Monday, June 30, 2008
Dilemmas abound
Retired General Wesley Clarke, who has offered his support to Sen. Obama in his run for the presidency, made the observation that military service alone does not necessarily qualify a person to be President of the United States. General Clarke praised John McCain to the skies for his service to the country and said that the Senator has been and continues to be a hero of his. I would like to add that there have been times in our history when military leadership was paramount in dealing with world issues that put us at risk. At the same time we have seen, and are experiencing events now where military solutions alone have lead us into deep water with no life jackets in sight. The kind of 'war' we are engaged in does not involve nation to nation, one on one combat where the outcome will be decided by who has the biggest army and the best equipment. It is a war of terror and idealogical differences with an enemy who is not afraid to die for whatever fanatical causes that drives him..This kind of enemy does not confront us on battlefields, but instead, immerses itself into populated areas where we must put innocent lives at risk to rout them out. After almost six years of our involvement in Iraq, despite claims to the contrary, this 'enemy' continues to deny us the "mission accomplished" outcome we want so badly. The fact is that the only way we've been able to render even temporary relief and safety to the people of Iraq is to keep heavy contingents of troops in the various cities and towns. If the Iraqi government was able to provide these troops to protect the people of these towns from terrorist retribution it would be one thing, but so far their success in doing so has been dismal to say the least. Whoever ultimately becomes President of the United States is going to be faced with what is looking more and more like one of the toughest jobs any American president has had to confront and Iraq is just the beginning. Both candidates are intelligent men of honor and their differences are probably just as diversified as the differences that divide us as a people. My hope is that the differences can be resolved and the gaps between us be narrowed, if not completely closed, Sooner or later we must be united in common cause....and that won't be a Sunday morning walk in the park.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
Retired General Wesley Clarke, who has offered his support to Sen. Obama in his run for the presidency, made the observation that military service alone does not necessarily qualify a person to be President of the United States. General Clarke praised John McCain to the skies for his service to the country and said that the Senator has been and continues to be a hero of his. I would like to add that there have been times in our history when military leadership was paramount in dealing with world issues that put us at risk. At the same time we have seen, and are experiencing events now where military solutions alone have lead us into deep water with no life jackets in sight. The kind of 'war' we are engaged in does not involve nation to nation, one on one combat where the outcome will be decided by who has the biggest army and the best equipment. It is a war of terror and idealogical differences with an enemy who is not afraid to die for whatever fanatical causes that drives him..This kind of enemy does not confront us on battlefields, but instead, immerses itself into populated areas where we must put innocent lives at risk to rout them out. After almost six years of our involvement in Iraq, despite claims to the contrary, this 'enemy' continues to deny us the "mission accomplished" outcome we want so badly. The fact is that the only way we've been able to render even temporary relief and safety to the people of Iraq is to keep heavy contingents of troops in the various cities and towns. If the Iraqi government was able to provide these troops to protect the people of these towns from terrorist retribution it would be one thing, but so far their success in doing so has been dismal to say the least. Whoever ultimately becomes President of the United States is going to be faced with what is looking more and more like one of the toughest jobs any American president has had to confront and Iraq is just the beginning. Both candidates are intelligent men of honor and their differences are probably just as diversified as the differences that divide us as a people. My hope is that the differences can be resolved and the gaps between us be narrowed, if not completely closed, Sooner or later we must be united in common cause....and that won't be a Sunday morning walk in the park.
George Morin
Auburn, Ga.
