Lately, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do about this whole war mess we’ve elected to create. I dunno about you, but I feel intense pressure to make the right strategic decisions, not to mention figure out how to make the best possible contribution to the effort.
As hard as the choices and sacrifices are, though, I’m sure you’ll agree the worst part about bearing responsibility for the catastrophe in Iraq has been the quiet suffering. Nobody seems to want to acknowledge how much of it falls to each of us to correct.
Fortunately, Herr Leader stood up and acknowledged our crucial role in determining the outcome of this war:
Americans will face “difficult choices and additional sacrifices” in the coming year in Iraq, President Bush said Wednesday in a press conference where he also promised to work with both parties in Congress to formulate a new plan for success in the war.
I feel so close to the process, so respected and listened to by our wartime president, that I don’t know if I can bear to see if my choices will turn out to be the correct ones. But it’s good to know it’ll be up to us to decide how this turns out — and whatever the war’s outcome, it’s reassuring to know he’ll make sure we receive all the credit.
As for what we ought to sacrifice, while I’m certain the choice will be ours, Herr Leader has offered a gentle suggestion:
The government plans to dust off the military draft machinery and conduct a comprehensive test in 2009.
The Selective Service System says it’s only a test and that it is not gearing up for a draft. The agency is calling the dry run a “readiness exercise.”
It’s sweet of Herr Leader to make sure we know it’s “just an exercise,” so as not to give the impression he’s leading without our consent, but I feel our blood and the blood of our children is the least we can offer for the war we chose and continue to choose.
God bless the democratic nature of this country.
I’ve seen this episode before. Let’s just fast forward to the part where the campus ROTC office mysteriously burns down and then the national guard shoots the college students.
There are good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information:
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armaments”
http://www.rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com
The Pentagon is a giant, incredibly complex establishment, budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Administrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.
How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the new Sec. Def.Mr. Gates, understand such complexity, particularly if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?
Answer- he can’t. Therefore he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.
From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.
This situation is unfortunate but it is absolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.
This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen until it hits a brick wall at high speed.
We will then have to run a Volkswagen instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.