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The task of recovering a confident American Leadership in the World requires leaders who study our Founding Principles and understand American Exceptionalism

Advice, Warnings, and Promises



“The gratitude of every home in our Island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of the World War by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” - Winston Churchill, August 20, 1940 in a speech to the British People "Let's help the Russians when the Germans are winning and the Germans when the Russians are winning. So each may kill off as many as possible of the other." - Harry Truman in U.S. Senate on June 5, 1941

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"Let's keep our boots polished, bayonets sharpened, and present a picture of force and strength to the Red Army. This is the only language they understand and respect.” - George S. Patton to Secretary of War Robert Patterson, 1945 “Who has inflicted this upon us? Who has made us Jews different to all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now? It is God that has made us as we are, but it will be God too, who will raise us up again. If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will then be held up as an example. Who knows, it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and that reason only do we have to suffer now.” - Anne Frank, diary entry (11th April, 1944)

How is it that one weak President with a Messianic complex believes that he can ignore those lessons and remake the world as he wishes?

History offers so many lessons and ideas to those who are willing to learn from her. How is it that one weak President with a Messianic complex believes that he can ignore those lessons and remake the world as he wishes? I shall attempt to pull a few thoughts and ideas together and offer a few thoughts about a more traditional vision for our country and our world predicament. There was a day in America when leaders saw events with clarity. Apologists did not hold sway in the media and political leadership. Challenges were made manifest by events. We did not worry over hurt feelings during our robust debates, and we knew who our friends were. Americans were unabashed about stating their opinions. Both Democrats and Republicans held unswerving beliefs in American Exceptionalism. They knew that our way was the best way. They also knew that Britain was a force for good in the world. As such, Harry Truman’s sobering statement, regarding the Germans and the Russians in World War II, quoted above, was not an isolated sentiment. Most Americans were very clear about who our enemies were. Whether one was in favor of the 1941 Lend-Lease or not, its detailed provisions to sell arms to Britain recognized a legitimate need to help Winston Churchill fight against Hitler’s Nazis. The hand-writing was on the wall. America was becoming involved quickly in another was on the European Conflict and the time for choosing sides had come. Churchill quickly made it plain to FDR that Britain could not pay for these weapons and still defend Britain from Hitler. America worked it out and Britain was able to fight. One should also cement in their mind that under the 1939 Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were Allies. They were Axis Allies at the time of the Battle of and had already carved up Poland between themselves. They were Allies right up until Operation Barbarossa commenced in June of 1941, when Hitler attacked the Soviet Union. In 1940, Britain was truly alone in Europe facing down an enemy to her way of life. Britain was also facing an enemy propelled by blood lust and driven by ideological dreams of conquest. Britain beseeched the United States for reassurances of support in supplies and weapons. The Battle of Britain had been raging since the Summer of 1940. Beginning with France’s ignominious capitulation, Britain had become the last bastion of freedom in Europe. Churchill did not need to go to an occupied Hague and convince a failed and discredited League of Nations of this fact and obtain a resolution for self-defense. Neither did he have to build a coalition; there was no one left with whom to build one. He went before British People and explained the task. There was no vacillation. There was no doubt as to objective. And there was no doubt as to outcome. Here is a clear statement of purpose to the British People from the famous August 1940 speech:
“A good many people have written to me to ask me to make on this occasion a fuller statement of our war aims, and of the kind of peace we wish to make after the war, than is contained in the very considerable declaration which was made early in the autumn.… I do not think it would be wise at this moment, while the battle rages and the war is still perhaps only in its earlier stage, to embark upon elaborate speculations about the future shape which should be given to Europe… But before we can undertake the task of rebuilding we have not only to be convinced ourselves, but we have to convince all other countries that the Nazi Tyranny is going to be finally broken. The right to guide the course of world history is the noblest prize of victory. We are still toiling up the hill; we have not yet reached the crest-line of it; we cannot survey the landscape or even imagine what its condition will be when that longed-for morning comes. The task which lies before us immediately is at once more practical, more simple and more stern.… For the rest, we have to gain the victory. That is our task.”
No one needed to remind Winston Churchill of the necessity to keep boots polished and bayonets sharpened so as to present a picture of strength and force. But, a mere five years later when General George Patton gave this exact advice to US Secretary of War Robert Patterson in 1945, following Germany's surrender, Patterson eschewed Patton's advice because America had ushered in a “new era of peace and cooperation with the Soviet Union,” our “Russian Ally.” That same Soviet Union who now refused to vacate it’s gains in Eastern Europe. Patton's clear vision and counsel had become anathema, unwelcome thinking. To suggest chasing the Soviets out of Europe and all the way back to Russia was an unfathomably stupid suggestions to the geniuses at Foggy Bottom. The geniuses at State and war weariness prevailed. Thus began the Cold War. Despite certain bright spots since then, we have been sliding downhill ever since. “So what’s my point?” you ask. My points are several. The first to cite is a particular piece of wisdom found numerous places in the Bible [Proverbs and Hosea to name but two]. It says, “Without vision, my People shall perish.”There is no excuse whatsoever for any Leader of the United States not to have “Vision” for his people, his country. This ancient wisdom is true and worthy. It has proven out innumerable times since history began. Our “President” is no leader. He has no vision, save of himself as some rock star messiah with a cheap prize from Norway in love with hearing himself talk. That is not leadership my friends, that is puffery. Neither is there much “Vision” within our State or Defense Departments. Mrs. Clinton has the barest of credentials to be Secretary of State. She is a lawyer schooled and specialized in failed real estate ventures, cover-ups failed business dealings, and hiding documents is the White House. One of her husband Bill's best friends and trusted advisors [Sandy Berger] has been caught sneaking classified documents out of a repository. Silly props, like “Reset Buttons,” won’t change the heart of the likes of Vladimir Putin, or Medvedyev. Those two know what they are doing and have a plan. What is our Plan for the Middle East? Tea with Iran? Vague Atlantic Charter-like goals won't cut it. There is no there, there. That dog won’t hunt!

