The demonstrations would make the anti-war ones look mild. Even if we use them in retaliation, a "double standard" would be applied.
In a fight for survival, there are no standards.
Sneaky, tricky and dirty usually prevail.
The Creighton Abrams days of lining up opposing armies on opposite sides of a minefield as at the Fulda Gap are over.
A new unconventional style for conventional forces is being developed. The unconventional warrior generals like Schoonmaker are at the top now because someone recognized that our old Ft Benning Infantry tactics are not going to win this one.
We currently have over 100,000 troops in Iraq engaged in reconstruction and stability operations, as well as forces in Afghanistan, Central Asia, the Horn of Africa in the war on terrorism, and peacekeeping forces in the Balkans and the Sinai. We have a significant military presence in over 45 countries, a large or fairly large one in many of them including Japan, Germany, Korea, Spain, Greece, Turkey,
etc etc..
Percentage wise, we have by far the largest overseas deployment since WWII. Our fighting reserve is for practical purposes non existent. Schoonmaker knows we are stretched...and will increase strength. He will demand tough training at every single level, no slack nowhere and tough competent leaders. He will not allow an expansion to become fluff as in the past.
It is impossible to predict how this is going to go over the next 10-15 years. Our airpower can be overwhelming. Our opponents have learned they cannot consolidate forces for large conventional attacks. So they have become sneaky, tricky and dirty. They have 1.5 million martyrs waiting to do their dirty deed and more in training.
Pandora's box has been opened around the world. It is like a big sneeze...some countries are simply trying not to get any on themselves. Others like Great Britain, Israel, many others, and us are already covered in snot. A clean white hankerchief is not going to wipe everyone clean. There is a lot of dirty work to do. This war is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.
Our opponents are sneaky, tricky and dirty. The question is, can we prevail over that strategy? The answer concerns me.
I share your concern about demonstrations. Sneaky, tricky and dirty tactics used against us have brought out the demonstrators in the past. Demonstrations do not win wars. They can stop them. So far, demonstrators have resulted in America losing wars not winning them.
When we see demonstrations opposing 9/11...when we see demonstrators opposing the massacre of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, when we see demonstrators opposing the brutal, sneaky, tricky and dirty tactics slaughtering Israeli citizens, American troops and so many others everyday...I will begin to believe we can win this one.
When I see so many Americans rallying to Kerry and Clark's promise of peace at all cost, I get very concerned.
For when we lose the will to fight for right. When we no longer will defend ourselves. When we quit opposing oppression, we will be pushed over.
uw |
