The carpenter grabbed his hammer and with each strike missed or bent the nail he was trying to pound into the roof. Shouting damn stupid hammer he continued in his fuitless task. Pretty stupid isn’t it? What’s the difference between our presidential candidates and the carpenter? Nothing. The military didn’t up and decide to invade a country. They are under control of the Commander in Chief and ultimately all of us and our elected representatives. So don’t blame the hammer for the failure of all of us. Let the hammer do what a hammer does best, put nails into roofs and walls. And please do not sit there talking about a failed policy. Since when is the policy of the military branch to hold still for the status quo. They are there to win. Otherwise do not send them. They are not supposed to enforce a policing policy. They are there to pound that nail down flat.

This whole debacle started when no nothing politicians started trying to run the wars, instead of telling the military what they want and sending them out with a mandate to bring home the win just short of not complying with the Geneva Convention and the general rules of war. We had that unholy trio of Lyndon Johnson, Robert MacNamara, and General William Westmoreland. Each with there own agenda, something to do with self aggrandizement. They didn’t seem to understand the concept of cannon fodder or maybe they understood it all too well. I will not argue the validity of that war or anyother, just the fact that the military should be left to do their job. Their ownly self interest is to come home alive. MacNamara knew of the lies, of inflated body counts, dropping ordinance in empty jungle, not bombing Haiphong harbor the one target that would have ended the war quickly.

Teddy Roosevelt had a saying, Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick. I would like to add an addendum, Use the Stick if necessary. All debate of the rightness and necessity of war should be done prior to firing a shot not now in the middle of it. I cannot help but feel the sorrow for those that listen to the prattle of the no nothings and do nothings expounding on when they were against the war or for it. That date is immaterial. The date that matters is the day it started with a clear no holds barred win at the end. these are the dates that matter.