I find it hard to believe that Americans that were born here and raised here in the United States are now fighting for ISIS the very terrorist group that has recently murdered two Americans lending it’s self to medieval times of beheading may be allowed back in the US. This is the most brutal organization I have never seen in my 69 years on this earth.
I have served in the military for about 30 years and I am amazed at those who feel we should do nothing about this great stain on Americas reputation and most of all our precious honor as a free nation. These people of ISIS are not going away. They are much like the Nazis of the 1930′s and what they did to millions of Jews, and many other prisoners. How can we possibly stand by and do nothing with a President that openly says we have no plan or strategy how to deal with this issue. That my friend is what my old Grand pappy said is BUNK!
Let me remind you that there are those on earth that would be happy to kill every American. You, your family and your children and grandchildren and laugh at your dying breath.
The only thing this faction of fanatics understand and they understand it quickly is over powering force.
Ask any service member that ever served in combat how they feel about War or taking on ISIS with military action. The answer will be the same. In any Military Action, whether it be a so called Police Action as in Korea in the 1950′s, a World War, or a political war as we have all seen in Vietnam and until today. Those old service members will all tell you this fact. War is not glorious. The soldier above all prays for peace for they are the individuals that will have to prosecute the military action. And lets be clear about a few things if we are to send soldiers in harms way:
1. Let them run the military action by allowing them to do what they were trained to do WITH OUT political influence.
2. Unless we are willing to accept the fact that civilians will be killed. DO NOT commit our military to action with tied hands. As General Grant said “WAR IS HELL”
3. It appears that World War II did not teach any of our Politicians a thing about war or freedom. Some said that there was no reason to bomb Dresden Germany in 1945, (They said “It had no military value as the war was almost over anyway.”) but 1000 bombers killed over 150,000 individuals in one night. And flattening the city, totally breaking the German will to fight. BAD? you bet but necessary. That action resulted in the peace we have seen in the area since 1945. Much the way General Sherman burned Georgia in 1865 it had a massive effect on the South’s will to fight. Again, War is not glorius.
If we allow the mass murder of Americans to continue to take place with politicians afraid, depending on diplomacy to work with a group like ISIS we will all live in fear. Just how many individuals will be killed by ISIS in the process before we finally decide that action to those individuals that only understand force is the only way to stop it once and for all. But ther needs to be a clear message that this type force will be used if Ameria has attacks at home or against our Allies. That message needs to be as clear as Presidnet John Kennedy made it during the Cuban crisis in the early 1960s.
A friend of mine and General Officer of whom I have the greatest respect said it well enough a few years ago. ” The army should reactivate each of our old retired butts, and send us. We are already PO’ d and mad anyway.”
Could be he was right.
As I sit here in my old office chair realizing that our time has passed my old brain keeps thinking about those hallowed words of Douglas Mc Arthur in his last speech at West Point. He told the cadet Corps. “DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY. THREE WORDS THAT DEFINE WHAT YOU SHOULD BE AND WHAT YOU WILL BE. FOR YOU TO NOT REMBER THESE HALLOWED WORDS THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS IN BLUE, GRAY, AND KAKI WILL RISE FROM THEIR GRAVES SHOUTING……DUTY……HONOR….. COUNTRY. It seems our Washington politicians currently in power. Have forgotten the most important Phrase to be an American.
Bill Taylor
LTC (R) USA