by blogbits on Jul.02, 2009, under Random Rants
Winning Heart and Minds Isn’t Easy
“But peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not rest all our hopes on parchment and on paper, let us strive to build peace, a desire for peace, a willingness to work for peace in the hearts and minds of all of our people. I believe that we can. I believe the problems of human destiny are not beyond the reach of human beings.”
— John F. Kennedy (1917–1963)
An article in the New York Times illustrated just how hard it is for the United States to win the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world, especially with U.S. armed forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The phrase “winning hearts and minds” was first twisted into a military psychological operations double entendre during the Vietnam War meaning potential combatants were convinced to align themselves with U.S. forces and interests, or more commonly, hearts and minds were converted in death as the result of combat operations — not unlike the conversions that occurred at the point of a sword or scimitar during the Crusades, but let’s not go there.
Unfortunately, that attitude carried over to past residents of the White House, and with the decline of statesmanship, diplomacy and the gutting of Americas intelligence agencies, this country has relied too much on making people around the world see our way at the point of a gun. Now, we are paying for that arrogance.
Do not get me wrong — I fully support the U.S. armed forces, but the civilian leadership has played fast and loose with the invaluable lives of these young men and women far too long. As senior leaders of the military have pointed out, U.S. government policies have frequently been contrary to how a modern war should be prosecuted, including violations of the Geneva Conventions that have placed our warfighters in greater jeopardy.
Hopefully, there will be a change coming soon that will allow the military to do their jobs without the interference of those who haven’t the stomach to fight wars themselves.
“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.”
— Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/world/asia/02aid.html?_r=5&partner=rss&emc=rss
7 Comments for this entry
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July 2nd, 2009 on 11:06 am
Just like the US military to bring back failed strategies. Keep failing until we prevail? Einsteins’ definition of insanity should be carved in granite for all to see at the pentagon.
July 2nd, 2009 on 11:50 am
You can’t win hearts and minds, you need to earn them through appropriate actions.
July 2nd, 2009 on 12:21 pm
“Do not get me wrong — I fully support the U.S. armed forces…”
I agree with your central point, but I want to use the quote above to illustrate the extent to which those of us on the left have allowed the right to control the terms of the debate in this country. Correct me if I am mistaken, but I believe your use of the above clause is intended to deflect the oft-used criticism from the right that to criticize the government or their conduct is to undermine the troops.
The left needs to make a concerted effort to avoid this trap and no longer be on the defensive; allowing the right to frame the terms of the debate. Let us frame the terms of the debate now.
July 2nd, 2009 on 1:08 pm
We should carefully watch senior military leaders with political asperations. Look to who left the military after the first gulf war as an example of former warriors versus future political wannabes. Some are already positioning themselves.
July 2nd, 2009 on 1:10 pm
After more than 20 years in the U.S. Army, I can say without doubt that I support the service memebers.
As for getting into the left/right argument, someone once told me, “Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”
July 5th, 2009 on 1:49 pm
For the uninitiated, “liberal”, as opposed to “left”, is from the Latin root “liberalis” which meant to be free from oppressive forces. William Saffire would go nuts with the ditto heads who have melded left with liberal. Most all of the duties of our Armed Forces are to “liberate” people from oppressive forces. so as to make decisions about their own destiny. That is liberal.
There are no left and right positions in a fox hole.
July 6th, 2009 on 7:56 am
Hooah!