Reply #12: Soon people will begin to understand that military power and the use of [View All]

[MSgt213]

force is limited. Soon and I hope it's soon enough to prevent too many more of our young men and women from getting killed over there people will understand that having great diplomats is just as important as having great generals.

Don't get me wrong, you need great generals to deliver military force when it is necessary. That force though has to be delivered deliberately and with finality. The enemy has to know when you come in it's over. There will be no army left to drift home on their own. There will be no weapons left laying around in piles waiting to be used against you. The populace must know that you will not tolerate the harboring of your enemies. I know it may sound harsh, but I think it would save lives instead of taking them the way they are being taken now both american and iraqi.

Before any of the above comes to pass the diplomats have had to have a chance to do their job. If they can't convince a foe to lay down their arms then it's the diplomat's job to turn all his country's friends and allies against the foe. To make the case that they, their friends and allies can give them no comfort or quarter. If necessary after the general's job is done then the diplomats job continues convincing the populace they are much better off then they were.

Again before any of the above can happen though you must have strong leadership. Leadership that knows that the option of military force is always there, but should be used only as a last resort. He does'nt accept failure from his diplomats. He sees their failure as his failure. He knows if the use of force comes to past he will be sending other people's sons and daughters to die. He knows he will do it if he must because it's his responsibility, but he will never rest until he has done everything in is power to avoid it. Soon maybe we will have a President like that.