The Litany of Misdirected, Gutless Presidents

Submitted by Mark Werfel (United States), Sep 13, 2013 at 23:33

My educated view (I am an Air War College graduate -- '85) is that the essential enemy has not been identified, while the threat that you describe in one aspect actually has many aspects that precede 44 -- 43, 42, 41, 40 (back to Nixon, or to Eisenhower) all of whom did or should have seen the threat of oil-based wealth flowing to the underbalanced and overzealous OPEC states. Yeah, they bought our military hardware(probably why we let it happen); but they cost our lives and treasure. Once upon a time, we took on pirates, and refused tribute -- instead imposing our military power and QUICKLY winning. When I get to Heaven, I'm buying Stephen Decatur a drink (grog).

Simply, Fundamentalist Islam means to, as they actually say, destroy what they see as the Great Satan (the USA) and the little satan (Israel). So they are the enemy because of this purpose of theirs, which is clear.

Also simply, they attacked us (both of us) for decades.

So they bring war, in military ways (terrorism is what we called low intensity conflict, which we expected in the mid-80's when I went to school. We cited the enemy will form as stateless persons to avoid our retaliation against the true sponsors).

We have not identified the enemy (step 1), nor have we applied military (or other) power against them. Until we have a strategy that leads to success, we will lose. Sun Tsu: Know the enemy (and know yourself). We see our enemies as friends, and can't apply national power in any regard to this fight -- because we do not yet have the will or leadership to form that will.

The USA seems unable to learn from Israel, or has not as yet.
To teach, one must make the lesson plan objectives and the lecture absolutely clear, so the students can learn, even when they don't want to.

We await the final exam.

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