1% Success
February 13, 2010 Commentary, Current Affairs, History, Ideas, Media, Politics, Technology No CommentsSince 2001 the United States has been involved in two major wars as part of a world wide of nebulous nature. Despite pouring immense amount of treasure, among other resources tangible and intangible, we have not been able to link effort to long term success.
Looking back historically the wars we won came from full effort or “total war”. Despite one third for, one third against, and one third apathetic, we won the Revolution after 8 long years, The War of 1812 was won in part because our war was part of a wider war—and even then many Americans and parts of America sat out the war.
The Indians Wars were uneven. Despite this it took three bouts to make the Seminoles cry uncle. The Apaches and Sioux were long term headaches. The Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection were more uneven conflicts—yet costs, mostly financial, were easily burdened.
Both the World Wars were “total war” affairs. America went full bore. And even in the most complex Second World War, America made short order of the duece and a half threats.
Korea was a stalemate and Vietnam was a checkmate. In both cases America took a more comfortable tact towards the wars faced. And if the military was retarded in Vietnam, the Home Front never got out of the easy chair.
As I said above, we are coming on the decade anniversary of this war. I would be curious to compare our expenditures to our enemies. Not only do I suspect our body count ratios look bad, but our financials must be far much worse.
Despite our efforts the wars are being fought by less than 1% of the US population. Are we doing it right? Are we placing technology, the darling of the last two decades, on such a “never fail” pedestal that we are losing wars. Is it too late to harness the best of America’s resources, human and otherwise, to go all out and get the job done.
Technology has brought much, but it is no end all panacea for this complex war. Nor does money solve matters. We may be able to hold any line, except the bottom line.
The Twin Towers were a symbol of All Conquering Capitalism. Unfortunately that same decade the captains of commerce not only destroyed lives worldwide, but they came close to destroying the very capitalism that brought them to the position of high and mighty. Tyco, Enron, Madoff…were not commies with AK-47s. Yet they did not lay patriotism ahead of profits.
Are we going to repeat ourselves? We had three rounds with the Seminoles. Will we have to do Iraq Take 3? 1% seems awfully small of effort for the job at hand. Playing the percentages—is a very dangerous margin to bet on.
