A Hawk Questions Himself as His Son Goes to War

Washington Post ^ | 7/10/05 | Eliot A. Cohen

[T-Bird45]

War forces us, or should force us, to ask hard questions of ourselves. As a military historian, a commentator on current events and the father of a young Army officer, these are mine.

You supported the Iraq war when it was launched in 2003. If you had known then what you know now, would you still have been in favor of it?

As I watched President Bush give his speech at Fort Bragg to rally support for the war the other week, I contemplated this question from a different vantage than my usual professorial perch. Our oldest son now dresses like the impassive soldiers who served as stage props for that event; he too wears crossed rifles, jump wings and a Ranger tab. Before long he will fight in the war that I advocated, and that the president was defending.

So it is not an academic matter when I say that what I took to be the basic rationale for the war still strikes me as sound. Iraq was a policy problem that we could evade in words but not escape in reality. But what I did not know then that I do know now is just how incompetent we would be at carrying out that task. And that's what prevents me from answering this question with an unhesitating yes.

[T-Bird45]

Excellent read, especially from the WaPo. I highly commend it to all.

[Mr Rogers]

I can't log in to the WP - not registered.

Why does he think we were so incompetent at what we've done?

Seems to me we're making better than average progress.

[T-Bird45]

Final line in the article:

What the father in me expects from our leaders is, simply, the truth -- an end to happy talk and denials of error, and a seriousness equal to that of the men and women our country sends into the fight.

Should be etched on tablets and posted in every place where such matters are discussed, planned, and deployed.

[Restorer]

A desire -- barely controlled -- to slap the highly educated fool who, having no soldier friends or family, once explained to me that mistakes happen in all wars, and that the casualties are not really all that high and that I really shouldn't get exercised about them.

An understandable desire, but no attempt to explain why he was a fool, or for that matter why what he said was wrong.

I guess I'm just a not very highly educated fool.

[metalcor]

Well, I've got one there (daughter in Mosul) and I have the same thought---though one should acknowledge and honor the sacrifice and be humbled by it, should one be exercised by it?

[Restorer]

Is he trying to say, A. some wars are waged without mistakes; B. IS casualties are high from a historical perspective?

[Restorer]

Make that US casualties. Sorry.

[T-Bird45]

It would be worth a trip to bugmenot.com to get a password to read this. However, I shall give a short answer from my reading -- others are welcome to give their perspective.

I don't believe he is arguing that there has been any gross incompetence. In fact, he makes points that show we learned from the Vietnam experience about getting the natives prepared to defend themselves. In VN, that took five years but only one year in Iraq, according to the author. On this it appears he agrees with your view of better than average progress.

However, a primary point of contention does arise from the reason for beginning a war based on WMD accusations that have not been able to be proved. The author contends there was adequate cause to enter a war without the WMD argument. The primary cause he pursues relates to the breakdown of the weapons inspection process and the sanctions that were only hurting the Iraqi people.

I strongly encourage you to use bugmenot so you can read it for yourself.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My son, age 29, missed this, as I did, in college, during Viet Nam. I can only be thankful.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Great read.

[jburkovi]

To
Eliot Cohen is Robert E. Osgood Professor of Strategic Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

And what's your point?

Mine is:

"Live free or die"

[DTogo]

If I were called back or my kids joined? No problem. My only complaint is that I want the wankers in Washington to let our soldiers do their job and kill the enemy and their support bases as in WWII. This new-age, kid-glove P.C. war is the problem.

[ArmyTeach]

Blessings for her and prayers for her safe return. If it helps, my eldest daughter was in Iraq, LSA Anaconda, 2003-2004. It was a challenging year in all respects, and not an easy year. She took part in some humanitarian projects that still bring tears to her eyes. She came home with positive feelings overall and desire to do some new things with her life. I hope that your daughter's experience is a productive one for her and that she stays safe.

[MNJohnnie]

Excellent read, especially from the WaPo. I highly commend it to all.


Nonsense. A trite self-important read were the Author engages in the usual self-important navel gazing and pseudo intellectual,self absorbed criticism of his own side that is far to common in current crop Media pundits. To make the statements he does demonstrates clearly a profound ignorance of all that is being accomplished in Iraq and WHY we are in Iraq. Instead of fixating on errors, as his paymasters at the DNC demand, this Author SHOULD try to have at least a modicum of intellectual honesty to present the other side instead of just mindlessly regurgitating the DNC talking point about "Incompetence". By making that statement the Author proved clearly he has NO clue about ground realities in Iraq. See below for a REAL assessment of the situation in Iraq. Have mistakes been made? Yes. Are we being "incompetent" Only if you take your direction from the DNC spin machine. Isn't curious that the only place the Left Wing attack machine exopects nothing less then complete perfection is in the actions of their domestic political foes?

