what would sherman do?
by Cynthia Flores
Published: January 1, 2008
Jabulani’s rebuttal to this article: “rebuttal to: what would sherman do?“
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Question: How successful would General Sherman’s march to the sea have been had he announced that he promised to leave at the first sign of good behavior?
Answer: That’s a stupid question.
When Sherman’s campaign began in the south, he promised to “make Georgia howl.” And he did, consuming everything his army could use and burning everything they couldn’t. When General Grant learned that Atlanta had fallen, he celebrated by sending 100 cannon balls into the besieged city of Petersburg. Now that’s the type of attitude that will win a war.
The administration’s current strategy may succeed, but not because it is correct. Enough of the surgical approach to warfare. The North did not begin to win the Civil War until Lincoln found generals who understood that the surest way to peace was through the destruction of the enemy - no matter the costs. Currently all indicators point to the success of the troop surge: the soldier and civilian death toll is down dramatically and with it, mortar attacks and the use of roadside bombs. Yet it was just announced that we will begin drawing down troops immediately to pre-surge levels. Are you kidding me? Having made our first substantial gains against the enemy since Baghdad fell, how is it time to pack up and leave? Who is leading our armed forces: warriors or the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins?
Now is definitely a time to celebrate, but let the celebration begin with the announcement of an additional 60,000 troops to be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan immediately! Our military strategist need to worry less about retreat resolutions in the House of Representatives and more about filling cities under the control of Al-Qaeda with 5,000 pound bombs. Chase them, starve them, crush them and repeat the process all through Iraq & Afghanistan. Having built the greatest military force in history, it is time to use it and make Al-Qaeda howl.
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Read Jabulani’s rebuttal: “rebuttal to: what would sherman do?“
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