PC Infection

Political correctness is an infection, and it has spread throughout all of America. Sadly, even the U.S. military, the most formidable armed force in history of mankind, has been infected.

Need an example? Just look at any release from the Pentagon detailing a battle. They will tell you all about U.S. casualties, but if an inquiring mind wanted to know just how many enemies were killed in the battle, you will get descriptions like “scores” or “several” if you get any description at all.

We are killing a lot of insurgents, and to me, that is a good thing. I confess – I want my country to win. The fact that the Pentagon hides the kill count of the enemy shows how soft our country has become.

Today, our military commanders are more politician than gunslinger. That has been clearly visible in the years of failed policy in Iraq. Generals have provided us with some outstanding PowerPoint presentations at the state of the art media center at CENTCOM, but have led a disappointing campaign. Instead of hard generals like “Old Blood and Guts” Patton of the World War II era, we now have “Perfect” Peter Pace.

We need commanders who will put fear into our enemies, something which has not been part of our playbook. Can you imagine Old Blood and Guts putting up with the Mickey Mouse Rules of Engagement that our troops face today? Not hardly, and that is why warfighters like Patton are not being promoted today. Men like these may not have the cleanest record, but they know how to fight and win. General “Chesty” Puller, the highest decorated Marine in history, once said, “Take me to the Brig. I want to see the real Marines.” Political correctness does not win wars, warriors win wars.

Fortunately, General David Petraeus, who literally wrote the book on counterinsurgency, is the commander of our forces in Iraq now. Instead of the old “stay the course” strategy, the surge troops are finally in place, and we are taking the fight to al Qaeda. Despite the media’s best efforts to hide the progress of the surge strategy, word is getting out, and it is not good for the terrorists.

We as a country have a long way to go to repair the damage to our fortitude that has occurred between the 1940s and the 2000s. Liberals have managed to replace our national pride and resolve with political correctness and conflict resolution. That is the difference between our victory over Germany and Japan in World War II and today’s struggle with the insurgency in Iraq. The military can do the job; there is no doubt, but they need good commanders. If the American people can elect good leaders in Washington, we will correct our sensitivities and become our own “Greatest Generation.”

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