Friday, August 1, 2008

War:

As a free nation, our leadership should be reminded every now and then about some truths regarding war. Since the decision to go to war has already been made, the following two quotes should remind us of our obligation to succeed.

For you Doves out there, allow us to complete the job. For you Hawks out there, tread lightly with the combat boots but get the job done that you started. Anything less is a defeat.

The quotes:

"A great nation which voluntarily enters upon war and does not see it through to victory must eventually suffer all the consequences of defeat.

War's very object is victory, not prolonged indecision. In war, there can be no substitute for victory."

General Douglas MacArthur
Address to Congress April 19, 1951

"A government should not mobilize an army out of anger, military leaders should not provoke war out of wrath. Act when it is beneficial, desist if it is not. Anger can revert to joy, wrath can revert to delight, but a nation destroyed cannot be restored to existence, and the dead cannot be restored to life. Therefore an enlightened government is careful about this, a good military leadership is alert to this. This is the way to secure a nation and keep the armed forces whole."

Sun Tzu
The Art of War

Pax.

Newbius

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