Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Vlad the Impaler OR Preppy Military Officers?

In today's Wall Street Journal (Tuesday June 19, 2007; B13), a horrific example of our current Army Leadership is illustrated in plain view.

In an article debating the merits of a classic liberal arts style Higher Education (vs. supposedly 'real world' combat training), retired Lt. Col Ralph Peters argues that pursuing Higher Education at the Ph.D. level is a 'waste of time' for military personnel. For example, Peters argues, that with a Ph.D. level training, an Officer would overlook the vital importance of fighting insurgents in Iraq through 'scare tactics' such as 'strapping dead insurgents to the front of tanks for locals to see.'

My God!

Is this what our United States military is actually doing?

No wonder why people throughout the Nations of the World hate us!

Okay, even if such a barbaric practice is not done, or done infrequently, for someone with the rank of Lt. Col (or even a Private First Class for that matter) to advocate strapping dead bodies to tanks is truly an example of not only a War, but of an Army Leadership Class that has now degenerated into pure Nazism.

Strapping dead bodies to our tanks (look it up for yourself in the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday June 19, 2007; B13) is something out of the worst abuses of World History. In fact, this practice was utilized by none other than "Vlad the Impaler" the diabolical autocrat who would place dead bodies on stakes in order to scare his enemies. Vlad the Impaler is the historical figure upon whom the ficticious "Dracula" is based by the way!

Fortunately, contrary to corrupt leaders such as Lt Col Peters (strapping dead bodies to our tanks!!!), General David Petraeus is at least a bit more genteel about the whole issue of how our Military Leaders are trained. General Petraeus, himself trained at Princeton (doctoral work in International Relations and Economics!), sees the vital need for our Army Brass to be trained to the highest degree possible and at the best schools possible.

Fortunately, in addition to General Petraeus (who I hope does not advocate or permit strapping dead Iraqis to our tanks!), I also know a number of 'preppy military officers' who can at least think critically about issues such as War, Just-War (Vlad the Impaler excluded obviously!), Humanitarian Aid, and even enjoying the finest of the Arts such as Classical Music. In fact, many such 'refined, genteel Army Leaders' are also staunch Christians who are quietly doing their work in service to Jesus through their military work.

So, there you have it. The value of Higher Education. If we don't nurture Higher Education then we are allowing THUGS such as retired Lt Col Ralph Peters (Vlad the Impaler) to strap our enemy's bodies to our tanks.

In Jesus' Name,
Rob J King, Candidate for Jesus

2 comments:

Unknown said...

During the South African war in Angola and South West Africa (now Namibia) the south African counter insugency police group operating in Namibia (you may remeber that South Africa annexed South West Africa from the Germans during the world war and continued to hold this teritory until th elate 1980s) were renown for bring "terrorist bodies strapped to the out side of their armoured vehicle. The bodies would be badly damaged as the vehicles would drive through pretty thick bush (mostly accia thorns). Sometime insurgents stillalive were brought back this way as a torture method. Barbaric is a good description, yet this did not deter or stop the insurgents or enemy soldiers, quite the reverse this barbaric behaviour steeled the opposition and in Iraq you are dealing with radicals far more willing to die and far more radical. Its a bad idea.

Israel has for years targeted the homes of suicide bombers from the Palistinian areas and bulldozed these homes to the ground. Knowing that you may leave your family desolate may have people think twice, yet people still volenteered for the job of blowing themselves up.

The right way to stop the enemy is to bring Jesus Christ - his love and redemption to the people. How to do this and decouple the milatary connection is a tough question. Perhaps you have a suggestion

Rob J. said...

Nick,

As someone who was forced (conscripted!) to serve in South Africa's Military, I obviously value your opinion on such matters QUITE HIGHLY!

Yes, not only did our Reagan Foreign Administration support the Evil Apartheid Regime (something the Republican Party has YET to re-cover from . . .), but now, yes, parts of our very own military are becoming something out of a Nazi War Crimes TV documentary.

This was mentioned rather nonchalantly in the Wall Street Journal, almost as if such practices are now commonplace.

My MAIN sugesstion is to STAND FIRM with my fellow American Constitutional LOYALISTS, whether Republican (John McCain) or Democrat (Patrick Leahy or Bill Nelson). I was blessed to speak personally with 30 year incumbent Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT; Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee) who was so filled with joy at having a 'kindred spirit' on the Republican side of the fence that he actually HUGGED ME at the recent Conference American Experiment: Religious Freedom where we each delivered papers/addresses.

So, yes, let us partner, for myself across partisan political lines, and for us, across national lines to insure BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS and a STRICT ABIDING of Geneva Convention LAW.

Only by standing UNIFIED with fellow Constitutionalists in the U.S.A. and fellow adherents of the Geneva Convention throughout the world can Pol Pot, Rwanda or it seems now Iraq be avoided!

Amen and Amen, my Anglican friend!

Love in Jesus,
Rob J King