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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.
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.
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.
