[Rhodes22-list] The Irony of War (Political)

[Brad Haslett]

Herb,

This just came across my radar.  Thought might appreciate it.

http://www.eielson.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123111092

Brad

On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 12:28 PM, Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:
> No one likes war. War is a horrific affair, bloody and expensive.
> Sending our men and women into battle to perhaps die or be maimed is an
> unconscionable thought.
>
>
> Yet some wars need to be waged, and someone needs to lead. The citizenry
> and Congress are often ambivalent or largely opposed to any given war.
> It's up to our leader to convince them. That's why we call the leader
> 'Commander in Chief.'
>
>
> George W.'s war was no different. There was lots of resistance to it.
> Many in Congress were vehemently against the idea. The Commander in
> Chief had to lobby for legislative approval.
>
>
> Along with supporters, George W. used the force of his convictions, the
> power of his title and every ounce of moral suasion he could muster to
> rally support. He had to assure Congress and the public that the war was
> morally justified, winnable and affordable. Congress eventually came
> around and voted overwhelmingly to wage war.
>
> George W. then lobbied foreign governments for support.  But in the end,
> only one European nation helped us. The rest of the world sat on its
> hands and watched.
>
>
> After a few quick victories, things started to go bad. There were many
> dark days when all the news was discouraging. Casualties began to mount.
> It became obvious that our forces were too small. Congress began to drag
> its feet about funding the effort.
>
> Many who had voted to support the war just a few years earlier were
> beginning to speak against it and accuse the Commander in Chief of
> misleading them. Many critics began to call him incompetent, an idiot
> and even a liar. Journalists joined the negative chorus with a vengeance.
>
>
> As the war entered its fourth year, the public began to grow weary of
> the conflict and the casualties. George W.'s popularity plummeted. Yet
> through it all, he stood firm, supporting the troops and endorsing the
> struggle.
>
>
> Without his unwavering support, the war would have surely ended, then
> and there, in overwhelming and total defeat.
> At this darkest of times, he began to make some changes. More troops
> were added and trained. Some advisers were shuffled, and new generals
> installed.
>
>
> Then, unexpectedly and gradually, things began to improve. Now it was
> the enemy that appeared to be growing weary of the lengthy conflict and
> losing support. Victories began to come, and hope returned.
>
>
> Many critics in Congress and the press said the improvements were just
> George W.'s good luck. The progress, they said, would be temporary. He
> knew, however, that in warfare good fortune counts.
>
>
> Then, in the unlikeliest of circumstances and perhaps the most historic
> example of military luck, the enemy blundered and was resoundingly
> defeated. After six long years of war, the Commander in Chief basked in
> a most hard-fought victory.
>
>
> So on that historic day, Oct. 19, 1781, in a place called Yorktown , a
> satisfied George Washington sat upon his beautiful white horse and
> accepted the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, effectively ending
> the Revolutionary War.
>
>
> What?   Were you thinking of someone else?
>
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