One thing we should have learned by now is you can’t prevail in a war using bombs exclusively and those ‘boots on the ground’ will ultimately be worn by our young men and women and not the people who send them to combat.  The last wars in the world seem to be “victories” celebrated by planting a flag on a pile of ashes and civilian bones. Our latest war has not delivered victory so far but death, destruction, and a mounting resistance from the one force we needed to do good in the Middle East; the Iranian people living in Iran. 

Our “War Department” leader is quoted as saying last week “The dumb, politically correct wars of the past were the opposite of what we’re doing here,”  (Kenny Holston/The New York Times).  He was attacking the rules of engagement that marked America’s Military force as at least is trying to achieve a level of morality in conflict and engagement.  Move over God, this new War Department really doesn’t want your advice. 

A Nod Towards Good

The meme “politically correct” is very dangerous coming out the mouths of this administration.  Apart from being a meaningless, tuneless dog whistle, the meme allows you to insult any democratic authority on the books because your personal authority doesn’t agree.  Democracy is a political solution for governance and the President and this Secretary occupy political positions sworn to uphold the correct political authority of this country. Our defense department chief appears with this rash and careless statement to care not a whit about either our unique military history or morality.  We have aspired, despite the fog of war, to at least try to protect innocent civilians from the ravages of war.  This note is to the voters who love our country’s traditions and aspirations: we are a long ways to perfect, but we must be a moral people sharing a common thread of respect for life, liberty and safety. That would be good. We might even pray for forgiveness.  That would be existentially safer.