PICKING
AT SCABS
Isn’’t it possible for us to have news that doesn’t
constantly try to open old wounds? It is what I call picking at scabs. They want
to make political points for their side, what ever side that may be, so we
constantly hear judgments that were made in the past called into question, not
to help us make better judgments in the future, but to make political hay. You
know when this is happening when our pols get on whatever grandstand they can
find, or call a press conference, and try to make an issue, where there is no
clear issue. They are calling half truths and un truths. the truth. in the
middle of a scenario that hasn’t played out. They are screaming for details
that could possibly be harmful for an action still in play. if should be
discussed within the chambers of those who made the calls or have a
responsibility in making the calls, quietly, maybe even secretly, to do no
further harm. Otherwise we are just picking at scabs, trying to open wounds
that were better off left to heal and better left for a longer term historical
judgment, not HYSTERICAL judgment that
is only looking for political gain.
It happened in the past when Reagan went into Grenada. The
liberal press beat up on him about this. Having been in Grenada both before and
after, I couldn’t believe anyone wouldn’t have seen the action as good and
appropriate, and was shocked to find some of my best friends who considered
themselves so well informed had bought into this. They too should have been
there a year before and immediately after to see how wrong they were.
Nobody has ever declared the Korean war a disaster, except
for MacArthur’s actions that brought the Chinese into it, but we now all see
the mistake of the Viet Nam war and we can throw in Iraq and Pakistan, but lets
give it a few more years to really make judgments on the last ones. Beating up on those who made the bad choices
doesn’t help us from repeating our mistakes and that is what we are trying to
accomplish.
So here we go with Bengazi all over again. Just an attempt
to make political gain. We are in the middle of a mess all over the Mid-East,
and trying to pick the perfect way is like trying to find your way in the
middle of a sandstorm, with booby traps and enemies and friends scattered all
about, hoping you will find the shelter of friends and not blow yourself up.
Picking at scabs doesn’t help. Broadcasting how we make choices and the complications of choices, letting the
enemy know how strong we are and aren’t, how long it may take to respond, if we
can respond, does no one any good except our enemies.
