Forget Weinberger, it’s time for the Cheeky Monkey Doctrine.
(1) First, the United States will commit forces to combat when the President deems the particular requirement vital to our national interest.
(2) Second, the United States will commit forces to combat only after the President has defined the quantifiable objectives for the combat operations, to include defined conditions for the withdrawal of the military forces — “no one starts a war — or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so — without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war, and how he intends to conduct it.”
(3) Third, the President will notify Congress of the commitment of military forces to combat, and of the quantifiable objectives of the combat operations.
(4) Fourth, force levels and the commitment of national resources will be reviewed regularly, as required, and adjusted by the President with the clear intention of winning. Prior to achieving our national quantifiable objectives, troop levels and the commitment of forces need to be reviewed and adjusted ? we are a nation at war.
Don?t talk to me about popular support. Don?t talk to me about the decision making process for going to war. This is a republic in which we live, not a democracy. If you?re not happy with the performance of your elected officials, take it to them, encourage them to act in such a way as to meet your needs and views, and remember to vote.
December 1st, 2005 at 6:49 am
[...] I miss Weinberger. Can we bring him back on contract or something? [...]