An attack on a sovereign nation by another nation is an act of war. That is pure and simple. War results from a failure of diplomacy by national executives. The purpose of warfare is to “destroy the enemy and his will to fight.” The only sane outcome of war is “a military victory.” If that is not the objective, stay out! Don’t sacrifice American troops or precious resources to protect political egos and pride or credibility.
President Obama wants to attack Syria as punishment for allegedly using nerve gas on civilians in their prolonged civil war. No one can explain how this involves our national interest sufficiently to justify initiation of an act of war. Any nation being attacked has a right and can be expected, with the aid of their allies to respond. That may be why the President is afraid to initiate an attack without Congress to blame it on when the war expands and terrorist attacks are unleashed on American interests throughout the world including this country.
The President stepped away from the teleprompter and made a threat that he was drawing a “red line” and if Syria crossed the line and used poison gas in the civil war, the United States would punish them. Syria has apparently called his bluff. The president has boxed himself in a corner and needs congressional support to restore his credibility in the international arena where he has become the brunt of humiliating jokes.
Conference host Putin insulted Pres. Obama in Russia last week. A high ranking Russian official made the most insulting remark about the President and the American voters prior to the conference. The Russian official likened electing President Obama as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States to handing a monkey a hand grenade. It seems that insult would justify retaliation more than Syrians gassing their own people would.
I fear for the future of our nation under this Administration. The military action they are proposing is dangerous and reckless. I pray the American people and their congressional representatives will never allow it to happen. They are violating virtually every rule of warfare and common sense imaginable. My strong views are filtered through more than 26-years of military service, command of troops, the Vietnam War, and three years involved in command and control of nuclear weapons. I believe peace is achieved through strength. We should go to war only when our important national interests are threatened and be willing to shed the blood of our troops only when supported by the people through a declaration by congress. I’ll list a few of my reasons for concern.
In a nutshell, the Obama proposal is militarily unsound, financially unaffordable, void of leadership credibility and fraught with catastrophic uncertainty.
Through sequestration and budget cuts the U. S. military capability has been gutted, the combat forces including reserves and National Guard are overtaxed and exhausted. Clearly we are unprepared for additional combat.
Pilots, naval personnel and ground troops are not receiving adequate training due to lack of funding; Combat units are not at full strength. Combat casualties are not being adequately cared for after they are evacuated and discharged. Morale is at its lowest point since Vietnam. Social experiments are degrading combat readiness. Active duty suicides outnumber combat deaths.
The element of surprise is necessary for any successful military operation. Either President Obama and his advisors are ignorant and incompetent or they don’t care how many Americans are slaughtered as “sacrificial lambs” due to incompetent leaders and unwise decisions. This administration tells our enemies everything, our military personnel pay with their lives and the American people are the victims of a culture of mendacity.
Finally, the Obama Administration has little credibility in the international arena and is losing credibility at home. After Benghazi, both the civilian and top military leadership has lost credibility with Officers and Noncommissioned Officers who are the backbone of the fighting forces.
I wonder how many Vietnam Veterans believe anything Secretary of State John Kerry says? He swore lies before a Senate committee, accusing Americans of atrocities against civilians in Vietnam. Enough said!