Historical Folly of "Exit Strategy" for Iraq

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 16 November 2005 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Congressman Billybob]

The Hill is a specialized publication, mostly for Members of Congress and those whose living depends on Congress. Still, an article in The Hill today (Wednesday) is typical of the media coverage of the Senate vote yesterday to require “reports” to Congress on the progress of the Iraq War.

The title is “Needed: An Exit Strategy from Iraq.” It is written by Rep. Jane Harmon (D. Calif) and its lede includes these paragraphs.

"There is now a strong bipartisan consensus that we need an exit strategy. But yet to emerge is the content of that strategy.

"We have two overriding objectives in Iraq: to facilitate a viable power-sharing agreement among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds and to turn over responsibility for security to the Iraqis on a steady basis.

"Any exit strategy must address both issues in order to leave post-Saddam Iraq in better shape than we found it, to honor the sacrifices of more than 2,000 troops and to justify the expenditure of billions of dollars."

There has never been an “exit strategy” for any major war in American history. Until the Battle of Trenton, there were serious questions whether the Americans could even continue the Revolutionary War beyond 1776. Until the French fleet trapped General Cornwallis at Yorktown, there was no end in sight, no “exit strategy” for that war.

Let's review the strategy of General Washington in the Revolution in terms so simple that even the editorial staffs of the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN can understand it. It was to defeat the British so decisively that the British had to recognize their defeat. That point was not reached until the last month of the war, when Cornwallis realized he could neither retreat nor be reinforced, and was forced to surrender.

Even then, the war was not over. It required a change of the Prime Minister in England and months of negotiation by able diplomats, led by Ben Franklin, to end the war favorably to the United States.

The same analysis applies to all but one major war in American history. After the carnage of D-Day, when three times as many American soldiers died in a single day as have died in all four years of the Iraq War, the “exit strategy” for WW II seemed clear. Keep pushing west until Germany is defeated. Then the Battle of the Bulge began, and the Germans came close to pushing the Allies back into the sea.

The only type of “exit strategy” that can exist in any war is a strategy for defeat. We had an “exit strategy” in Vietnam, and hundreds of thousands of people were murdered as a direct result of that strategy. Because of the vagaries of war, there is not, there cannot be, any preset “exit strategy” that will lead to victory. There is only one strategy: Win, and then come home as soon as possible.

When Members of Congress are too short-sighted to notice when history tells them they are wrong, it is the bare minimum obligation of the press to put historical events side by side with the comments and actions of the politicians. Given relevant information, the public can reach sound judgments about the politicians.

It is only when the press presents actions and words devoid of context that folly such as a fixed “exit strategy” for any war, can be taken as either serious or legitimate.

John_Armor@aya.yale.edu

[Congressman Billybob]

As often happens, an article posted on FreeRepublic inspired this rant. An alert Freeper posted Rep. Harmon's drivel, and that caused me to write this article.

I think you will appreciate this piece.

John / Billybob

[Bahbah]

Very much appreciated, Congressman. The strategy is to fight untill the bad guys realize they are whipped, which we can do quite decisively...if allowed by the politicians.

[Rummyfan]

Strategy: fight as long as necessary to win.

The hypocrisy of Congress is astounding. We have had troops in Bosnia for how long now, with no hue and cry to bring them home. For that matter, where is the call to bring the troops home from Germany and Japan (present for sixty years now) and Korea (present for over fifty years)? I swear to God, we the people are more committed to this war, and understand better what's at stake, than the elected bozos in the Congress. Is there not a leader among those sheep?

[Not a 60s Hippy]

The Socialists Dems, Libs and Media are trying to REWRITE the history before the Iraq war so they can REPEAT the history of how the Vietnam War was lost.

 

Today you can see that the Socialists are repeating the same strategy on Iraq they used on the Vietnam war. They will use every opportunity, either real or made up, to destroy the President and the Iraq war progress. Yes we are making great progress; the Media just won’t mention any of it!

[OldFriend]

I call Senator Kennedy's office every few months.

I begin by saying that I am aware that the Senator is concerned about our exit strategy for Iraq.

