[Rhodes22-list] Damn it, I got ...

[DCLewis1 at aol.com]

Ed,
 
The issue on this list is not and never has been turning your cheek to evil  
people.  The issue is whether or not to pick your fights well and wisely  and 
how to pursue those fights.  There are a semi-infinite number of evil  people 
out there, it's simply impractical to take them all on.  And  pursuing those 
"fights" via vast and costly "nation building" exercises seems  like a total 
waste of time, effort, and $ to at least some of us.
 
FWIW I believe there is a historical example that might bear on this  
discussion.  For a time prior to  1802 the Bey of Tripoli seized  American ships and 
seaman, he kept the loot and enslaved and sold the men.   Ultimately the Bey 
insisted these United States pay tribute or he  would continue to attack 
American shipping.  The Bey and his buddies  behaved like terrorists. Our President 
at the time, Thomas Jefferson,  dispatched the Navy and elements of the Marine 
Corps to Tripoli to engage  and destroy the enterprise.  They were 
successful.  You may have heard  this mentioned in a popular military song, something 
about "the shores of  Tripoli".  We did not hang around for "nation building", 
the message was  "you do it again, we'll do it again".  Seems like a good 
approach to me  with regards to Afghanistan and Iraq.
 
In my view our military enterprise is uniquely capable of supporting "if  you 
do it again, we'll do it again".  An intrinsic part of the "if you do  it 
again, we'll do it again" concept is NOT hanging around  to enlighten the 
natives, building long-term bases, etc; rather you  re-board your boats and get outta 
town.  Last man out nails a message  on the door of City Hall "If you do it 
again, we'll do it again". 
 
Whddya think?
 
Dave