Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald 11/28/2004
In the Wednesday November 24, editorial in the Brownsville Herald, entitled the “Freedom Way”, the ownership of the paper renewed its commitment to Freedom as advanced by the principles of human liberty, self-reliance and personal integrity. It also renewed their support for respect for the individual, low taxes, free trade, free markets, and private property rights. Though these things are the foundations on which our nation is built and has become successful, political correctness, court created law and defining legislation has changed the effect and intent of the founding fathers words.
An issue of particular importance at these times is the use of military force. The proscription provided by Mr. Hoiles is especially apt now: “If the initiation of force is wrong for an individual, it is also wrong for a government.”
Peace and order, in my mind, is the first and possibly the only need for the federal government, and government is abdicating their responsibilities in many ways.
We find ourselves involved in a military conflict that the majority of Americans see as necessary but is being attacked regularly, which serves to demoralize the troops and give support to the enemy. In the last “real” war, World War II, the goal was to win not to lose with honor. In the “Vietnam Action” this same lack of solidarity and support for the action resulted in enormous numbers of troops dying needlessly because the prosecution of the war was according to political goals not military ones – we could not follow enemy troops across a border or bomb above a certain parallel. Polls of public opinion determined how many died rather than Generals.
War is the most horrible action that can be taken to resolve a situation and once it is begun the only thing worse is to walk away without a clear victory. Then all you have is a lot of hostility and dead soldiers. War is the admission that diplomacy has failed and that there is no hope of a diplomatic solution. Diplomacy only regains a place after a clear victory. If the Vietnam era taught us anything, I would have thought the results of giving up or “peace with honor” would be it.

It would appear, however, that we are proceeding down that same path again. The War Powers Resolution (Act), passed in 1973 over the veto of President Nixon really confuses the issue of where the choice to wage war is decided. The President as commander-in-chief is there to wage a war which Congress has decided must be fought. The current methodology allows the President to enter a conflict for up to three months and then Congress will concur. This allows the war to take place merely because Congress doesn’t object.

Essentially it allows our politicos to have a war and benefit if public opinion is positive but also the opportunity to blame someone else if it is not popular. War is too serious to allow “to happen” merely because Congress doesn’t object. The War Powers Resolution needs to be revamped!

Provisions allowing the President to take military action, in advance of declaration, only when attacked or there is a clear and present danger of immediate attack and require Congress to immediately come into session to vote a “Declaration of War” even by video-conference if necessary. If indeed a War is the only solution then martial law should also be initiated until the war has been won and all the nations resources should be focused on the wining of the War. Nothing else should take precedence.

Anything less is a disservice to those who risk their lives to keep us free and to “the folks” who make up “the free”.

I for one felt abandoned by my country after I served four tours in Vietnam and the Country gave up.

I can be reached by e-mail at fred@the-drews.net