MEMORIAL DAY REVISITED.

Perhaps you may find the following controversal. Your non vitrolic comments are welcomed.

May 25th was Memorial Day, a day in we give homage to those who have died in the service of their country.

Wars are never popular. War is hell for those in combat and those who have loved ones at risk. However, to demand withdrawal of troops from a combat area before the goal has been accomplished besmirches the memory of all who have died or received disabling wounds in that conflict as well as all the preceding wars in our history.

The Viet Nam soldiers were so disrespected by many in this country that their post service life was a disaster. That war, even more than this one in Iraq, became such a political and moral issue that it was impossible to be properly fought.

Even today few have a handle on the reason we were fighting there. The casualty rates were high, and there was an absurdly disproportion of draftees from the minority segments of society. The military were given an impossible task; fight a war by humanitarian rules. What an oxymoron!

We must accept the fact that no civilized rule is valid in modern warfare. Wars are not a game. The aim is to kill, maim or disable as many of the “enemy” as possible. Maiming or injuring the enemy’s forces is preferable to killing since it requires resources and personnel for their care. The dead only need to be buried. The destruction of his infrastructure is a necessity. Collateral damage, ie: non combatant’s death is an acceptable risk. It may even be desirable. Civilian casualties were high in the last major war and I believe that they will be astronomical in the next.

We memorialized the dead of the Civil War, the bloodiest highest casualty war in history and the first modern war. Also those who perished in the Spanish-American War, the pre WW I Mexican campaign, WWI itself as well as the adventures in Panama, Granada, Somalia and the Gulf War. We seem to have forgotten the Korean War where General McArthur’s egomania cost thousands of American lives.

How many lives both civilian and military could have been spared is unknown. The war in the Pacific was inevitable. Perhaps if the Pacifists and Isolationists among us had not delayed our intervention the Nazis would not have had the freedom to kill millions. Those among us who criticize Truman for dropping the “bomb” cannot conceive how many lives were saved in the aborting an invasion of Japan.

Yes, Iraq today is unpopular. Like Viet Nam it has become a political toy. Grandstanding politicians and egotistical Presidential advisers as well as some arrogant generals have botched the war’s conduct. We should not let politicians or rabble rousers or legitimate ill advised do-gooders make the sacrifices of our troops worthless.

Instead, we must assure that the military leadership is competent, not impressed by its own ignorance. I know that that is difficult but is possible. Then we should whole heartily finish this episode, which has accomplished one great objective. We have rid the world of a tyrant and mass murderer.

Finally, we must understand, which this administration has been incapable, that no matter what our idealistic wishes are, we cannot impose our perception of Democracy on cultures that have a different mores. We should stick having them adopt acceptable civil and religious liberties. The form in which this takes is immaterial.

If the UN could be a functioning force, the ideal solution would be cohesive action in destroying all repressive murderous governments like those that exist in Burma (Myanmar), Sudan or Zimbabwe. There should be no condoning nations that deny human freedoms. North Korea and Iran as well as the autocratic Arab nations are among those in this group. Dream on! I have not mentioned China since it appears that economic forces are cracking the steel grip.

Basically it is for that fundamental idea of the individual’s right of personal freedom in an organized civil society that Americans have died. That is what we should hold in memorial.