed to read it so she could discuss it with the kids). In the book, the author, Ester Forbes has a statement by James Otis, one of the 'Sons of Liberty' and a member along with Sam Adams& Paul Revere of a group of men called the Observer's Club who met in secret to plot the revolution. At one of their last meetings before the war begins, Otis is describing what will happen in the coming war, how some of the men will give their property, some their knowledge and others, their lives. And he notes how our victory will help people in other countries to see that all people should be free. He says "We give all we have, lives, property, safety, skills...we fight, we die, for a simple thing. Only that a man can stand up."

Let us all remember that these terrorists represent a system even worse than that which we tossed off in 1776. We cannot let our vigilance down for one second, or we will not be safe anywhere in our beloved country.

Interesting and on the mark. I think the biggest weapon of our enemy is the strong knowledge that the American People will tire of this campaign and walk away without finishing.

Even those of us who pride ourselves on being vigilant can succumb to the same thing. The temptation to think everything is alright is very human.

After the 1st attack on the World Trade Center, the perpetrators were swiftly caught and debatably brought to justice. At least they were incarcerated. Most American's (myself included) thought that some nutty guys did a terrible thing and were caught. They thought it was over (even as they knew that more of the same could happen in the future) and they went on about their lives.

Now I hope we know that it isn't over and maybe never will be. I also pray that we don't give up our rights in the effort to defend against terrorism. Security is an illusion. I for one would rather live in the knowledge that we are under attack, than live as a prisoner in my own country with no rights.

It's time that this be read by Freepers again. --- It will certainly be one that simmers more than boils.

I agree with you on both accounts. While the last twenty-four hours have brought good news
regarding the advance of the Northern Alliance into Kabul, there have also been reports of
message intercepts indicating that Bin Laden will be targeting government buildings and U.S. Military
installations in Saudi Arabia. This would open a new front in the oil producing countries of the Middle East,
while the Afghanistan front moves deeper into the mountains.

I believe this war will alternate between simmer and boil for years to come, probably never reaching a definate end.
The viewpoint of the military historian who wrote this letter, will be relevant throughout this war.

The many parallels that have been made with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are apropos. Not only because it was a brilliant sneak attack against a complacent America, but also because we may well be pulling our new adversaries out of caves 30 years after we think this war is over, just like my father’s generation had to do with the formidable Japanese in the years following WW II.

I believe this war will alternate between simmer and boil for years to come, probably never reaching a definate end.

How sad but true. This type of subtle (well not the initial WTC attack) psychological warfare will not end.

We can only keep on fighting to contain it as much as possible.

Our country has never faced a foe such as this in such an all inclusive manner.

It's like that Inspector Clusou (of however you spell it) movie where he has his houseboy attack him when ever he is least expecting it.

With the threats to us on our own soil we need to keep on our toes more than ever, expect anything and be prepared.

Sleep with one ear open...

Eagle, thanks for posting this back in Sept, and Dixie, thanks for bringing it to the forefront again.

An excellent opin piece if ever there were.

I have to admit though, given the events of the past few days?
I'm wondering if the numbers of those committed to suicide in the name of their Islamic Jihad is even a fraction of what the lying, cheating, quisling US Lamestream media would have us believe.

I'm not diminishing the conviction of these nuts; not a bit.
Just the number of those ready to lay it on the line as the idiots crashing those jets had.

I base my curiosity on the reports coming out of Afganistan which are sounding more & more familiar to the before & after crap we heard during Desert Storm.
Only this time, the Bush administration effectively cut-off much of the fodder the Leftist America-hating media propaganda machine had used to beat hysteria into a froth during Desert Storm.

The Taliban Mullahs MUST be regretting to this very moment they ever got behind the despot Osama Mamma character; because while the bearded clown can merely skip off to another cave?
This Taliban regime has lost an entire nation.

Simply put, our soldiers will be tasked with a search and destroy mission on multiple foreign landscapes, and the public must be patient and supportive until the strategy and tactics can be worked out.

I disagree with a fundamental assumption in his argument. We should not sit quietly while our government military of professional soldiers fights the battle for us. If we do, IMHO we are doomed to either defeat or tyranny.

I really don't heve time for a long debate, but you flagged me here. Here is what I think we need to do:

1. Respect the purpose of the Second Amendment.

The militia took down the only plane in the attack that was stopped. With all due respect to the US military, Andrews Air Force Base was across the street from the Pentagon and they couldn't find two guys with Stingers to protect the building an hour and forty minutes after the attack. Had the flying public been armed, we wouldn't have lost a single plane.
Militia = 1 (with a handicap), Standing Army = 0

2. Secure our borders.

What are the necessities of this war if it isn't to protect the homeland of the United States? Who can do that with a border as extended as ours as well as can property owners?
The Militia again.

3. Motivate public support by respecting their Constitutional rights.

Nothing will destroy morale faster than instituting a police state. Nothing is more likely to enlist support by patriotic Muslims than respecting their rights. OTOH, we must crack down on the obvious, such as that Radical Islamic sect and their virtual training camp near Fresno. If we trained a volunteer militia group composed of Muslims for precisely that purpose, would that help?
The Militia again.

4. Hold private business accountable for security failures.

If the airlines had been liable for security, you can bet that they would have had secure doors on cockpits and armed deputy marshals aboard, or their insurance costs would have skyrocketed. A good system prevents problems. It's just hard to see the failures when the sytem is ignored.

5. Demand actuarial payment by US corporations for protection of their interests overseas.

I know, it's radical. The propensity of our nation to send its military overseas to protect our interests is a subsidy to capital seeking cheaper labor in regions that were once "too unstable" for investment. Doesn't that sound like an operating subsidy at the expense of the taxpayer? The military runs all over the planet making the world safe for corporate America and they export our jobs making us more dependent upon those extranational resources, now including food (yes, we are now a net importer of consumable food). I just wish that they would pay for those protection services as the subsidy that they represent. Domestic production would look like the better deal that it really is.

6. Devolve public education.

OK, so I can hope. Without better education, we won't see the simple, effective means and we won't have the discipline and intelligence to execute. We must have the education in history and philosophy that helps a young person understand what is worth fighting for and the educational aristocracy stands squarely in the way as the traitors to our Constitution that they are. We simply must privatize education and recognize that socialism is the reason we are in this mess. This is, after all, a long term fight, isn't it?

I am among those who think it useful to ask ourselves how we allowed ourselves to get into this mess. I think it useful to study the motives of our enemy to understand what makes him tick, anticipate his moves, know his blind spots, and what makes him make stupid mistakes. We should ask precisely such questions of ourselves, lest we be an easy target. No less should we ask them so that we can use what we have to effect.

This is no conventional war. This is preicsely the type of war for which the system the founders anticipated is especially suited. Considering that they had the opportunity to observe imperial European powers, all their adventures, wars, and "commitments to protect their interests," they saw this situation more clearly than do we.

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