Saturday, June 18, 2005

This Way to the "Great Exit Strategy".

A "small bi-partisan group" in the House is revisiting the moronically naive concept of an Iraq "exit strategy". They even want a no-later-than date to begin troop withdrawal (Oct. 1, 2006). Now maybe I'm taking this too seriously, I mean Dennis Kucinich is one of the group's four members, but this stupidity should have been put out of its misery a long time ago. Anyone who advocates such a plan is woefully ignorant of the very nature of war. All it takes is a quick look at the "exit strategies" of some of America's previous wars.

The Civil War:
"If I had been allowed my way this war would have ended before this, but we find it still continues..." Abraham Lincoln 1862

World War I:
"We won't be back till it's over, over there." From a popular song of that era.

World War II:
Absolute and unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan.
In other words, if you don't stop fighting and admit utter defeat, we will kill every man, woman, and child in your respective nations.

The Korean War:*
We'll defend the 38th parallel for as long as it takes.

* Technically, the war is still on-going. Also, it was not exactly American, it was a U.N. operation.

The Vietnam War:**
"All we are saying, is give peace a chance." From a popular song of that era.

** Notice how well this one turned out. Transparency Alert: I did a tour in 'Nam.

I guess what I'm trying to say, about war, is that one of its most terrible ironies is that no-one knows how or when it will end. If anyone says they do, ignore them. They are, at best, fools, and every time they start talking about an "exit strategy", I remember a story about P.T. Barnum.

It seems that Barnum had a problem at his famous museum of oddities. The museum had become so popular that the patrons wouldn't leave and the building quickly filled to capacity. This prevented more patrons from helping to fill P.T.'s bank account. Barnum thought for a bit, then had signs with arrows made-up saying "This way to the Great Egress". Sure enough, people followed the signs to a large set of doors over which read "The Great Egress". Full of anticipation they went through the doors only to find themselves back out on the street.

Of course, I'm sure you know, egress means exit.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The reasoning behind their plan to leave is specious at best, but you can't blame them for trying. Well, when Bush is so fervently for the war, maybe you can.

And I, too, would have been fooled by the glamorous Great Egress.

--Ashley

4:14 PM  
Blogger Gun Trash said...

I get a laugh when I read criticism of Rumsfeld, et al, and how they misstepped in the planning for Iraq.

I did Plans in the AF for over a decade and trust me, and you as a vet know this I'm sure, but there is no perfect plan. At best it's an estimate and very flexible outline that defines the classic who, what, when, where, and how.
We always said that when the flag goes up, the plan goes out the window and it's all respond and react after that.

Exit strategy? There is one - when we are reasonably sure of a stable Iraqi government, we'll exit.

Ding! Next, please.

10:36 PM  
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6:04 PM  

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