| My grandpa was in the Army in the Pacific and one very telling comment he made once while telling me a story was about the real danger posed by the Japanese even when they were losing a battle and later when it was obvious they were losing the war.
"WE were fighting to stay alive. The Japs were fighting to die. Its a miracle we defeated an enemy who did not fear death but welcomed it."
Kamikaze strikes, insane battlefield charges, sticking it out in a position in the face of withering fire... the tenacity of the Japanese is something that still gives me pause when reading 60 years on. I'd give my left nut to field an entire Army, today, of men like this. TWAT would be but a rough 6 months. Release the hounds. We have units with this mentallity but they are restrained by ROEs and b******t political exigencies.
Massacres be damned this is war. When the politicians decide to initiate hostilities they need to let go the reins and reap both the consequences and the benefits. It is treasonous to do otherwise... ask a man to go to war with an arm tied behind his back.
Looking at TWAT today one thing is painfully clear- we learned NO lessons from Vietnam.
__________________ "The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." - John Steinbeck |