Link to rest of the story for those who are interested

http://www.globalspecialoperations.com/oif.html


By Capt. Steve Alvarez, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2005 A little more than a year ago, the 2nd
Battalion of the Iraqi Intervention Force made its way through the streets of Baghdad,
Iraq, hunting insurgents. It was the fledgling army's first operational
military patrol, backed up by a team of coalition military advisers.

Iraqi army Maj. Abbas Jassim Jebir, then a company commander with the
2nd Battalion, told Iraqis while he was out on patrol that day, "There are
more on the way just like us."

Jebir's comments were prophetic. Today's Iraqi military is not the same
as it was a year ago. And as he told the citizens of Baghdad, more like him have
come to Iraq's aid.

The Iraqi military is increasingly taking control of security missions
throughout Iraq, but it is a process often overshadowed by sensational attacks on
civilians in the country.

Doubtlessly the Dinosaur media, the other extremist Leftist types,
would scream "That's a Govt spokesperson, that's propaganda." Maybe. But here
is the difference. I know this is the best possible light being put on the
situation but it is the ONLY source where I can find this sort of news.
The only difference between this story and CNN, New York Times, Washington
Post et al, is the biases. For all the elitist sneering at Fox News, they
are the only broadcast source that MIGHT run with this story. I know that
this source is only going to give me good new in the best possible light,
but I also know the Dinosaur media will only give me the worst news painted
as dark as they can make it. Maybe if we had some real journalists, or
News Editors left, instead of a collection of willing mouth pieces for the
Democrat National Committee spin machine, we would SEE this sort of
story in the Dinosaur media. Note to Hysteric Left. You lost the argument on
Iraq in 2003, 2004 and are losing it now. You will lose it again in 2006, 2008,
2010 and forever. When is the Hysteric Left going to realize, YOU CANNOT win
elections as long as you keep demonstrating you would rather side with
the terrorists then fellow citizens of the "wrong" political ideology

News for the Hard Right. We don't need more "boots on the ground"
Funny how all the politicians and talking heads who scream this line have never
actually fought a counter-insurgency op. The good old USA fought a
nasty little counter insurgency in El Salvador during the 1980s. It was by
doing this:

"It was the fledgling army's first operational military patrol, backed
up by a team of coalition military advisers"

It's called the "El Salvador option" Learn it, live it, LOVE it. It
works. All that is needed is the time to make it work. That is one of the
basic reasons why this "Exit Strategy" talking point of the Democrat Party is
sheer lunacy. Set a time line for exit and 2 things happen. The growing
support for the Iraqi govt starts to fragment as Iraqi people start
losing faith we are serious. The USA's has a sorry history of cutting and
running. Iraqi in 1991 after the Gulf War, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos,
China Iran, Nicaragua etc etc etc. The fact is our betrayal of indigenous
allies for political expediency is far far greater a stain on our history then
19th Century Slavery or the Indian Wars no matter what the Hysteric Left
screams about those long past events. Iraqis have every reason to take a watch
and wait attitude towards us.

The other thing setting a time line does is it gives new motivation and
hope to our enemies. Set a time line and these barbarous thugs will know
they only have to keep a modicum of pressure on until we leave. Once we do,
the Terrorist can go into the Madrassas and other terrorist recruiting
grounds and scream "See Iraq, We defeated the Americans. Join us in Jihad!"
Like the decision in the 1990s to "treat terrorism as a police issue" to insist
an "exit strategy for Iraq" would only delay, not defeat, the next 9-11
style attack.

The interesting thing is the "idiot", George Bush understands this
hard, cold fact while supposed " brilliant thinkers" like Wes Clark, John
Kerry or Joe Biden are completely oblivious, (and willing to ignore) this basic
reality.

In a simple equation I heard one commentator explain it. "Our enemies
have the will to destroy us but currently lacks the means. We have the means
to destroy our enemies but lack the will". The race is on to see who gets
what first.

One thing the Political Left seems simply unable to grasp. No amount of
paying off with foreign aid, discussion groups or peace vigils are ever
going to generate a common ground for negotiations with a people who
think their god wants you dead. Given the child like intellectual abilities,
and basic emotional neediness of your average Leftist, I guess it is too
much to expect for them to be able to to grasp this cold reality.


In this line from the story is another reason for optimism.

"According to Iraqi and coalition officials, in recent months there has
been an increase in civilian cooperation. Tip lines stocked with fresh tips
from citizens are leading Iraqi security personnel to insurgent hideouts, weapons
caches and supporters."

Mao, who was one of history's most effective leader's of an insurgency
said this:

"The revolutionary war is a war of the masses; it can be waged only by
mobilizing the masses and relying on them"

The terrorists can only accomplish a bare level support with calculated
brutality toward average Iraqis. They can only scare so many people into helping
the. To win an Insurgency must have the WILLING support of a large mass of
local peoples. Give the common Iraqis, a VIABLE DOMESTIC choice, that looks
like it is winning and the intense nationalism of the Iraqi people biases
them towards the Iraqi Govt. A growing, stable Representative Democratic Iraq
where the bulk of the Iraqi people, (Note to the world's Leftist
"intellectuals" You don't need all the people in Iraq, just enough of
them, side with us will be another nail in the coffin of the terrorists.

