European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday March 4, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 13 commentary William of. Buckley . Military glows in Gulf War s aftermath celebrations Are entirely civilized affairs and this is certainly the time to engage in one. Which reminds me if new York City Hadnot repealed its ticker tape ban on behalf of Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf then indeed it would be a dying City. The general combines the military skills of Hannibal with the rhetorical skills of Disraeli with a Little Johnny Carson thrown in. He would be the first to insist that credit must be shared and of course that a True. But its also True that his was a critical As Well As a symbolic and a telegenic role and that the american habit is to anthropomorphic be Napoleon not his foot soldiers is lionized. Although the historical credit for our achievement goes to Gedrge Bush the hero is the general in the Field and never was there one More satisfactory than Schwarzkopf who proved he could Deal As easily from the floor with Sam Donaldson As with Saddam Hussein. It is widely remarked that we have exorcised the ghost of Vietnam. This is True though it must be said with a certain caution. Certainly president Bush has re taught us what Lyndon Johnson did so much to make us forget namely that the Art of War is a discipline concerning which there is something called expertise a a body of operative knowledge. The decision of the. Founders to make the president of the United states commander in chief was a recognition that decisions to fight were and always should be political decisions. Lyndon Johnson fancied himself not Only the commander in chief in that sense but also in the sense of making decisions that were primarily military in character. Bush knew better and the result was the most spectacular military Victory of the Century. Here was a concatenation of everything the american people want to be proud of leadership morale intelligence technology. All of them came together to give us a Victory Over the fourth largest army in the world at a Price of 79 combat dead. Schwarzkopf was eloquent in saying that the death of a single Soldier is tragic but he was realistic in insisting that the statistical record is also relevant. To engage in such a venture As we did with 79 combat deaths fewer than the deaths we suffer in a typical Day on the Road in America is a triumphant . Rosenthal ment. But there was one Cloud Over Vietnam that did no to hang Over us in the persian Gulf and it is Only fair to acknowledge it. It was contingently possible though not Likely that the Vietnam Challenge skirted War in which two forces might engage against us both with an Arsenal of nuclear weapons. We know now that lbs a a fears were unfounded that in fact China a rivalry with the soviet Union was More important in its calculations than its rivalry with the Bourgeois imperialist United states. In the Gulf notwithstanding the exhibitionist in can can by soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev during the final hours it was never conceivable that a nuclear Power would stand in the Way of our military strategy. Vietnam to one Side we accomplished something widely thought inconceivable in the modern age namely Swift economical effective action the implications of which arc greatly satisfying. Saddam Hussein was the primordial aggressor. His designs could reasonably be inferred to reach beyond merely the occupation of Kuwait. If he Hadnot been stopped he would either have marched against saudi Arabia or else satisfied himself to satellite the saudis with the end in mind of extortion against the Oil consuming world which is to say everybody this Side of hottentot ism. Collateta fans not merely incidental gains a were achieved. The division in he Arab Camp is of fundamental strategic importance. Progress on the palestinian question cannot be put off. The imperative that worldwide attention be Given to Stop the traffic in Hydra headed arms beckons As nov fir before. The idea of democracy with ii islamic confinements suddenly seems vaguely possible. The strategic defense initiative is re born. The supercilious disdain for the uses of the Pentagon is at least for the time being behind us. As someone wryly put it we have justified the $600 toilet scat. Yes the Joy is at least for the moment properly we Are prudent to Stop Short of complacency. The memory brings mischievous recollections of the kind that remind us that after All is said and done human nature has not changed. It was Richard Nixon freshly inaugurated As 37th president of the United states arriving at one of the inaugural balls where Guy Lorn Bardo and his Royal canadians were playing. And Nixon said a Guy Pat and i Lizard you play on a a Day when we were in times Square. And i just want to Tell you i Hope to hear you play at the end of the next world c univ Oral press Syndicate the War a a reminder to doomsday experts if we think hard enough now and if after the troops come Home we just hang on to what we Learned the United states can Pluck a Surprise Bonus from the Victory in the Gulf a few Fine victories at Home. A of How drearily often during the War we got sophomoric lectures from the sob Sisters of journalism politics and Academia both sexes about How the War would still leave us with All the Domestic problems Bede Iling the country drugs crime race aids a amp is homelessness recession teen age pregnancy Graffiti garbage loud radios and paper crackers at the movies. The lectures came from the renowned experts who were against the War Effort. They tried to paralyse us by warning of tens of thousands of american body bags and now caution us against trying to get rid of Saddam Hussein jest some of his followers feel humiliated a today a appeasement catchword. A americans do not need the condescending lectures. They know the War was fought to eliminate a particularly vicious International serial killer Bent on conquering a part of the world critical to us and our friends a including people who live there. Goal enough. It was reached in 100 hours of ground combat following Brilliant campaigns of political and air _. Finding lessons in the Victory applicable to struggles at Home will infuriate All those experts who were so wrong All along so lets set to it. Education. Nobody can say again that american youngsters Are a Bunch of unmotivated unskilled louts. The persian Gulf War showed that the armed forces have done a far better Job of teaching technological skills than has the american school system or american Industry. How a one clue a year ago Lee Iacocca told me that if he had the jobs he would hire every retiring armed forces technical instructor. Business owes it to itself to find the jobs. Letting that asset go is like not picking up a pot of Gold in the Street because your coat does not have a big enough pocket. Race. The armed forces Are More successful at integrating Black and White and promoting both a the essence of real affirmative action a than any other part of american society. Its insulting to Blacks in the forces to treat them As vie Tims shanghaied by economic deprivation instead of what they Are a a particularly Bright Young people looking for advancement it Anbe found. A first rate study commission should be appointed to find out what the armed forces do about motivation and Reward that can be copied in civilian life. It should be told to report in three weeks no More members should Start with Gen. Colin Powell not Only because he was a poor boy an immigrants son who became chairman of the joint chiefs of staff but because he is a graduate of the great City College of new York and Cony people Are smarter than anybody. A professionalism. Would storming Norman have quit to make More Money lecturing if the War had dragged on a As did our drug Czar after 19 months on the Job a a / a. I a a \ a All top to come from within the existing bureaucracy. But maybe those chosen should have to demonstrate some commitment to a Field before they Are put in charge of the whole thing. Taxes. The american Public does not argue much about taxes for defense. I am sure we get looked often but americans know they need Strong armed forces. Americans realized the Gulf War would Cost a lot that was that. But we hate paying More taxes for education Low Cost housing medical care for All and other essentials of democratic society. No use blaming Congress a not until we voters Tell it otherwise. Clarity. Also known As leadership. President Bush concentrated his energies clout and passion on getting the War fought and won. Once he got going americans had no doubt about that. The Reward was the almost Universal Public support so critical to winning the War. Meantime done to let Saddam get off a and thank you again or. President. My thanking him recently for his War leadership upset the doomsday cd a a perts who were so wrong All along and whom it is such a Delight to irritate. So this time it s in capitals. A. The be York times Quot a
