War Ain't Beanbag

The American Thinker ^ | May 02, 2009 | Geoffrey P. Hunt

[Scanian]

Perhaps George W Bush's most significant failure as president was not convincing enough Americans that the war on terror was a real war. From the vantage point of most Americans it had -- and still does have -- the look and feel of a police action, something far less. A bit like the "phony war" for Brits in 1939-1940, right up until the Battle of Britain and for Americans until Pearl Harbor.

Without most Americans convinced that it is a real war, the ruthless tactics necessary to wage a real war will never be fully accepted either morally or even pragmatically. Andrew Roberts in his "History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900" describes what it took to be a wartime leader. In May of 1940 it was obvious Neville Chamberlain wasn't it, as the House of Commons drafted Winston Churchill instead.

Roberts' money paragraphs on what it takes to lead and win war is here, starting with a remark by Horace Walpole:

"Horace Walpole had once lamented that, ‘no great country was ever saved by good men because good men will not go to the length that may be necessary.' By May 1940 Britain was less interested in whether her saviours were good than whether they were tough and single-minded.

[TalBlack]

It’s saying a hell of a lot about modern America that the coordinated attack on this country on 911 wasn’t enough to make it a real war for so many people. Hence we will find out how evil our enemies are and how much they hate us when they take a swipe that kills hundreds of thousands or millions.

[Jonny foreigner]

the problem is terrorist attacks usually can not be tracked back to a single country or a government. So how do you fight a “real” war against individuals living in different countries?

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Well maybe W. should have asked for a bit of sacrifice rather than tell people to go shopping after 9/11.

He should have started the US moving away from its oil addiction and toward something more rational than funding both sides of the WoT.

I find it hard to pinpoint W.’s biggest failure since there were so many. Perhaps it was paving the way for the near obliteration of his party and the takeover of the RATs of the entirety of the US government.

The man was a disaster for the GOP and a disaster for America. The right things he did were so overshadowed by the wrong that he will go down as one of the worst Presidents in the history books on both the right and the left.

My apologies to Bushbots who have not managed to alter their programming.

[iopscusa]

There's a lot of deprogramming needed for the BBots and the BDSBots. I have both elements in my thinking on GWB. I'm even less of a fan of his father, who steered the right away from Reagan's foundations and ushered in the infamous WJC begatting 9/11 and empowering China, Russia and the far Left.

[DooDahhhh]

Well, crap, just get off this webb site and sign into duummies.

[DooDahhhh]

Well, crap, just get off this webb site and sign into duummies.

[TalBlack]

“the problem is terrorist attacks usually can not be tracked back to a single country or a government. So how do you fight a “real” war against individuals living in different countries?”

I was speaking of the ATTITUDE of Americans with respect to the war.

In the unrelated matter you bring up: Yes you can make nations go along with you and or choose a side in a matter. But this involves a level of intent and seriousness that modern society is incapable off.

We used to call it ‘war’.

[Melchior]

This is no longer a serious nation. It is seen in our education system, our television programming, our fanatical interest in the puerile — music, sports, and even religion. By voting pattern the American population is now split in half. The “red” half understood intuitively that following 9/11 there was a war on terror. The upper half, dominated by the East and West coastal elites, was never so disposed. In control of the media, they declared war on the United States government and then won the ensuing propaganda battle.

For those with a taste for history in the nineteen thirties there was a significant percentage of the same sort of coastal elites that supported the Stalin-Hitler pact. Fast forward, and that fascistic mentality is alive today and is represented by the ideologues who deny there exists a war with Islamist terrorists.

Let there be no mistake, there is a war going on in the USA for the hearts and minds of the American people. Ironically, it is more easily understood abroad than in America where the mass of people in their constant effort to avoid any attempt at ratiocination have been easily lobotomized by our so-called cultural elites. In 1939 Roosevelt understood that his party was in danger of being taken over by the “Progressive” Left. Ironically, it would take seventy years, but the Progressives have finally taken over, and the political war that pits the ruling elites against the broad middle class, a clash that was only avoided by the German invasion of the Soviet Union, has now begun.

[Crolis]

Good observation. I have commented to my wife and friends that the United States as a whole lacks seriousness and thoughtfulness. A large segment of the population considers “The Daily Show” as legitimate news and can’t speak of any topic without turning it into a joke. That doesn’t bode well for our future.

Fortunately, there are still many who raise their kids right and focus on deeper issues that confront the United States. Many of us can appreciate comedy and a little fun in life but we still understand that Jon Stewart is just a well paid circus clown.

[gitmogrunt]

Tracking Alert: 19 of the 09-11-01 Hijacker track to Saudi Arabia,thats a fact.

Saudi arabia is Rich in Saturation Bombing Targets

IMHO this crop of Politicians are cowards and goody-two-shoes,, or we would have leveled several places, with no plans to "nation build".

[TalBlack]

“and the political war that pits the ruling elites against the broad middle class, a clash that was only avoided by the German invasion of the Soviet Union, has now begun.”

Forces, good and evil, loosed by God at the dawn of time can only do as they must. We have a choice in life of only one or the other. The “clash” you speak of is inevitable and close.

[Max in Utah]

You don't like Bush, you don't like Palin.

Who DO you like?

[Max in Utah]

Saudi Arabia with its worldwide promotion of the wahabbi version of islam is the primary root of terror in the world, so if we seriously wanted to fight a war we would take them down.

The country depends on water desalinization to keep its people alive. One F-15 striking these facilities could bring the kingdom to its knees.

Speaking of "The Kingdom," watch that movie if you haven't already. Very intense and realistic.

[HangThemHigh]

Google finds nothing relevant for “tracking alert 19” what is that?

But beyond that I agree, if we can’t find a culprit, pick one and loose the dogs of war.

[lonestar67]

Apology not accepted.

W was a disaster for you and your allies of the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, Charles Taylor, and Omar Bashir.

May your genocidal pals continue to eat dirt.

Now go hide under Mama Obama’s skirts.

Maybe she will protect you as well as Bush did.

[Constitutional Patriot]

“The problem is terrorist attacks usually can not be tracked back to a single country or a government. So how do you fight a “real” war against individuals living in different countries?”

That’s a big part of it. I think part of the problem here too is that our “leaders” do not have the political courage to go to war with the sponsors of these people. If it’s Syria, Iran, or whomever, these countries should be in the crosshairs.