BTW, the Terror masters know this. That's why our "Journalists" are the
terrorists fellow travelers. They would rather report the sensational
and bad then the normal and the good. Which is strange since the Media
Thats been beating the bad news all the time about Iraq drum so long now
the story is stale. If they really wanted to scoop their competion,
proof.they would throw this sort of story on the front page!
The terrorists count on our "news" to do that. Here is a why.

"The Iraqi military is increasingly taking control of security missions
throughout Iraq, but it is a process often overshadowed by sensational attacks on
civilians in the country"

One overlooked aspect of this weeks atrocity in London is it may be the
precursor of a change in tactics for the terrorists. They are losing in
Iraq. They know this. They may be shifting the battle to an area where
they think they can win. That does not mean Iraq is any where near resolved
it does mean we are winning. For the historically minded, we are where the
Allies were in late 1943. Still a lot of fighting left, but they had
firmly gained control of the initiative to decide when and where the battles
will be fought. In my personal view, the War will not be over until Iran is
liberated. Contrary to modern mythology the "Nazi Germany" of this war is not
Saudi Arabia. The cradle of the latest manifestation of terrorist insanity
is Iran.
The Terrorists, like the Fascists, cannot win at this point but they can
survive to try again. The question is, are we going to let the
Hysteric Left torch bearers, Sen.. Durbin, Biden. Kennedy, Kerry,
Clinton, Byrd, Howard Dean et al" throw this victory away for nothing more then
their own sordid domestic political gain? Be very careful who you vote
for people. As flawed as the Republican Leadership is in far too many way,
they have this going for them. They will fight for the future as opposed to
the Hysteric Left' desperate desires to stay locked in a failed past

[litehaus]

"missed this, as I did, in college, during Viet Nam."

Got called, reported, got turned down-never told why ceptin the card later that just had a classification saying

1-Y..."Registrant qualified for military service only in time of war or national emergency."

[Larry Lucido]

A desire -- barely controlled -- to slap the highly educated fool who, having no soldier friends or family, once explained to me that mistakes happen in all wars, and that the casualties are not really all that high and that I really shouldn't get exercised about them.

I've had soldier family and friends, and been a soldier, and agree that mistakes happen in all wars and that casualties have been reasonably low. Guess he wants to slap me, too.

[Modok]

I will pass on a Post "story." I got a fungus infection that I need to tend to.

[MNJohnnie]

What the father in me expects from our leaders is, simply, the truth -- an end to happy talk and denials of error, and a seriousness equal to that of the men and women our country sends into the fight.

Translation for Liberal Double speak. I hate Geo Bush. I want him to admit to errors so I can use the admission as a further tool to fight his polices. As usual, the Left pretends to be something they are not. Pro-Military in order to rationalize serving as propaganda mouth pieces for the enemy in time of war.

And before you go on the usual Leftist attempt to divert attention away from the basically anti-American position this article makes by attacking me personally I want you to know this. I am a combat vet who served in Panama and the 1st Gulf War.

[T-Bird45]

First off, I acknowledge, respect, and thank you for your combat service. I also have served in the US Army.

Secondly, I don't know where you come off calling me a leftist but I am most certainly far from that.

Finally, since you appear to intend conduct an exchange at the level you have in your first two posts to me, I shall exercise my option to ignore further posts from you. After your first post to me I was considering a response but this second post was over the top.

[DoughtyOne]

It sure amazes me how brilliant people are... until they're the ones setting or implementing policy. Then they're the ones who are ignorant as hell, as other brilliant people jump in to find fault with everything they do.

Someone else on this thread asked, "Does this guy think any war is exectuted perfectly?" Great question, one that will undoubtedly reverberate the MSM national personna for decades if not millinia without answer by such exhibitors of 'brillance'.

Some may think this a great read. Frankly I can't think of anyone who could think so more than the terrorists who gain strength from percieved befuddlement on the part of U.S. directors of the war effort.

For this reason, I find articles like this unfortunate.

Does Eliot A. Cohen is Robert E. Osgood Professor of Strategic Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University think that U.S. citizens are the only ones who realize what a mouth piece for the terrorist logic, the Washinton Post is? Why then would he think offering up another in a long string of criticisms alway found there, would be supportive of his son?

Good read? I'd respond "LOL", but this is no laughing matter. I'm not convinced at all that these 'thinking out loud' sessions in public, are productive in the least.

Better to influence people who can have a direct impact, than to continue to feed those (the public) who are fed non-stop, that this war is bad, not in all ways, but always in some way. Why aid the left in destroying moral?

The public can't change what you think needs changing. They can only be further demoralized.

You may be a great military thinker, but as a builder of moral, you're a fooze-ball. And who does that help? Certainly not your son, or the tens of thousands of other sons and daughters on the ground that deserve better than this public handwringing.