That's exactly right! During World War II, the Roosevelt Administration, the War and Navy Departments, and all the big federal agencies involved in the war effort did a masterful job of "selling" the war to the American public, thus building patriotism, educating the homefront about the exact nature of the enemy, and keeping morale high.
Sadly, this administration has been hopelessly inept at all of this, with the end result that the American public is hopelessly confused about what we are fighting for and how we are doing in GWOT.
Unlike World War II, where you had Audie Murphy and Snuffy Smith, there are no real heroes who have been publicized for their deeds, and none of our top generals are even known to the public at large, unlike Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, Nimitz, Halsey, etc.
In short, the Bush Administration has essentially conceded the information war to both the jihadists and the Democrats, and we shall all suffer for it in the long run.
Bush thought he brought a new tone to Washington in 01.
It has eaten him alive. He should have known better. After all, his Dad was a politician, too, and knew how Washington was.
But, as with the Dubia ports and Harriet Miers, GW is like a pitbull with his jaws locked on bringing that new tone.
How many more knives will Teddy K manage to insert during the next two years?
That's exactly right! During World War II, the Roosevelt Administration, the War and Navy Departments, and all the big federal agencies involved in the war effort did a masterful job of "selling" the war to the American public, thus building patriotism, educating the homefront about the exact nature of the enemy, and keeping morale high.
Sadly, this administration has been hopelessly inept at all of this, with the end result that the American public is hopelessly confused about what we are fighting for and how we are doing in GWOT.
Unlike World War II, where you had Audie Murphy and Snuffy Smith, there are no real heroes who have been publicized for their deeds, and none of our top generals are even known to the public at large, unlike Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, Nimitz, Halsey, etc.
In short, the Bush Administration has essentially conceded the information war to both the jihadists and the Democrats, and we shall all suffer for it in the long run.
I think the problem with the Administration runs deeper than that - even when they get the message out, it's the wrong message.
FDR would never have told Americans that their contribution to World War II was shopping.
Part of good PR is managing expectations. W prepared America for a painless war that we wouldn't feel. He essentially promised that we wouldn't have to sacrifice, wouldn't have to change our routines one bit.
He had a momentous opportunity after 9/11. He had his Pearl Harbor, his chance to unite the American people behind the war effort. He could have asked us to sacrifice, to contribute, to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. Instead he told us to go to the mall.
Given that, is it any wonder that once the going got tough the nation lost its stomach for war? The White House completely mismanaged expectations in selling the war in the first place, and it's too late to go back and do it right.