Iraq: Another Vietnam?

Retired Army lieutenant colonel Ralph Peters, in his book When Devils Walk the Earth, describes al Qaeda as an "apocalyptic terrorist" group. Unlike "practical terrorists," groups like the Irish Republican Army, which use terror to address specific grievances, apocalyptic terrorists seek the total destruction of their foes. Peters used the analogy of a malignant cancer which, to be cured, must be totally eradicated.

Recently, Senators Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd, whether driven by strategic ignorance or craven political chicanery, compared the war in Iraq with Vietnam. The Vietnam War was, from the US perspective, a limited war. American ideals and freedoms were never at stake. The United States lost because political leaders, unable to define strategic goals, made it impossible for generals to devise appropriate strategies. Defeat, however distasteful, never jeopardized the Republic. There was a wrong way to fight the Vietnam War and the US followed it. By contrast, there is a right way to fight and win World War IV. The model has nothing to do with Vietnam and everything to do with how Rome dealt with rebels, would be rebels and peoples inclined to support them.

In the days of the Roman Republic and the Empire through its apex in the third century AD, Rome ruled the civilized world while extending Roman culture, law and ethics to barbarian Europe, Palestine and northern Africa. When subjugated peoples cooperated, Rome protected them. Trade flourished while new ideas and religions like Christianity moved across the Empire. Rome, beneficent to cooperative subjects, dealt ruthlessly with rebels. For half a millennium Rome flourished until appeasement and attempts to accommodate barbarians brought its final dissipation at the end of the fifth century AD. Rome's epitaph should read, "Died of Multi-culturalism and Diversity".

Always respected and feared but rarely loved, Rome impressed upon the minds of rebels, potential rebels and peoples inclined to support rebellion or resistance that retribution would be sure, swift, powerful and total. Through the third century, Rome experienced only two major rebellions. In 61 AD, Rebel princess Boudicca of Britain led a revolt which Rome squashed. A decade later when Jews, led by the Zealots revolted, Rome annihilated them, burned the Temple and dispersed the Jewish people like so much chaff in the desert wind. Others got the message.

To win World War IV, the United States must obliterate al Qaeda. Like minded terrorists and their would-be supporters must know that to challenge the US is to invite swift, sure and complete destruction. Rhetoric alone won't hack it. If strong, the United States will survive. Terrorists target weaknesses not strengths.

The "kind-hearted people" Clausewitz had in mind today might argue "ruthlessness only reduces us to their level." This is nothing more than a-historical, post-modernist sophistry. In 1864 and 1865, General Sherman saved the Republic, along with its ideals of individual freedom and human dignity, when Union armies terrified the South by burning a path through Georgia, parts of Alabama and South Carolina. Eighty years later, American ideals and our virtues survived the fire-bombing of Tokyo and the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A quick end to World War II saved many more lives than it cost. War is hell, it cannot be otherwise.

Since, as St. Augustine argued, the kingdoms of this earth are not the Kingdom of the Lord, one day, the United States, like Rome and every kingdom, empire, principality or republic before and since, will pass from the world stage. With God's help, this generation will make sure that day has not dawned.