Enemies at the Gates

Nothing ticks me off much more than a popular mentality among what is perhaps a minority of Americans, but a trend which has the potential for future growth.

The notion that America is the Savior of the world, and because this or that war exists somewhere among this or that party or faction, it our duty as the “Great White Father” of the universe to send our military to intervene.

One would think the lessons of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq would serve as a caution against such unilateral action on our part.

The advent of ISIS, the (so-called) “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” is the best example in the world today. America is currently bearing by far the largest role in its war against this hideous group of baby killers, child rapists, and destroyers of ancient archaeological sites.

America’s invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent loss of thousands of our troops, and expenditure of a trillion dollars has been turned on its head, as this massive horde of n’er do well’s has overrun much of the previous territorial gain for which we so sacrificially fought.

And we are supposed to do it all over again?

During the course of our current air war against the “Islamic State” one of the least-mentioned and most-crucial topics not discussed is that of the natural burden of Arab countries to do more than they are currently doing in the effort to decimate this threat to humanity.

I mean, those nations with the most at stake are the ones doing least of all.

In watching television interviews with retired American military officers, I have rarely heard them refer to this variable.

As a retired Army Staff Sergeant, with 35 years service, am I a lone voice in the wilderness? (Obviously, I am not, but sometimes “it sure seems like it.”)

There’s an old adage,

“When Rome was on Fire, Nero fiddled.”

With their enemies at their proverbial gates, it’s time for countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and the UAE to raise up a massive military ground force, and march against these black-hearted thugs, and wipe them off the very face of planet Earth. Until the countries of the region act in a decisive way, very little will be accomplished in this “one-handed” war against the most major threat to the peace and stability of the Mideast in modern history.

If the nations with the most at stake fail to take decisive action now, when “the enemy is at their gates,” I believe they will rue the day they failed to do so.

 

By William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 14. Volumes 1-15, Copyright 2015.

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