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What We Face
E-Mail | Name Withheld By Eagle9

Posted on 09/18/2001 10:17:43 AM PDT by Eagle9

Dear friends and fellow Americans,

Like everyone else in this great country, I am reeling from last week’s attack on our sovereignty. But unlike some, I am not reeling from surprise. As a career soldier and a student and teacher of military history, I have a different perspective and I think you should hear it. This war will be won or lost by the American citizens, not diplomats, politicians or soldiers. Let me briefly explain.

In spite of what the media, and even our own government is telling us, this act was not committed by a group of mentally deranged fanatics. To dismiss them as such would be among the gravest of mistakes. This attack was committed by a ferocious, intelligent and dedicated adversary. Don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t admire these men and I deplore their tactics, but I respect their capabilities. The many parallels that have been made with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor are apropos. Not only because it was a brilliant sneak attack against a complacent America, but also because we may well be pulling our new adversaries out of caves 30 years after we think this war is over, just like my father’s generation had to do with the formidable Japanese in the years following WW II.

These men hate the United States with all of their being, and we must not underestimate the power of their moral commitment. Napoleon, perhaps the world’s greatest combination of soldier and statesman, stated “the moral is to the physical as three is to one.” Patton thought the Frenchman underestimated its importance and said moral conviction was five times more important in battle than physical strength. Our enemies are willing - better said anxious -- to give their lives for their cause. How committed are we America? And for how long?

In addition to demonstrating great moral conviction, the recent attack demonstrated a mastery of some of the basic fundamentals of warfare taught to most military officers worldwide, namely simplicity, security and surprise. When I first heard rumors that some of these men may have been trained at our own Air War College, it made perfect sense to me. This was not a random act of violence, and we can expect the same sort of military competence to be displayed in the battle to come. This war will escalate, with a good portion of it happening right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

These men will not go easily into the night. They do not fear us. We must not fear them. In spite of our overwhelming conventional strength as the world’s only “superpower” (a truly silly term), we are the underdog in this fight. As you listen to the carefully scripted rhetoric designed to prepare us for the march for war, please realize that America is not equipped or seriously trained for the battle ahead. To be certain, our soldiers are much better than the enemy, and we have some excellent “counter-terrorist” organizations, but they are mostly trained for hostage rescues, airfield seizures, or the occasional “body snatch,” (which may come in handy). We will be fighting a war of annihilation, because if their early efforts are any indication, our enemy is ready and willing to die to the last man.

Eradicating the enemy will be costly and time consuming. They have already deployed their forces in as many as 20 countries, and are likely living the lives of everyday citizens. Simply put, our soldiers will be tasked with a search and destroy mission on multiple foreign landscapes, and the public must be patient and supportive until the strategy and tactics can be worked out.

For the most part, our military is still in the process of redefining itself and presided over by men and women who grew up with - and were promoted because they excelled in Cold War doctrine, strategy and tactics. This will not be linear warfare, there will be no clear “centers of gravity” to strike with high technology weapons. Our vast technological edge will certainly be helpful, but it will not be decisive. Perhaps the perfect metaphor for the coming battle was introduced by the terrorists themselves aboard the hijacked aircraft -- this will be a knife fight, and it will be won or lost by the ingenuity and will of citizens and soldiers, not by software or smart bombs. We must also be patient with our military leaders.

Unlike Americans who are eager to put this messy time behind us, our adversaries have time on their side, and they will use it. They plan to fight a battle of attrition, hoping to drag the battle out until the American public loses its will to fight. This might be difficult to believe in this euphoric time of flag waving and patriotism, but it is generally acknowledged that America lacks the stomach for a long fight. We need only look as far back as Vietnam, when North Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap (also a military history teacher) defeated the United States of America without ever winning a major tactical battle. American soldiers who marched to war cheered on by flag waving Americans in 1965 were reviled and spat upon less than three years later when they returned. Although we hope that Usama Bin Laden is no Giap, he is certain to understand and employ the concept. We can expect not only large doses of pain like the recent attacks, but also less audacious “sand in the gears” tactics, ranging from livestock infestations to attacks at water supplies and power distribution facilities. These attacks are designed to hit us in our “comfort zone” forcing the average American to “pay more and play less” and eventually eroding our resolve. But it can only work if we let it.

It is clear to me that the will of the American citizenry - you and I - is the center of gravity the enemy has targeted. It will be the fulcrum upon which victory or defeat will turn. He believes us to be soft, impatient, and self-centered. He may be right, but if so, we must change. The Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz, (the most often quoted and least read military theorist in history), says that there is a “remarkable trinity of war” that is composed of the (1) will of the people, (2) the political leadership of the government, and (3) the chance and probability that plays out on the field of battle, in that order. Every American citizen was in the crosshairs of last Tuesday’s attack, not just those that were unfortunate enough to be in the World Trade Center or Pentagon. The will of the American people will decide this war. If we are to win, it will be because we have what it takes to persevere through a few more hits, learn from our mistakes, improvise, and adapt. If we can do that, we will eventually prevail.

Everyone I’ve talked to In the past few days has shared a common frustration, saying in one form or another “I just wish I could do something!” You are already doing it. Just keep faith in America, and continue to support your President and military, and the outcome is certain. If we fail to do so, the outcome is equally certain.

