Not To Reason Why
Retired Army Major General John Riggs the former director of Objective Force Task Force said it best: “They only need the military advice when it satisfies their agenda.”
On 9/11/07, General David Petraeus testified on the situation in Iraq and evaluate the progress of Bush’s troop increase.
Republican Senator John Warner asked General Petraeus: “Are you able to say at this time, if we continue what you have laid before the Congress here as a strategy, do you feel that that is making America safer?”
General Petraeus replied: “Sir, I believe that this is, indeed, the best course of action to achieve our objectives in Iraq.”
Senator Warner press on: “Does that make America safer?”
Many were shocked when General Petraeus responded: “Sir, I don’t know, actually. I have not sat down and sorted out in my own mind. What I have focused on and been riveted on is how to accomplish the mission of the multi-national force Iraq.”
Immediately, I recalled the verse of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” “Not tho’ the soldier knew. Someone had blunder’d: Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die: Into the valley of Death”
Bush is hiding behind his loyal field commander, who can’t say whether the sacrifices he’s asking his troops to make has made their country safer. Apparently, Petraeus follows orders and doesn’t reason why.
Petraeus admitted that he’s given no thought to the wisdom of the Bush policy of fighting this war in Iraq. Since, Petraeus can’t tell us whether achieving that mission is worth it, what are we doing in Iraq, if the commanding General doesn’t know whether it’s doing us any good in terms of our national security?
The answer: blood for oil.
On 9/11/07, General David Petraeus testified on the situation in Iraq and evaluate the progress of Bush’s troop increase.
Republican Senator John Warner asked General Petraeus: “Are you able to say at this time, if we continue what you have laid before the Congress here as a strategy, do you feel that that is making America safer?”
General Petraeus replied: “Sir, I believe that this is, indeed, the best course of action to achieve our objectives in Iraq.”
Senator Warner press on: “Does that make America safer?”
Many were shocked when General Petraeus responded: “Sir, I don’t know, actually. I have not sat down and sorted out in my own mind. What I have focused on and been riveted on is how to accomplish the mission of the multi-national force Iraq.”
Immediately, I recalled the verse of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” “Not tho’ the soldier knew. Someone had blunder’d: Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die: Into the valley of Death”
Bush is hiding behind his loyal field commander, who can’t say whether the sacrifices he’s asking his troops to make has made their country safer. Apparently, Petraeus follows orders and doesn’t reason why.
Petraeus admitted that he’s given no thought to the wisdom of the Bush policy of fighting this war in Iraq. Since, Petraeus can’t tell us whether achieving that mission is worth it, what are we doing in Iraq, if the commanding General doesn’t know whether it’s doing us any good in terms of our national security?
The answer: blood for oil.
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