Whatever it takes to win.

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MY COMMENT:

On their album, Wednesday Morning 3:00 AM, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel recorded a song that began like this:

Last night I dreamed the strangest dream,

I ever dreamed before.

I dreamed the world had all agreed,

to put an end to war.

I dreamed about a mighty room.

The room was filled with men,

and the papers they were signing said,

they’d never fight again.

(from memory, my punctuation)

What a wonderful dream!  How we wish it would come true.  However, war has always been part of the human experience.  Our Lord said that it will continue until His kingdom comes. (Matthew 24) Was Jesus advocating for war?  Certainly not!  He was just telling it like it is.

Good people have always had to defend their native land, their families, their homes, their freedom, and their way of life.  Evil men will seek wealth, power, religious supremacy, and everything that Satan causes them to covet.  They will take what they want from those who are unable or unwilling to defend what they have.  Yes, we do have the right to defend ourselves.  Jesus told His disciples “… and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:36)

George Washington said:

If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire

to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising

prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewash122875.html

Washington was correct to say that the best way to have peace is through strength, something that Ronald Reagan also advocated.  However, peace is not guaranteed to the strong either.  The United States is still the most powerful country in the world, but we have been unable and unwilling to fully utilize that power.

War is too horrible for mere words to describe.  We should never go to war unless there is no other way.  However, we should never again do what President Obama has done; which is to have peace at any cost.

Carl von Clausewitz was a great military thinker, but he was wrong when he said that, “War is regarded as nothing but the continuation of state policy with other means.” Rather, war is what you do when all other reasonable efforts fail.

If we go to war it must be to defend ourselves and our allies from aggression, and there must be a clear and present danger that our freedom and safety are at risk.  Some years ago, while I was watching CSPAN, Sen. John McCain said something to this effect of the floor of the Senate, “We should never ask our young men and women to fight and die unless we are willing to do anything it takes to win.” (his emphasis)  Amen! (my emphasis)

It seems that Sen. McCain’s wisdom in this matter is limited to Sen. McCain, at least in the halls of government.  We have been frustrated in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East, precisely because we have not done what Sen. McCain said.

Anything it takes means anything it takes.  If the cause does not call for that, if we are afraid of being condemned by world opinion, or if we will allow the enemy sanctuary in a neighboring country rather than risk a larger war; then we have no right to ask our sons and daughters to risk their lives, injury, or becoming prisoners of war in the hands of a brutal enemy.

Therefore, let’s pick our fights carefully; no limited objectives, and no clearly stated (but misguided) short-term goals. The end should be total victory and nothing less.  Total victory is: to obliterate the enemy’s ability, and will, to resist.  That is war. If we are unwilling or unable to do that, we must not go to war.

I was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army after taking four years of Military Science classes, while earning a Bachelor’s Degree.  I did not serve in the kind of combat where shots are fired with the intent to kill.  I served in an artillery (missile) unit in Europe.  At the time, our forces in Europe were depleted by the war effort in Vietnam.  Our presence helped to keep the Soviet Union from taking advantage of that.  Anyway, I think I have some background regarding war and military matters.

My Military Science classes included instruction in the Nine Principles of War; commonly referred to by the acronym MOUSE MOSS.  Folks, these are “the basics.”  When sports teams run into trouble the coach makes them practice the basics.  I am sure that our new President will be briefed on military matters.  Let’s hope that our new Commander in Chief will be able to benefit from it more that Mr. Obama did.

I suggest that any new President memorize the Nine Principles of War, as I was required to in R.O.T.C.  Only rarely have our “limited wars,” since World War II, shown any semblance of adherence to the basics.  Total victory cannot be achieved without them.  I have taken some liberties for the sake of brevity, but MOUSE MOSS is explained below:

·         Mass: To bring overwhelming power to bear at the decisive moment and optimal place.  This does not necessarily mean superior numbers, but rather the combined effects of the application of force.

·         Objective: All military operations must have a clearly defined objective, the achievement of which will contribute to victory; the destruction of the enemy's ability and will to fight.

·         Unity of Command: All forces must be under the command of a single commander.  This applies throughout the chain of command.  There is one commander for each operational unit, who is responsible to one commander at the next higher level, and so on up to the single commander of all forces.

·         Security:  Actions taken by the commander to protect his forces from attack, pressure, or surprise.  It is never giving an enemy the advantage.

·         Economy of Force:  Using forces judiciously, leaving no unit without a mission and purpose.  By not wasting available assets, commanders can free up forces to Mass at critical times and places.

·         Maneuver:  The movement of forces to gain the advantage over the enemy.

·                    Offensive: “Nobody ever defended anything successfully, there is only attack                          and attack and attack some more.”  (Gen. George Patton)

·         Surprise:  Attacking or maneuvering at unexpected times and places, or in unexpected ways.  Catching the enemy when they are not prepared.  Striking suddenly, deceptively, or with great force.

·         Simplicity:  The KISS rule applies; keep it simple stupid.  There is always confusion on the battlefield, and the best way to minimize it is with simple plans and clear, concise, complete, and correct orders.

Frankly, I believe that if we paid more attention to these basics our future efforts to defend ourselves would meet with more success.  I do not like or want war.  However, our survival depends on getting it right when we have to.

Happy Memorial Day!  Please pray for peace, and remember those who have served, and died, with the honor and respect they have earned.  Thank you for your service.

Post Script:  With respect, there is a lot more to getting rid of Radical Islamic Terrorist movements in the Middle East than just bombing the "Sierra" out of them, Mr. Trump.