U.S. Strategy: The Past is Prologue

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VICTORY

U.S. Strategy: The Past is Prologue

Strategy is "the determination of the basic long-term goals and objectives [ENDS] of an enterprise, and the adoption of courses of action [WAYS] and the allocation of resources [MEANS] necessary for carrying out these goals." (Alfred D. Chandler in 1962) This was the process whereby the United States developed and implemented strategy in WWII.

As I learned in Air War College, ninety percent of the WWII war effort was allocated to the European Theater. Ten percent was allocated to the Pacific Theater. We prosecuted an OFFENSIVE European strategy. In contrast, we prosecuted a DEFENSIVE Pacific strategy. The dual-strategy was based on an objective analysis of the worldwide situation.

However, it is important to note that in the years following World War I, U.S. strategists did not know who would be our enemy in the next war. Amazingly, some thought that England would be our next opponent. Who could have guessed that there would have been a Great Depression and a World War against Germany, Italy, and Japan?

Luckily, Hitler declared war on the U.S. three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Otherwise, FDR (in 1944), like Lincoln (in 1864), might have faced a giant political problem. FDR would have been presented with the prospect of facing re-election during what might have been an unpopular European war. How would FDR have justified an offensive European strategy over the objections of the isolationist public? Remember that the U.S. public remained isolationist even after U-Boats sank U.S. destroyers in the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, in order to get elected in 1940, FDR was forced to make a solemn campaign promise that the U.S. would not get involved in Europe's war. There had been a long-standing culture of isolationism which began when President George Washington warned us in his farewell address [19 Sep 1796] that we should beware of foreign entanglements.

There is a saying to the effect that evil succeeds when good people fail to act. John F. Kennedy wrote "Why England Slept" as his college thesis. He tried to divine the reason for English reluctance to confront the NAZI evil prior to WWII hostilities. Today Liberal Democrats confer with our enemies to undermine our effort to achieve victory. It is very similar to the political events in England during the years prior to WWII. The Prime Minister, Sir Neville Chamberlain, met Hitler in Munich to collaborate in the total destruction of a European democracy called Czechoslovakia. He returned to London with a document that promised "peace in our time." Sir Neville Chamberlain tried to reach a "consensus" with Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain abandoned morality. In the words of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who served during the 1980s: "To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies." [Margaret Thatcher]

Hitler promised publicly in "Mein Kampf" to impose his socialist tyranny. But nobody believed him. Today, the Islamic Fascists promise publicly to kill us. Yet, the Liberal Democrats don't believe them. Instead, they confer with terrorists to convey our sincere apology for being the only super-power. Conservatives believe strongly that evil must be confronted and defeated rather than tolerated and contained. Remember the blunt words of Ronald Wilson Reagan: "To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will." (Ronald Wilson Reagan)

I do not apologize for being the only global super-power because our "goal is not to conquer the world by our arms or our wealth, but to lead by our example." (Richard M. Nixon, "Beyond Peace"). Our country has been chosen by God to fulfill a very important leadership role for the benefit of the entire world. "America must lead." (Richard M. Nixon)

As we face the danger of Islamic Fascism, everyone should take courage in the reliable promise made by God: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish." (Isaiah 41:10-11)