As much as we hate to admit it – America is locked in a worldwide conflict that could destroy our way of life. Today, we are fighting in the enemy’s backyard: Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, and in numerous third-world dark alleys. At the same time, we must honor existing commitments to help protect honest, freedom-loving people from local despots in Kosovo, Korea, and even Liberia. Our drastically reduced military force is being stretched to the breaking point.

Bill Clinton gutted our military to reap the “Peace Dividend.” He rode the Peace Dividend coat tail for eight years, claiming his policies “righted” our economy as America became militarily weaker and weaker. The 2d and 3d Armored Divisions were eliminated. Barry McCaffrey’s 24th Mechanized Infantry Division has been reduced to a training Division along with the poorly-equipped 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment. All of these units played a significant role in the liberation of Kuwait and are sorely missed today.

Not only did the Clinton Administration gut our ground forces, worse yet, they infected the Pentagon with a dangerous military policy that to some extent still persists. American generals were “Clintonized.” Officers that came up through the ranks in the 90s became convinced that America could fight antiseptic, high-tech wars from the sky, suffering few if any American casualties. Clinton ordered several air attacks on Iraq as punishment for repeated UN resolution violations, never having any effect on Saddam Hussein and his regime. Again, President Clinton made a futile attempt to kill Usama bin Ladin by hurling a hundred cruise missiles at his hideouts in Afghanistan. And finally, Clinton’s worst example of military leadership was the shameful retreat from Somalia. The Clinton Administration drew down the force in Somalia to the point that it could barely protect itself, refused requests for armored vehicles and Apache helicopters, and ordered lightly-armed Army Rangers to attack directly into a hornets nest without the proper backup. To the Rangers’ credit, they accomplished their mission successfully while suffering many casualties. What did the Clinton Administration do? They pulled all Americans out of Somalia and released the captured warlords, turning victory into defeat.

The “Clintonized” generals carried their “Star Wars” philosophy through Kosovo and into the skies of Afghanistan, never really putting American boots on the ground. The result – Usama bin Ladin and most of his top leadership escaped. Now there are reports of the Taliban reconstituting.

Again in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the “win from the sky” attitude prevailed. All known attempts to kill Saddam were conducted through air raids. While the 3d Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Division will go down in history for their lighting advance to Baghdad, it still took them more than a week to bring pressure on the ground to Saddam. General Franks completely misused his ground force. He commanded more than thirty-thousand airborne/air assault troops. He should have dropped those troops directly on Saddam’s head in the first 48 hours of the war. In another example, on April 6th or 7th the 3d Infantry Division was not more than five miles from the suspected hideout of Saddam Hussein. What did we do? Did we send Colonel David Perkins’ 2d Brigade Combat Team into the Mansur neighborhood to get Saddam? NO. We bombed the neighborhood, killing only civilians.

So, because of the win with airpower mentality, today we are locked in what seems to be a never-ending struggle on the ground. Saddam is winning. The news media and certain politicians are starting to talk about the wisdom of keeping troops in “harm’s way.”

Should we cede authority to the UN?
Should we send more Americans to Iraq?
Should we bring our guys home?

One thing is clear! We must win in Iraq, and to win we must have more troops on the ground.

The UN needs to finally get involved and provide troops for the security of their own operations as well as to help secure vital infrastructure. This would free Americans for more aggressive operations. Also, the Iraqi Army and Police must continue to expand their ranks and take more responsibility for the security of their own country. NATO must help also. NATO forces could relieve American forces in Kosovo if they are unwilling to send troops directly into Iraq. And! America needs to send more troops to Iraq.

Today’s Army must be expanded. The Army must accelerate the deployment of its Stryker Brigade Combat Teams as well as reconstituting another Armored Cavalry Regiment, an additional Air Assault Division, and at least one more Light Infantry Division. The Marines need at least two more Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable) and the ships to carry them. And finally, there should be two more Marine Expeditionary Brigades. All these units need new equipment. The AMTRACS that carried the Marines to Baghdad are thirty years old.

Remember, we must win this war! It is time for the “Peace Dividend” to be returned to the military. Otherwise, America is charging headlong toward defeat.

RSL 9/10/03