G.
W's War
No one likes war. War is a horrific affair, bloody and expensive.
Sending our men and women into battle to perhaps die or be maimed is an
unconscionable thought.
Yet, some wars need to be waged and someone needs to lead.
The
citizenry and Congress are often ambivalent or largely opposed to any
given war. It's up to our leader to convince them.
That's why we call
the leader, "Commander-in-Chief.
"
George W.'s war is no different. There was lots of resistance to it.
Many in Congress were vehemently against the idea.
The
Commander-in-Chief had to lobby for legislative approval.
Along with supporters, George W.
used the force of his convictions, the
power of his title and every ounce of moral persuasion he could muster
to rally support.
He had to assure Congress and the public that the war
was morally justified, winnable and affordable.
Congress eventually
came around and vote d overwhelmingly to wage war.
George W. then lobbied foreign governments for support.
But in the end,
only one European nation helped us.
The rest of the world sat on its
hands and watched.
After a few quick victories, things started to go bad.
There were many
dark days when all the news was discouraging.
Casualties began to
mount. It became obvious that our forces were too small.
Congress began
to drag its feet about funding the effort.
Many who had voted to support the war just a few years earlier were
beginning to speak against it and accuse the Commander-in-Chief of
misleading them.
Many critics began to call him incompetent, an idiot
and even a liar. Journalists joined the negative chorus with a vengeance.
As the war entered its fourth year, the public began to grow weary of
the conflict and the casualties. George W.'s popularity plummeted.
Yet
through it all, he stood firm, supporting the troops and endor sing the
struggle.
Without his unwavering support, the war would have surely ended, then
and there, in overwhelming and total defeat.
At this darkest of times, he began to make some changes.
More troops
were added and trained.
Some advisers were shuffled, and new generals
installed.
Then, unexpectedly and gradually, things began to improve.
Now it was
the enemy that appeared to be growing weary of the lengthy conflict and
losing support. Victories began to come, and hope returned.
Many critics in Congress and the press said the improvements were just
George W.'s good luck. The progress, they said, would be temporary.
He
knew, however, that in warfare good fortune counts.
Then, in the unlikeliest of circumstances and perhaps the most historic
example of military luck, the enemy blundered and was resoundingly
defeated.
After six long years of war, the Commander-in-Chief basked in
a most hard-fought victory.
So on that historic day, October 19, 1781, in a place called Yorktown, a
satisfied George Washington sat upon his beautiful white horse and
accepted the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, effectively ending the
Revolutionary War.
What? Were you thinking of someone else?
Tags: