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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (23028)	7/23/2003 11:58:26 AM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

I happen to agree with you that it is NOT self defense (in Iraq)- but you cannot have an army that thinks for itself, because that would not be an army- and let me tell you, you DO need an army. So, imo, the two issues are separate- and there is not need to slam the men and women of the armed forces because you do not like the commander in chief, and what he has them doing. I don't like what he is doing either. Ralphie isn’t just upset he’s very angry. Apparently too angry to see that his angry precludes effectiveness. Worse, it precludes the ability to learn to be effective. Consider his knowledge of the military. Does he have an example of an effective military that does not have a hierarchical command structure? Does he have any appreciation of the reason such an example is difficult to find? Does he have any understanding of the sense of dedication and service that exist in many “military families”? Does he realize that not only is the country “beholden” to such families, but critically depends upon them? Only, when he can channel the energy of his anger into a deeper understanding of the problem, will he see some of the larger problems that may ensue from this current debacle. A strong bond of trust must exist between the military and its policy commanders. The military should be used infrequently as the last resort. The Powell Doctrine was a hard won lesson from Viet Nam. The price of its abandonment in Iraq will continue to be paid. Whenever a military believes its commanders have violated their trust, the consequences are usually both significant and enduring. The long period of Vietnam malaise in the US military, and the cynical attitude of a large portion of the American populace toward any use of the military for many years after Viet Nam, are a recent memory. Neither of these effects enhanced US security. JMO lurqer