As about a hundred years has elapsed since the start of World War 1, it is important for this generation most of whom were born in the 20th Century to do a recap of events of the past in order to avoid the trap of re-enacting events simply because we have failed to learn from history. After about 37 years of personally closely following and studying the conflicts of the 20th Century which have given the 20th Century the dubious distinction of being the bloodiest century in the known history of the world, it has become imperative in my own observation for this generation to study the trend of events in that generation and learn some useful lessons that we can pass down to the next generation.
For instance the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff drew an interesting conclusion never before held in any previous military council after reviewing America's involvement in Vietnam that it is not every conflict that military power on its own can usefully resolve, and that the nation should never ask the Army for more than it can deliver. It drew a set of criteria that needed to be considered before dabbling into any fresh military adventure abroad. For instance among many points were these that were pointedly stated. Can the use of conventional forces bring about victory in the situation? Can the enemy be effectively subjected to conventional military operations without violating the norms of conventional warfare ? But more importantly will the campaign carry the support of the people on a long term basis were it to become protracted?
It is very obvious that the Bush administration did not seriously give thought to these considerations before launching 'operation enduring freedom' A well thought out campaign has failed in the eye of the public because the politicians who launched it did not take time to prepare the public for the cost of what i call or describe as 'enduring victory'.
This generation has to learn the bitter truth that enduring freedom is not the result of a 'sausage or spaghetti' investment. A quick fix approach which seems to be popular with politicians looking for short term returns cannot in many instance produce a durable return. The American GI''s who hit the beaches of France from the US First Army and who have remained my lifetime heroes did not consider a quick fix on Omaha beach in the face of the most determined adversary many of the inexperienced conscripts had ever seen. There was no timeline fixed for events nor a spending cap as to how much the country was willing to spend for victory.
The D-Day landings in Europe had already cost the American taxpayers an estimated 5 Billion dollars by the 6th of June 1944 and yet the events of that day seemed to suggest that the spending were far from adequate.
On that day it was not the cost but the morality of the issue that was at stake. The men on the beach knew it. They also knew that day was not a day to trade blames but rather one that called for ingenuity on the part of the men to ensure that the Great Crusade did not fail. News week magazine special issue of the 6th of June 1944 said boldly on the cover page that the first 1,000 yards were the most difficult on that beach that day for the troops.
If you could hold out and not give up and push beyond the 1000 yards you would soon discover a fresh perception of the enemy. Many GI's on that day learnt that truth albeit at a bitter cost that would also set a new parameter for victory. Many of the men testified that nothing they experienced in the subsequent push to Berlin would come close to the terror of those first 1,000 yards of Omaha beach.Truly as Bill Clinton said while campaigning for the presidency in 1992, that 'there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with something that is right with America'.
As we look back at the centenary of WW1, I still commend the courage of the men of the US First Army particularly on D-DAY to the people of this generation as we tackle seemingly intractable problems which have dodged our footsteps as they also dodged the footsteps of our fore bears. Found in this blog are over 100 posts from The US FIRST ARMY, THE FORGOTTEN HEROES OF WW2 to the story of 150 YEARS OF EUROPEAN HISTORY, THE FORGING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. Wishing you a happy voyage of fruitful discoveries as you peruse these pages.
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