Peace Through Strength

What's the most effective way to achieve peace? Is it to sit and talk with our enemies? Is it to give in on concessions over and over? If we act peaceful, will that encourage our enemies to also act peaceful? Let me answer with an analogy.

Think about every movie you've ever watched with a clearly defined 'good guy' and 'bad guy'. The bad guy is willing to lie, cheat, steal, kill, and do whatever he can to achieve his aims, regardless of whether or not those actions are morally right and good. The good guy, however, has self-imposed limitations due to his own moral character - he will do whatever he can to defeat the bad guy within the confines of those moral limitations. Why? It makes for good tension (and a good story) because the good guy has to overcome such unfair odds to succeed.

Call me crazy, but I think there's a deeper reason. I think that people of all stripes recognize basic human nature in those stereotypes. People realize that on a fundamental level the good guy will play by the rules, but the bad guy will stop at literally nothing to win. This basic understanding of human nature also applies to war. It doesn't matter how strictly we play by the rules, we have a basic understanding that our enemy will stop at literally nothing to kill us and win.

So where am I going with this? While it sounds noble and sophisticated to have 'peace talks' or negotiations, the reality is that it's not the start of the peace process - it's the end. It is only when one side or the other shows sufficient strength that the opponent gives up that the 'peace' talks can begin. The concept is peace through strength, and it only happens when the will of one side to continue fighting is broken by the other side. That's the key, and that's what we need to remember in regard to the War in Iraq: either we win, or Al Qaeda wins; either our will to fight will be broken, or theirs will be broken. There is no hope in 'peace talks' or negotiations; the only peace that can be obtained here is through strength, and that means victory on the battlefield.

Is this a new or recent concept? Not at all. In fact, it goes back to the very foundation of America's history:

"There is a rank due to the United States, among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."
-- George Washington

Bill Clinton showed this weakness by pulling out after the Blackhawk Down affair in Somalia, and Osama bin Laden referred to that weakness in regard to the 9/11 attacks, calling the U.S. a 'paper tiger'. Al Qaeda cannot combat the U.S. through strength of arms, but is counting on the fact that the U.S. will show the same weakness of will Clinton displayed and simply stop fighting. It's up to the American people -- who are strong enough to prevail -- to prove what we're made of by supporting our troops and giving them what they need to succeed, including time. If we show weakness again, it will be open season on all Americans from terrorists and Islamic radicals all over the world. But, if we rise to the occasion as we have done so many times in the past, we will once again achieve peace through our strength.

There's my two cents.

Quote posted at Heavy-Handed Politics.