Replies

Before this peace is fully won we are going to see some more horrific scenes emanating out of Iraq—charred bodies, tortured American prisoners, West-Bank-style lynching and shootings. Such is the nature of war and peace in that part of the world. But what is different about this present war, what makes it so at odds with the effort to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan, the Lebanon peacekeeping and mass murder of Marines with attendant flight, the first Gulf War, the no-fly zones and various mini-scrapes like Operation Desert Fox or the cruise-missiles sent into Afghanistan and North Africa, is that the United States has repeatedly shown it is not simply interested in bombing and leaving, but wants this time to create the conditions under which a GPS bomb or cruise missile is no longer a necessary response—and that is a very difficult proposition indeed, especially when most regimes in the Middle East would prefer us to bomb and run rather than to build and stay.
Suggestions? We must press on, of course. Use the troops that we have to put down the insurrectionists immediately and without mercy—and we will not need perpetually to call for ever more soldiers. One subdued Fallujah is worth two additional armored divisions in terms of deterrence. Give the Iraqis a higher public profile, and do not waver from the long scheduled dates of transfer of power. And finally, keep reminding the American people how much has been accomplished and how rare is our effort to defeat fascism and leave consensual government in its wake—and do that every day.

Victor Davis Hanson moral clarity huge BUMP

[please freepmail me if you want or don't want to be pinged to Victor Davis Hanson articles]

If you want to bookmark his articles discussed at FR: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/k-victordavishanson/browse

His NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp

His blog: http://victorhanson.com/index.html BIO: http://victorhanson.com/Author/index.html

Yes, he is listened by the Bush Administration; they like him maybe as much as we do: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085464/posts?page=6#6

Wars are won or lost by the country that is willing to take the killing action to the civilian population. As long as it stays between soldiers (and the willing) the war will continue. WWII (Germany and Japan) did not quit the fight until we bombed the snot out of their civilian population. The war almost immediately stopped thereafter. There was no indication of cessation of hostilities for over five years prior while soldiers were doing the dieing.

We will not win this war or any war unless we become nastier than the enemy and take it directly to the population. Bomb a city where fighting is occurring and kill 100 soldiers along with 10,000 women and children and the war will stop very quickly.

This is a lesson that has been known (and proven time and again) through out history. Micaville knew it and wrote extensively on the subject, in addition to practicing what he preached. He was right. The only difference is that we have to be able to forgive our enemies and help our enemies afterward. I believe that Micaville would agree that this is the best way to assure the peace.

As long as we think that we can protect ourselves through good and peaceful intent we will lose. History proves that to be 100% true. We lost in Viet Nam because we let the enemy be nasty while we tried to be nice and introspective. We never got the point in Nam. We first blamed our soldiers (I was there), and then we blamed the protestors. It was partially the protestors but the civilian population and the political parties were not willing to do what was necessary to win the war.

We need to relearn our lessons of life or we will lose everything.

On another subject - (slightly)
If we were to take volunteers (over the age of enlistment in the military) and let them live with and work with the soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere (performing duties which would free up the more agile troops) we could not only help the troops themselves, we would show to the world the determination that this nation has to win. Anyone interested in driving supplies, pulling KP, doing the dirty work necessary to help? I am and I would love to have the opportunity to help finish a war we MUST win. I lost my chance in Nam as did thousands of others (including the entire US) and I am sure that there are thousands like me who will give our all to defend our country and show the world what AMERICANS are made of - even those of us over the age of enlistment.

Write me if you agree or have any suggestions on how to go about setting us such a program ..............