Speaking about the war in Iraq, Senate leader Harry Reid (D-NV) recently said, "I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week.” He went on to say he had “delivered the same message to (US) President George W. Bush on Wednesday, when the (US) president met with senior lawmakers to discuss how to end a standoff over an emergency war funding bill.”
Senator Reid has plenty of company in his criticism of the way America’s War on Terror has been progressing, not just among politicians but in the media as well and, of course, the American public in general, none of whom, for the most part, have any idea how this or any other war should be fought.
After Gen. David Petraeus’ recent closed-door congressional briefing sessions about the war, Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-R) said:
“One thing that [Iraqi war theater commander Gen. David Petraeus] reminded us was, this [war] is a test of wills, and he admonished us... that what we say to the world, to our adversaries and our allies, is listened to by the other side... It must come as a shock to al-Qa’ida leaders to have an aide come into their safe house and tell them that Senator [Harry] Reid has declared that, in fact, they are winning and the war is lost. I think it’s highly irresponsible for the leader of the U.S. Senate to have said that and, just speaking for myself as the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, I think that the leader of the Senate should step down from that position.” (Patriot Post, April 27, 2007):
What most people don’t seem to recognize is that this sort of unrelenting criticism of the way our leadership is prosecuting a war has happened before, most notably during the Vietnam era, but also long before the 1960s.
We often find that our thoughts have been expressed by others in the past who were able to articulate them far better than anything we might say ourselves today. So it is with the deluge of criticism that has been blanketing the media establishment and American political scene about the Iraq War. For example, in 1863, Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) wrote:
It appears we have appointed our worst generals to command forces, and our most gifted and brilliant to edit newspapers! In fact, I discovered by reading newspapers that these editor/geniuses plainly saw all my strategic defects from the start, yet failed to inform me until it was too late. Accordingly, I’m readily willing to yield my command to these obviously superior intellects, and I’ll, in turn, do my best for the Cause by writing editorials – after the fact.
In the 6th Century BC, a Chinese warrior, Sun Tzu, wrote “The Art of War,” which has been characterized as the “oldest military treatise in the world” and is still studied by military students and strategists today, some 2600 years later. It’s a small book, but one that is filled with thought provoking, sometimes profound ideas and practical advice, illustrating once again the oft quoted saying, “There’s nothing new under the sun.”
Much of Sun Tzu’s advice rings just as true today in modern America as it did in ancient China. Following are some examples taken from his book that can be easily applied to the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan today:
All warfare is based on deception.
Is there anyone who cannot see that this applies directly to the current environment in which the media, editorial writers and politicians of every stripe do not understand or don’t care that their constant efforts to disclose classified information to the public and our enemies in the process is both self-destructive and dangerous, if not downright treasonous?
This is also clearly illustrated by the current struggle between the President and Congress over his authority as commander-in-chief of our armed forces and legislation to fund the troops, which includes a poison pill that would set specific deadlines for leaving Iraq, thereby gratuitously handing the advantage to the people we are fighting. Politicians invariably want to be in charge of conducting wars without accepting any responsibility for their actions.
On the subject of financing wars, Sun Tzu observed:
When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be damped.
Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain.
There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.
Poverty of the State exchequer causes an army to be maintained by contributions from a distance. Contributing to maintain an army at a distance causes the people to be impoverished.
These dictums are clearly demonstrated by the way in which our management of the national budget and spending is being handled. It’s been business as usual: uncontrolled spending and unbridled raiding of the national treasury while trying to pay for the war at the same time.
To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.
Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha and many other Democrats clearly exemplify this understated but cogent observation. Unfortunately, there are many others, too numerous to name, whose political ambitions take precedence over our national defense.
Peace proposals unaccompanied by a sworn covenant indicate a plot.
We cannot enter into alliance with neighboring princes until we are acquainted with their designs.
Hence he does not strive to ally himself with all and sundry, nor does he foster the power of other states. He carries out his own secret designs, keeping his antagonists in awe
Think about Iran, Syria and North Korea. Not just their promises, but their unwillingness to make their intentions clear and their track records of lying and duplicity. Yet, in spite of this, many of our politicians continue to propose that we include Iran and Syria in negotiations to end the war in Iraq.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them.
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
In light of the tactics they have been employing, this could be advice that the Taliban, al Qaeda and the insurgents in Iraq have been following. We may doing the same, but it’s being underreported to the extent that it appears we are not.
But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.
Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.
There is a great deal more advice and commentary in Sun Tzu’s small book about war and, although much of it may no longer apply directly in today’s environment of modern technology and weaponry, it still contains enough wisdom and sound strategic advice to continue being used as an important teaching tool in modern military schools, such as West Point, proving once again that there is nothing new under the sun.
(c) 2007 Harris R. Sherline, All Rights Reserved
