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

[Herb Parsons]

Y'know Brad, part of me wants to (sarcastically, of course) say "The 
left will say 'That lying ass', or 'it was a Kodak opportunity' or ..., 
well, you get the idea"; but then the real truth occurred to me.

Stories like that just reinforce what I believe. And those that believe 
differently will fell it somehow reinforces what they believe.

Ain't human nature interesting?

Brad Haslett wrote:
> 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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>>     
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