When the aide answers, yes......I go on to ask if the Senator had an exit strategy for Mary Jo.

Have been slammed down on......and have been told....WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT NOW!!!!!!

Clearly, they are not happy with me!

[tet68]

Well done, John, in Aikido one learns that you must LOOK
in the direction you want to go, and that you cannot get
there by walking backwards.

So the choice is victory or death, defeat means
death in any event, the death of all we hold dear,
the end of our ideals and the foundations of freedom
that should be the birth right of all.

We have seen the price paid by our ancestors to keep that
idea alive and to bequeath it to us, we MUST do no less
for our children and our posterity.

[sarasmom]

Any chance your peers are capable of understanding that I too, am eager for the bulk of our armed forces to exit Iraq as quickly as possible.
Through Syria or Iran?
Make the wisest choice regarding which "exit" point is next, but there damn well better be a "next".

[Sodbuster]

Congressional Status Report

Re: Iraq

Dear Senators:

We're still working for freedom in Iraq.

Are you still with us?

George W. Bush
President - United States of America

[Christian4Bush]

BillyBob BUMP

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

No substitute for victory Bump.

[joanie-f]

… you must LOOK in the direction you want to go, and that you cannot get there by walking backwards.

So the choice is victory or death, defeat means death in any event, the death of all we hold dear, the end of our ideals and the foundations of freedom that should be the birth right of all.

We have seen the price paid by our ancestors to keep that idea alive and to bequeath it to us, we MUST do no less for our children and our posterity … tet68

Amen!

Quasi-related to this thread, Tom …

I saw a program on the History Channel a few weeks ago … ‘Dogfights: The Greatest Air Battles’. I was spellbound for the entire two hours, watching the archival films, personal recollections of fighter pilots from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and beautiful computer graphics of air battles that were not captured on film. Rickenbacker’s contributions during the air battles of World War I were also discussed, but of course there were no films to back up the commentary.

I found myself literally holding my breath as the World War II pilots described some of the dogfights they survived – in such great detail, and with such passion (yet with great humility), as if those air battles had occurred just yesterday. Capt. Bud Anderson, especially, (a Triple Ace, with 16 enemy aircraft downings), who flew the P-51 Mustang, was mesmerizing as he described his engagement with an ME-109. I had to remind myself to breathe as he re-created his strategies and the responses and offensive and defensive maneuvers of the German pilot.

When the credits rolled, I couldn’t help but reflect on the dramatic changes that have taken place in the American psyche in the sixty years since Bud Anderson and his compatriots performed their heroics, with little thought of personal safety, and a stubborn focus on bringing the enemies of liberty to their knees.

That is not to say that the American military is any less courageous or any less focused on the defense of our people and our homeland than was Anderson. The difference lies in our political leadership, and in the public’s ignorance of the techniques of modern propaganda, and their general thirst for instant gratification.

During World War II, few if any in national leadership positions would have ever considered openly criticizing the administration in power during wartime … or sabotaging our own military personnel by accusing them of barbaric behavior toward the enemy … or denigrating their stunning victories … or questioning the reasons for their sacrifice.

During the Civil War, the public was horrified by the Matthew Brady photographs of the aftermath of historically unprecedented bloody battles – especially Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Brady depicted, as no one ever before, the ravages of war on both man and landscape.

Mostly as a result of the powerful effect of Brady’s photos on the populace, from World War I through the Korean War, the American media, in co-operation with our national leadership, made it a point to avoid focusing on visual images of casualties, so as not to diminish or undermine public support for the war effort.

And during World War II, the citizenry was busy doing their part at home to support the war effort. They would never have considered whining about the duration of the war, or demanding that an end to hostilities be publicized before it was safe to withdraw from the conflict.

Not so in 2005.

We now live in an era in which we expect our food to be prepared in five minutes. We believe that time-saving is often more valuable than depth or quality. We prefer sound-bites to in-depth analysis. Indeed, we much prefer to have others do our thinking for us, because spending time in weighing pros and cons, or engaging in personal study, would waste precious time that could be better spent watching reality TV or getting our nails done.

