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Many rethinking cost of American war

While administrative officials maintain that the ongoing war effort is not bogged down,
observers continue to question whether the American position is viable, especially now that a
main military contigent finds itself in a seemingly hopeless position.
Walled up with his bedraggled forces in Valley Forge, suffering from harsh winter conditions
with supplies dwindling, Gen. Washington is unable to advance, and rumors abound that mutiny
has been discussed among the troops, whose morale has hit an all-time low.
Some critics allege that because of horrendous strategic planning blunders, Washington has
decimated American forces and bears direct responsibility for the current pathetic condition of the
army.
Meanwhile, other voices have called for an investigation into the activities of one of
Washington’s hand-picked generals, Benedict Arnold. Reports by a high administration official on
condition of anonymity strongly suggest that Arnold may have been involved in high treason.
Washington’s troubles continue to escalate. A Philadelphia think tank, the Appeasement
Roundtable, yesterday threw doubts on the administration’s reasons for entering into war in the
first place.
While most Americans continue to believe that British measures against colonial interests led to
the current military “response,” the roundtable says in a new report that Britain actually repealed
nearly all the Townshend duties, those measures American officials cited as reasons for beginning
hostilities.
And while Americans fault the British for aggressive actions at the start of the war, polls show
that few recount that Americans preemptively attacked redcoats with garbage and snowballs
before the so-called “Boston Massacre.”
Respected Harvard analyst Charles Lee points out that the operation was flawed from the
beginning. The British, he claims, had “bent over backwards” to meet colonists’ demands, but
certain administrative officials, for private and philosophical reasons of their own, were set on
independence and simply used the “Boston Massacre” as an excuse to wage full-scale war.
“The term ‘massacre’, “ Lee says, “is a gross exaggeration in itself when you consider that the
red coats only killed three people. The British acted in good faith, but we arrogant colonialists
refused to use peaceful means to resolve conflicts.”
Lee recounts a series of administrative blunders leading to the current quagmire.
“We employed out-of-control mobs, we burned their warships without cause – the administration
has tried to paint the burning of the Gaspee as an isolated incident, committed by a few wayward
rogues. But responsibility should follow the chain of command to the top!
“The dumping of tea into Boston Harbor, labeled in smug parlance the “Boston Tea Party,” was a
horrendous insult to the British. Europeans are justified in their anger.”
Lee also sees the loss of Canada as a fiasco. Had administration officials worked hard to secure
Quebec in 1775, we might have had a 14th colony and a much stronger force against the British, he
says.
Yale military expert John Andre also believes that incompetence throughout the administration is
blatant.
“How could continental officers allow the British to destroy stockpiles of supplies and
ammunition at Concord? What blundering and oafish planning allowed such a misstep? And we
retreated from Long Island because of further miscalculations. And what about John Paul Jones?
He seemed an able naval administrator, but many are beginning to question his competence now
that his prized ship the Bonhomme Richard was allowed to sink. A committee should investigate
all of these debacles immediately.”
Andre is most concerned about mounting casualties.
“Ninety-three lost at Lexington and Concord, 400 killed near Bunker Hill, 1,500 lost on Long
Island. These are human beings! And killed for what? So Washington can mount the Fort
Ticonderoga cannon on Dorchester Heights and announce that major wartime hostilities are ended?
Now Fort Ticonderoga has been reclaimed by the British, and where is Washington? Holed up,
starving in Valley Forge. It is unquestionably time for new leadership.”
Though Washington currently seems to have widespread approval, the question remains, how
long can it last?

Aberdeen American News (June)