War weary military establishment and should focus on Mission Clarity, Rotation, Rest, Re-fit and The proper Rules of Engagement needed to win

Mr. William Gates meanwhile presides over an over-tasked, and war weary military establishment and should focus on Mission Clarity, Rotation, Rest, Re-fit and The proper Rules of Engagement needed to win. He should resist and even resign rather than engage in circus. Mr. Commander in Chief [and Mr. Gates] has instead decided to re-make our fighting force into a laboratory for social engineering theories and LGBT demands during wartime. The combat foxhole, the patrol or the assault is not the time or place to test these theories. This is a recipe doomed to failure: willy-nilly multi-cultural and sexual social engineering is not a mission enhancement. My second thought concerns traditional American National Interests. If we do not defend our own interests first, we cannot hope to help our friends and allies when they ask for it, like FDR did for his ally Churchill. What vital National Interests are being satisfied by taking sides in Arab country unrest and revolution? Taking sides in Egypt to oust Mubarak has resulted in the ascendancy of the Muslim Brotherhood in that country. Taking sides in Libya against Kaddafi may seen like the right thing at the moment, but what comes after him? Are we making the same mistake twice?

Anti-Semitism still abounds in this world. Islam is once again on the march as a force in opposition to freedom

If indeed we are intervening in Libya to prevent a humanitarian tragedy, will we stand by if Iran and some Arab groups decide to attack Israel to stop some fictional humanitarian “crime” against Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank? The Arab enemies of Israel certainly know how to stage a modern day “Reichstag fire” in order to justify some new “Kristallnacht.” After all, folks of like beliefs were allies of Hitler in World War II and studied his methods of propaganda and hatred against the Jews. Will this “President” stand tall to defend Israel as FDR did for Britain. Would he see the defense of Israel as a National Interest for political stability in that oil-producing region? I have my doubts. The haunting words of young Anne-Frank quoted above should give all people pause. Do we think that some form of that terrible Holocaust cannot happen again? It is a different world from our Founders’ age. But ideas and ideologies don’t change much. Anti-Semitism still abounds in this world. Islam is once again on the march as a force in opposition to freedom. Washington warned us against looking for trouble beyond our borders and to avoid entangling alliances. While this is true, we cannot ignore that technology has erased many of the natural defenses offered by the Oceans. The Twentieth Century proved that. Jefferson and Madison viewed our country’s government as a model for others around the world to emulate. That does not necessarily translate as a mission to convert all nations by force. Hamilton viewed America as a manufacturing powerhouse where Free Enterprise would serve to make our standard of living a model for the world. But we have seen that controlled/planned economies, Soros’ money, and global banking politics can turn free trade on its ear. Benjamin Franklin and others sought to enshrine free speech, free thought and the free exercise of religion to counter the models of oppression elsewhere. No one then foresaw Sharia Law ever challenging sensible Judeo-Christian beliefs and English Common law. Christianity was never under assault in America as it is today. There is much to learn from history. The task of recovering a confident American Leadership in the World requires leaders who study our Founding Principles and understand American Exceptionalism. Whoever runs against Mr. Obama must develop a uniquely American Vision, and restate traditional American Interests. And oh yes … we could ask the Queen to re-loan us that bust of Winston Churchill and give our leaders each a disc-set of Churchill’s historical speeches.


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William R. Mann -- Bio and Archives

William R. Mann, is a retired Lt. Colonel, US Army. He is a now a political observer, analyst, activist and writer for Conservative causes. He was educated at West Point [Bachelor of Science, 1971 ]and the Naval Postgraduate School [Masters, National Security Affairs, 1982].


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