Saturday, July 22, 2006

The Jacksonian Party and "proportionate response" in War

A look at who is calling for 'Proportionate Response' in War:

[19 JUL 2006] Catholic News Service - Washington -- "Lebanon's Maronite Catholic patriarch said he told U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney that Israel has a right to defend itself, but its reaction to Hezbollah actions is not proportionate."[Google Cache , Catholic Online News updated post]

[14 JUL 2006] Jerusalem Post Online Edition - Meanwhile, President Jacques Chirac said that the IDF was "totally disproportionate" and asked whether destroying Lebanon was not the ultimate goal.

[12 JUL 2006] Ynetnews - UK Foreign Office Minister, Kim Howells said, “We condemn this morning’s infiltration and rocket attacks by Hizbullah on northern Israel. We are particularly concerned by reports that Israeli soldiers may have been kidnapped or killed.

“Hizbullah’s actions will further escalate an already tense situation in the region. A further escalation is in no one’s interest. We call on all parties to take actions to promote a rapid and peaceful resolution of the crisis and urge that any Israeli action be both measured and proportionate,” he said.
There is one and only one way to look at this from the Jacksonian viewpoint :
"Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms." - Andrew Jackson
And the other quote of Jacksonians which explains WHAT Israel should do:
'We did not start this fight, but we sure, as hell, will END IT.' - Heard many times in many battles involving the Citizen Soldiers of the Republic
Indeed, peace and equitable peace... but fight until your enemy is vanquished or they have vanquished you. There is no other just way of it when one has been attacked. The only response is full out war, to the bitter end and defeat of the enemy. Leave 'Proportionate Response' to debates, but leave it OFF the battlefield.

2 comments:

ablur said...

Let those who like to measure everything do so, after the fighting is done. This is a lot like the old poker clique that says Never count your money while your sitting at the table.
In war there are no proportions only winning or losing. Anyone who thinks other wise in a loser.

A Jacksonian said...

ablur - As one of the great paraphrases of Vince Lombardi: Winning isn't everything... it is the ONLY thing.

But also keep in mind Knute Rockne: "We play this game fairly and squarely and we want the same thing. We can play their game if we wish but that's not our idea."

I, however, want to see put forth more than mere winning... I want total and absolute victory over those that wish to destory all of Us and the Nation State system that allows us to have Our Freedoms and keeps tyrrany at bay.