[Mr Kablammo]

This is a link to an interesting article. The author later expanded it to a book called "Civilization and its Enemies"

http://www.policyreview.org/AUG02/harris.html

[OF]

Fantastic article. One of the best dissections of our enemy I've seen. Goes to the heart of what it is we are dealing with. I have to have his book.

- Gabe

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

There is one decisive advantage to the “evildoer” metaphor, and it is this: Combat with evildoers is not Clausewitzian war. You do not make treaties with evildoers or try to adjust your conduct to make them like you. You do not try to see the world from the evildoers’ point of view. You do not try to appease them, or persuade them, or reason with them. You try, on the contrary, to outwit them, to vanquish them, to kill them. You behave with them in the same manner that you would deal with a fatal epidemic — you try to wipe it out.

Lee Harris has been a critic of Bush in numerous areas. This article shows two very important points and, to me, points out on glaringly obvious omission from the President.

1. The WOT is not a true war in that the enemy has no objectives (political/geographical) and is acting out a fantasy for their own sake and merely view us as props.

2. Bush has been telegraphing, but not clearly, that he knows and understands what we are up against. That is heartening.

The omission?

Daddy Bush needs to call the children into the front room and tell us like it is. Lee Harris has done it in a, I estimate, 60 minute fireside chat. As he has done since the beginning, he need not view this politically, but as a means to justify his vision.

Some will be lost with the history of warfare and the cause/effect nature of Clausewitsian warfare, but the American People need to know this so that they can clear their mind of WWII fantasy about "peace in our time" and "truces" and "surrender." None of these exist in the new paradigm. harris shows that the only way to end this is to hunt down and kill the antagonists.

Very well done.

[ClonaKilty]

Daddy Bush needs to call the children into the front room and tell us like it is.

Agreed, and I also agree Bush is the only candidate who understands this fight for what it is.

That said, Bush's enormous shortcoming is that he simply can't communicate his position compellingly. When your country is in a war for its very survival from enemies foreign AND domestic, it is mandatory that your President communicate compellingly, and frequently. Bush has proven to me that he will never be a good communicator, and I seethe with anger whenever I hear him butcher his opportunities to inspire, reassure and lead us. His poor communication skills are opening the door for the Left to take over this country.

[Parker Dean]

^^^^

He could be worse, and in fact has. I remember his campaign ads when he was running for Governor of Texas were positively torturous. Being politically naive at the time I was of the opinion that there was no way he could defeat the popular Ann Richards. I wasn't aware that she wasn't seriously trying for re-election so imagine my surprise when he was elected.

[Monkeyleg]

That was a great read. As for Bush's speaking capabilities, yes, they are lacking. But when he's speaking from his heart I think the public understands what he's saying. He doesn't need to use words such as "Clausewitsian warfare" when "evil" works just as well, if not better.

[AZRickD]

Bush's enormous shortcoming is that he simply can't communicate his position compellingly.Understood, but would you rather have someone like Kerry who communicates his utter lack of grasp on any issue put before him?

They call him Flipper, Flipper...

Rick

[Perfesser]

WELL SAID!
Another book that I suggest is 'The Sword of the Prophet' by Serge Trifkovic. I got it at Amazon...rather doubt that many urban bookstores will carry it...it says on the cover that it's 'politically incorrect'!

[ClonaKilty]

Understood, but would you rather have someone like Kerry who communicates his utter lack of grasp on any issue put before him?

I would definitely not like Kerry in the office, and for the record I'll probably vote for Bush (if the AWB expires). That said, this is a time when we need leadership, and leadership requires excellent communication skills.

In other words: if Bush could communicate like Reagan, most Americans would know that we need to stay the course and fight this fight -- no matter what the UN, EU and the press said. As it is, Bush is allowing many Americans to be confused about our direction, since he can't communicate, but his enemies can. Thus the door is open for the Left to divide and conquer.

[Coronach]

Closed as OT.

Please read:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82260

Thank you,

Coronach