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thedrifter
12-05-05, 08:00 AM
Why Give The Enemy What They Must Otherwise Win?
By Gregg Bish
December 5, 2005

During World War II, when there was less division in this country, we understood the price of indiscretion. During this war, fought by our Greatest Generation, the public not only shared the worries of our armed forces, but shared their devotion to duty and country. During the Second World War, possibly the most remembered saying of the day was "Loose Lips Sink Ships". For those who might be too young to remember that we once guided our nations tongue, knowing that such guidance was a personal responsibility to the protection of our troops, here is a reproduction of the Defense Department's guidance on written and spoken communication for those at, and returning from, The Front:

"1. Don't write military information of Army units -- their location, strength, materiel, or equipment.

2. Don't write of military installations.

3. Don't write of transportation facilities.

4. Don't write of convoys, their routes, ports (including ports of embarkation and disembarkation), time en route, naval protection, or war incidents occurring en route.

5. Don't disclose movements of ships, naval or merchant, troops, or aircraft.

6. Don't mention plans and forecasts or orders for future operations, whether known or just your guess.

7. Don't write about the effect of enemy operations.

8. Don't tell of any casualty until released by proper authority (The Adjutant General) and then only by using the full name of the casualty.

9. Don't attempt to formulate or use a code system, cipher, or shorthand, or any other means to conceal the true meaning of your letter. Violations of this regulation will result in severe punishment.

10. Don't give your location in any way except as authorized by proper authority. Be sure nothing you write about discloses a more specific location than the one authorized.

SILENCE MEANS SECURITY -- If violation of protective measures is serious within written communications it is disastrous in conversations. Protect your conversation as you do your letters, and be even more careful. A harmful letter can be nullified by censorship; loose talk is direct delivery to the enemy.

If you come home during war your lips must remain sealed and your written hand must be guided by self-imposed censorship. This takes guts. Have you got them or do you want your buddies and your country to pay the price for your showing off. You've faced the battle front; it's little enough to ask you to face this 'home front.' "

Those who were a part of the Greatest Generation will remember Tokyo Rose, the voice of Imperial Japan. Tokyo Rose broadcast daily the news of deprivation and suffering at home. Rosie would tell our troops how bad things were for the families of soldiers abroad. Tokyo Rose reminded our troops each and every day how much they were missed at home, reminded our troops each and every day of the death of their comrades, and the dreadful cost in life and treasure that war with Japan brought.

Today, each day the broadcast media focuses national attention "like a laser beam" on the death of every soldier, the loss of every father, son, daughter or mother of this land. Every single day the world is informed of the location of our troops, their troop strength, the beginning of every single operation. Even before soldiers in the field have filed their after-action report, the news has told the world at large of the success or failure of the operation, where it took place, and how many American soldiers fell, and what enemy assets were destroyed.

This kind of information is called "open source intelligence". And with the so-called "openness" of modern American society, one can discover more about American troop disposition, strength and morale from the American press than the Soviet Union could have determined throughout the Cold War by the best of tradecraft.

There are members of Congress that believe that the way to support our troops is to condemn the mission, condemn their leadership, criticize their preparedness, criticize the effect of their labors, and investigate their every action. These same politicians wail and moan that this war is "Bush's quagmire, this generation's Viet Nam". They believe that from a comfortable, clean, air-conditioned office in Washington, they are better able to manage the war than the footsore, battle weary soldiers and leaders in the theater of action. Frankly, that would be the way that Lyndon Johnson fought the Viet Nam war, by remote control, from Washington. These politicians claim to "support our troops", and believe that by claiming the mantle of "patriotism" they are above reproach.

Nothing could be less true, on any account.

If these "loyal dissenters" wanted to end this war, they could do a few things, like:

1. Expand death insurance benefits on our soldiers so that the wives of our fallen warriors can live comfortably in their grief. No soldier wants to leave a family in poverty or suffering.

2. Expand the reach of Veterans Administration hospitals, and increase benefits for post-action care for the wounded. No veteran should worry about being sued for taking a bullet.

3. Increase funding for next-generation weapons to maintain our soldiers fighting advantage. No soldier wants to feel outgunned, or under-trained.

4. Pass legislation to unleash the full capability of our covert services without fear of recrimination or unwarranted rebuke.

5. Immediately increase funding for provision of the amenities of life.

6. Immediately increase funding for the training and reconstitution of the Iraqi army. The best way to bring home our children is by completing the mission, standing up the Iraqi army, and leaving a democracy capable of defending itself.

After all, the President proposes. Congress disposes.

Seriously, ladies, gents, if you want to end this war and bring our children home, give them every single thing that they need to win. Exercise some restraint in what is "fairly disseminated" to the enemy. Let the troops take off the gloves and hit with their best punch. The fallen will endure nothing less. The living deserve nothing less.

A detailed exit strategy exists. Victory. Total. Unconditional. Complete. What more detail is needed? Anything more is telegraphing our hand to the enemy.

Ellie

Wyoming
12-05-05, 08:29 AM
A detailed exit strategy exists. Victory. Total. Unconditional. Complete. What more detail is needed? Anything more is telegraphing our hand to the enemy.

Excellent missive and I totally agree. Thanks Ms Ellie.