[Vision2020] Free Speech and Crazy Bush

[Don Kaag]

Bob:

So, knowing that you are the repository of all things military, and 
thinking that I somehow did a brain dump between graduating from, and 
then teaching in, the United States Army Command and General Staff 
Course, I went first to the syllabus and then to the indicated 
reference, Karl von Clauswitz' "Vom Krieg"(On War), searching for the 
generally accepted definition.

It seems that the people who fight wars define one as "The continuation 
of diplomacy by other (violent) means".  That's a lot different than " 
We only attack countries that have no real possibility of fighting 
back", and "under the principles of war, if your enemy cannot fight 
back or reasonably defend itself, there is no war, merely a massacre."

Can you cite an accepted reference for this definition?  If not, 
perhaps you should read von Clauswitz and maybe Nicolo Machiavelli more 
closely.  And by the way, although I am not particularly enamored with 
a war in Iraq, it is my earnest desire that all wars the United States 
becomes involved in be concluded speedily, with maximum force applied 
consistant with the mission and its goals, and with the fewest possible 
U.S. casualties.  You would prefer, perhaps, a bunch of American kids 
coming home in body bags?

General George Patton once said to his troops before battle," It is not 
your job to die for your country... it is your job to make the other 
poor, dumb, S.O.B. die for his!"  A lovely sentiment.

Regards,

Don Kaag


On Wednesday, January 29, 2003, at 11:35 AM, Bob Hoffmann wrote:

> At 09:38 AM 1/29/2003 -0800, Carl Westberg wrote:
>> It's obvious we will be at war soon.  Why the obsessive focus on 
>> Iraq?  It seem's the "axis of evil" has been condensed to Saddam, 
>> with North Korea, Iran, etc. being "different".  After Iraq, which 
>> way does Dubya point his cowboy hat?  Iraq is far from the only 
>> country we would have reason to go war with, given Bush's criteria.  
>> I understand Canada's been ticking the adminstration off lately.
>
> Aside from the oil issue, Iraq meets a number of other U.S. 
> considerations as a candidate for war, without any exclusionary > issues.
>
> For example, since Vietnam, it has been U.S. policy not to fight any 
> wars that it would have a remote possibility of losing, or even a 
> remote possibility of resulting in massive U.S. casualties.  With 
> 50,000 U.S. troops within artillery range of North Korea, this point 
> on the axis is clearly excluded.  Developing nuclear weapons?  By 
> their own admission.  A target for U.S. military attack?  Not under 
> the mutual damage exclusionary principle.  We only attack countries 
> that have no real possibility of fighting back:  Iraq, Grenada, 
> Panama, Libya, etc.  Again, under the principles of war, if your enemy 
> cannot fight back or reasonably defend itself, there is no war, merely 
> a massacre.
>
> Bob Hoffmann
> 820 S. Logan St.
> Moscow, ID  83843
>
>>> From: Bill Kerr <billk@moscow.com>
>>> To: vision2020@moscow.com
>>> Subject: [Vision2020] Free Speech and Crazy Bush
>>> Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 07:28:25 -0800
>>>
>>> Warning this message contains free speech stimulants. :)
>>>
>>> Does anyone else think that Dubya is complete in his craziness yet?
>>> What is the effect going to be on Moscow?
>>> Does anybody really care?
>>> Does Bush really care?
>>>
>>> Bill Kerr
>>> billk@moscow.com
>>> billk@drseuss.lib.uidaho.edu
>>>
>>> _____________________________________________________
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