God Bless America

Dr. Xxxx Xxxx, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)

Former Director of Military History, USAF Academy


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: jihadinamerica
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To: Grendelgrey
...I need to learn how to spell.."polititions"....sheesh..
41 posted on 09/18/2001 8:51:39 PM PDT by Grendelgrey
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To: Coyote
Excellent post.
42 posted on 09/18/2001 9:02:17 PM PDT by Semaphore Heathcliffe
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To: Eagle9
Thanks for posting this. One of the best articles yet, for perspective and clarity.
43 posted on 09/18/2001 9:08:15 PM PDT by Semaphore Heathcliffe
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To: Eagle9
I respect your well thought out, informed opinion but I disagree with you on two points.

1. First this was an attempt to throw America into marshal law. The attacks on Washington were botched. I'd bet my bottom dollar that the two real targets were the White House and the Capital Building. If they had succeeded, things would have been much worse. Without a congress(assumeing they were inside), the President(Bush or a new President in succession) would have had to declaire mashal law because one entire branch of government would have been missing. Makes it kind of hard for the President to get anything done legally without a congress. Add to that all of the market drops and the major hit to our infrastructure in the World Trade Center... I think you see my point. In that respect, this was a major failure for them. In fact it's backfired. The government is very much in tact and the population is pretty much POed.

2. I beleive that if the attack continues on our soil, the will of the population to get these monsters will still be there. IMHO.
44 posted on 09/18/2001 9:26:00 PM PDT by Honcho
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To: All...
Every generation of Americans has, at some point, been called upon to stand in the gap. Our hour has come. May all of us draw upon the resolve and strength shown by those passengers of that flight over Pennsylvania, who, even as they faced certain death, took that stand for freedom and liberty and sacrificed their own lives so that others might live. To do less would soil their sacrifice.

Let us not forget; we are not at war with Islam. We are at war with barbarians who pervert the sacred teachings of that great religion for their own putrid goals. Their only resemblance to civilized humanity is the fact that they walk upright.

Let us be firm in our resolve to do what must be done. No trials, no courts, no Miranda readings. No, they must be hunted down and disposed of like the rabid vermin they are.

To do less would be to stand aside and let barbarism triumph over freedom. To those to harbor, welcome or attempt to apologise for this tyranny, I say to you; OVER MY DEAD BODY.

To those who, even now, are moving to stand in the gap; welcome aboard...let's send 'em to hell!

45 posted on 09/18/2001 9:34:11 PM PDT by seadevil
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To: Eagle9, Coyote
Without a doubt, one of the best threads (and links! ;-) I think I've ever read! Thank you both. Do I need to say bookmarked? Nahhhh.
46 posted on 09/18/2001 10:33:54 PM PDT by Humidston
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To: FITZ
.... I think many are already getting complacent and believe there are no more bad guys out there.

Very late Monday night (or very early Tuesday morning) I saw the news crawler at the bottom of Fox News mention that this past weekend $54 million was the movie box office receipts. This was way up when compared to the same weekend last year (I don't recall the % increase) and was attributed to Americans wanting to get away from all the bad news. This was only four days after the attack. While escapism is natural and breaks are needed, this is going to be a long war.

47 posted on 09/19/2001 4:37:47 AM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Coyote
The wake up call is here, but it truly looks to be a long day at work before we have any possibility of retiring to the comfort of a safe bed, if EVER again.

I agree.
I read the article "Original Sin" that you linked, and found it both fascinating and thought provoking. It's bookmarked.

48 posted on 09/19/2001 4:52:40 AM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Grendelgrey
In the end we are not fighting to occupy terrain,so much as we are fighting to make an enemy stop its actions.

You summed it up very well.

God save us if politicians begin fighting this war as they did with Viet Nam....

SURELY we've learned. If not ...........

49 posted on 09/19/2001 5:15:28 AM PDT by Eagle9
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To: ALL
Thanks to all of those I flagged for responding. That's the only way this, IMHO, important post would have been in the 50 thread rotation of the forum. There were many names I either forgot to flag, like AP and others, or didn't know their FR name. We are experiencing yet another Outbreak of the Vanities and Jim Robinson certainly has his hands full, but is handling it, as always, exceptionally.
50 posted on 09/19/2001 5:44:45 AM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Honcho
I wish that I could take credit for writing this piece, but I can't.
51 posted on 09/19/2001 5:53:48 AM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Eagle9
BRILLIANT analysis from a truly keen mind.
52 posted on 09/19/2001 6:08:23 AM PDT by ZULU
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To: Eagle9
Yes, it's just like Madonna deciding to have a concert wearing her little skirt made out of the US flag. They just don't believe this is really very serious and they think it's time to forget it and get back to their games and fun. And a bump to your post.
53 posted on 09/19/2001 6:12:29 AM PDT by FITZ
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To: patent, JohnHuang2, sheltonmac, mustrow, MHGinTN
Early morning bump for an important article.

I am campaigning here to get a couple of you Bumpmasters to push this important letter.

54 posted on 09/19/2001 6:12:59 AM PDT by antidisestablishment
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To: Eagle9
I got this in my email this a.m. also. Thanks for posting it.
55 posted on 09/19/2001 6:15:47 AM PDT by Ward Smythe
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To: Eagle9
bump
56 posted on 09/19/2001 8:34:09 AM PDT by patent
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To: D Miles
PING!
57 posted on 09/19/2001 1:39:16 PM PDT by Eagle9
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To: antidisestablishment
I'm giving this an evening bump. Everyone should read it at least once.
58 posted on 09/19/2001 6:36:22 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: FITZ
Another evening bump.........I'm already seeing signs of impatient foot stomping, even within our own ranks.
59 posted on 09/19/2001 7:03:12 PM PDT by freedox
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To: freedox
Yes, I think it's hard because people are going through so many emotions. But we have to trust our leaders on this one and stay together.
60 posted on 09/19/2001 9:16:55 PM PDT by FITZ
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