[Vision2020] Concerning Obama's "Horses and Bayonets" Comment . . .

[Tom Hansen]

During the last presidential debate, President Obama commented to the affect that our military is beyond the age of horses and bayonets.  I consider him to be only half right. 

As weapon technology advances, and targets further and further away can be engaged and destroyed with ever-increasing armament, the bottom line remains forever constant.  It is something I learned after twelve years of service while undergoing transition training from administration to infantry.  My training consisted of two stages; Basic Infantryman (military occupational specialty 11B) training and Bradley Fighting Vehicle Infantryman (military occupational specialty 11M).  Throughout the entire six months of training, it was hammered into us constantly . . .

You do not own a piece of land until you put your boots on it.

So, no matter how advanced the weapon technology . . . from the very first battle of the very first war to the last round fired of the last battle of the last war . . . the need for battle horses may degenerate, but the absolute necessity will ALWAYS be . . .

"The Man With The Rifle"

Men may argue forever on what wins wars,
and welter in cons and pros,
and seek for their answer at history's doors,
but the man with the rifle knows.

He must stand on the ground on his own two feet,
and he?s never in doubt when it's won.
If it's won he's there; if he's not, it's defeat.
That's his test, when the fighting is done.

When he carries the fight, it's not with a roar
of armored wings spitting death.
It's creep and crawl on the earthen floor,
butt down and holding his breath.

Saving his strength for the last low rush,
grenade throw and bayonet thrust;
and the whispered prayer, before he goes in,
of a man who does what he must.

And when he's attacked, he can't zoom away.
When the shells fill the world with their sound,
He stays where he is, loosens his spade,
and digs his defense in the ground.

That ground isn't ours til he's there in the flesh,
not a gadget or a bomb but a man.
He's the answer to theories, which start afresh,
with each peace ever since war began.

So let the wild circle of arguments rage
on what wins, as war comes and goes.
Many new theories may hold the stage,
but the man with the rifle knows.

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Seeya at the polls, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students.  The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)


 
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