Sometimes the yesterdays of 1966-67 Vietnam seem nearby. Other times the memories are distant, but increasingly the politics that killed fifty six thousand of my generation remains a haunting memory. When politicians and diplomats dispute issues to the extreme, and cannot call a war a war, young men and women are slaughtered.
The circumstance of undeclared war, without the full backing of Congress, sends our young people into battle with more political debate and bluster then common sense. We had the military strength to win in Korea and Vietnam, but indecisive political leaders gave us stalemate, defeat and thousands of young people sent home as cripples or corpses. Handing our sovereignty over to the UN and not allowing generals to wage war has resulted in military quagmires since Korea.
Politicians point fingers to deflect blame and move on to the next war debate while thousands of wounded and slaughtered soldiers remain. Thousands of maimed service members wear their physical and mental scars for a lifetime. This the pitiful pattern reflects cowardly national political leaders. In my opinion, our politicians have become too enamored with their legacies, re election opportunities, and media reputations to perform as real leaders. Concern with their political correctness and media popularity have made indecision in matters of war and peace their favored option.
In a republic I maintain civilian leaders must always direct military leaders, however it often seems . our military leaders have more discipline and sensitivity to the results of war than our political bosses. War is a nasty business and while sometimes necessary it must be carefully considered and expertly executed. Franklin Roosevelt and Wilson agonized and hesitated before their solemn declarations. However, once they and Congress made the commitment, the nation focused and devoted a majority of it's talent, innovation, and effort to attain military dominance and victory. With their formal declarations and congressional approval the political arguments ended and the nation became united.
There will never been a good war, but conflicts where human and material sacrifices preserve American liberty, national safety or a national border are more acceptable than willy- nilly efforts lacking clear goals.
Looking back over the last fifty years, it seems all our military actions have been tentative and directed by politicians rather than generals. Sometimes it seems like "good morning Vietnam" all over again when we stumble into another countries civil war. We must avoid future military mis adventures and stop sending young people into battles that have nothing to do with our national security. As body bags steadily come home day after day, week after week, we weep, eulogize, erect stone monuments, and glorify the efforts of the fallen, but we never punish or fire the politicians who support the grinding process of undeclared wars.
Sometimes, I get a vision of an old movie where young virgins are duped into approaching a stone altar perched high above the masses. There with chants and fanfare they are beheaded or butchered. The crowd is told the sacrifices are necessary and proper to satisfy some unseen god and chieftains in glowing golden robes. Then, the on lookers are feed wine, heaps of food, and cake. The crowd hysterically cheers and celebrates and forgets the macabre display of killing. In an updated version are we still in a place that sacrifices young people to satisfy dark needs which evade common sense and compassion ?
Beyond Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf Wars, Afghanistan and other undeclared wars shouldn't we be about electing and sustaining national leaders who will more wisely use our military ? Wouldn't it be better to fill our graveyards with old politician champions dueling it out on a battlefield rather than young service members ?
The circumstance of undeclared war, without the full backing of Congress, sends our young people into battle with more political debate and bluster then common sense. We had the military strength to win in Korea and Vietnam, but indecisive political leaders gave us stalemate, defeat and thousands of young people sent home as cripples or corpses. Handing our sovereignty over to the UN and not allowing generals to wage war has resulted in military quagmires since Korea.
Politicians point fingers to deflect blame and move on to the next war debate while thousands of wounded and slaughtered soldiers remain. Thousands of maimed service members wear their physical and mental scars for a lifetime. This the pitiful pattern reflects cowardly national political leaders. In my opinion, our politicians have become too enamored with their legacies, re election opportunities, and media reputations to perform as real leaders. Concern with their political correctness and media popularity have made indecision in matters of war and peace their favored option.
In a republic I maintain civilian leaders must always direct military leaders, however it often seems . our military leaders have more discipline and sensitivity to the results of war than our political bosses. War is a nasty business and while sometimes necessary it must be carefully considered and expertly executed. Franklin Roosevelt and Wilson agonized and hesitated before their solemn declarations. However, once they and Congress made the commitment, the nation focused and devoted a majority of it's talent, innovation, and effort to attain military dominance and victory. With their formal declarations and congressional approval the political arguments ended and the nation became united.
There will never been a good war, but conflicts where human and material sacrifices preserve American liberty, national safety or a national border are more acceptable than willy- nilly efforts lacking clear goals.
Looking back over the last fifty years, it seems all our military actions have been tentative and directed by politicians rather than generals. Sometimes it seems like "good morning Vietnam" all over again when we stumble into another countries civil war. We must avoid future military mis adventures and stop sending young people into battles that have nothing to do with our national security. As body bags steadily come home day after day, week after week, we weep, eulogize, erect stone monuments, and glorify the efforts of the fallen, but we never punish or fire the politicians who support the grinding process of undeclared wars.
Sometimes, I get a vision of an old movie where young virgins are duped into approaching a stone altar perched high above the masses. There with chants and fanfare they are beheaded or butchered. The crowd is told the sacrifices are necessary and proper to satisfy some unseen god and chieftains in glowing golden robes. Then, the on lookers are feed wine, heaps of food, and cake. The crowd hysterically cheers and celebrates and forgets the macabre display of killing. In an updated version are we still in a place that sacrifices young people to satisfy dark needs which evade common sense and compassion ?
Beyond Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf Wars, Afghanistan and other undeclared wars shouldn't we be about electing and sustaining national leaders who will more wisely use our military ? Wouldn't it be better to fill our graveyards with old politician champions dueling it out on a battlefield rather than young service members ?
No comments:
Post a Comment