It is sad when instant gratification, and lack of appreciation for the things that matter, permeate the national psyche of what was once the greatest civilization in the history of mankind. But now that same need for instant gratification, and lack of a spirit of thanksgiving, threaten to erode our national unity in a time when the black evil that we face is obsessed with destroying all that is, and ever has been, good about America.

Now, when we need national unity and resolve perhaps more than ever before, we are allowing the leftists among us (in politics, the media and academia) to attempt to demoralize our troops who are courageously standing in harm’s way in order to preserve the American way of life, by minimizing their accomplishments and victories, criticizing the strength of their resolve, and demanding that they perform miracles in the relative blink of an eye … or we will declare as counterfeit (at best), or corrupt (at worst), the reasons for their sacrifice.

Such is the hallmark of an emotionally immature, self-absorbed society, drowning in superficiality – without an appreciation of heritage, ancestry, and the sacrifices of more than two centuries of patriots who did not measure the breadth of victories and achievements in nano-seconds … and whose countrymen honored them for carrying a selfless, open-ended vision of liberty and goodness into battle … rather than a vulgar, carping stop-watch.

~ joanie ...

[ottersnot]

stupid is as stupid does

[Congressman Billybob]

Thank you very much for your thoughtful, accurate, and worthy response to the article with which I began this thread. I would have said many of the same things that you did, but I was restricted to not much more than 400 words. LOL.

You got it. Thank you.

John / Billybob

[Czar]

"The difference lies in our political leadership, and in the public’s ignorance of the techniques of modern propaganda, and their general thirst for instant gratification..."

"...Now, when we need national unity and resolve perhaps more than ever before, we are allowing the leftists among us (in politics, the media and academia) to attempt to demoralize our troops who are courageously standing in harm’s way in order to preserve the American way of life, by minimizing their accomplishments and victories, criticizing the strength of their resolve, and demanding that they perform miracles in the relative blink of an eye...

All great comments but, for me, these are the two direct hits.

Your post expresses the thoughts of many of us. Unfortunately, the Rats, the MSM and the party-over-principle weasels continue on with their efforts to undermine America's noble mission in Iraq.

[La Enchiladita]

That is not to say that the American military is any less courageous or any less focused on the defense of our people and our homeland than was Anderson. The difference lies in our political leadership, and in the public’s ignorance of the techniques of modern propaganda, and their general thirst for instant gratification.

I can't argue with that. Your entire post is accurate and right-on. I'm too emotional to express what I think as clearly as you do, so thank you.

[La Enchiladita]

There has never been an “exit strategy” for any major war in American history.

Thank you, Congressman BillyBob. You're a great American. I am deeply disturbed by recent subversive pronouncements from the U.S. Senate, undermining our valiant Armed Forces.

Sadly, I live adjacent to Insane Jane's district. A parent who drops off a child in the morning at a nearby elementary school sports vanity plates saying "WMD Lie."

The lies, of course, come from the left and have for quite a while, without adequate refutation. I am tempted to believe we can no longer expect leadership that will stand up for America and for our military.

But, in accordance with tet's expressed commitment, I will pray that we can turn the current lily-livered trend around.

[wolfcreek]

Like with Germany and Japan, we will have bases there for a very long time. There will be no total exit. It's necessary for us to have a foot-hold for the security of the region.

[Gritty]

The only type of “exit strategy” that can exist in any war is a strategy for defeat.

You are quite right.

Excellent article!

[Congressman Billybob]

The paragraph right after the three that I quoted contains the "commitment" this lame-brained Representative wants, that the US will NOT retain any permanent bases in Iraq after withdrawing. So the obvious point that both of you make, is nonexistent to this historically-illiterate Member of Congress.

John / Billybob

[Rembrandt]

'We had an “exit strategy” in Vietnam, and hundreds of thousands of people were murdered as a direct result of that strategy.'

The direction of the numbers is right but the actual number slaughtered is estimated to be 2,000,000 on the low side and 4,000,000 on the high side. Just like John F'n promised, those nice folks from the North are just great human beings.