The American Spectator

At its most basic level Philip Klein’s contention that the president is allocating insufficient assets to the war is one of civilian interference with war fighting, much of this interference enabled by senior military leadership, who also unfortunately acquiesce in the unrealistic rules of engagement imposed on our forces. Have they all forgotten Vietnam? You kill enough of your enemy wherever you can find them so that they lose the will and capacity to resist. I’ll say it again for the benefit of anyone in a position of authority who might be reading this: You kill them. Even if they hide in a mosque, you kill them. Even if they’re allies of the Iraqi PM, you kill them. As for collateral damage, this from my father during the recent Israel-Lebanon war: “All this nonsense about the Israeli response not being ‘proportionate’ is bulls—t. I knew what I was doing when I was dropping bombs over Germany and Italy. I was killing civilians. That happens in war.” This touches on the Keane/Kagan argument for 30,000 additional troops versus the 21,500 being sent. It’s not only the number that matters, it’s how they are used.

Now Mr. Klein’s comment about President Bush not identifying how Americans should “sacrifice” for the war effort. Will you tell me, sir, exactly how or what we are supposed to sacrifice? Should Americans stop going about our daily lives, buying goods and services — to the extent that we damage the economy that provides the taxes to fund the war? Or is this call for sacrifice a code word for higher taxes? Or is it just another cudgel for the Democrats with which to beat George Bush? Speaking of which, I find it sad that any American would take seriously the standard Democrat criticism of the war effort. Dick Durbin? Barbara Boxer? Chuck Schumer? John Murtha? Charlie Rangel? Two-bit politicians. Does anyone believe they care about victory? If they did do you think that they would begrudge our fighting men and women the reinforcements needed to win? Of course, not. Instead they undermine the war effort while troops are in the field. Despicable.

Mr. Klein’s last paragraph nailed it, thoroughly. I’ve been bitching almost constantly that this whole Iraqi fiasco could/should have been wrapped-up a year or two ago If Dubya had pulled out the stops and allowed the troops to actually WIN, rather than fighting with one-hand-tied-behind-their-backs in a Politically Correct “containment” thing. Half measures avail us nothing!