A Losing Contest

Headline June 1942: US Navy retreats from Midway when casualties surpass those at Pearl Harbor. Battle Lost.

Headline July 1861: Battle of Bull Run called off when deaths pass those at Sumter. Union loses ground.

Fortunately those words never screamed from the front page of any newspaper. Thank God for all of us. It simply wouldn't have been considered let alone made any sense. That is why I was shocked and dismayed to see just such a comparison made through heavy media coverage this past week. During the very difficult fight we have had to endure these last three plus years, the day inevitably arrived when the number of lives lost in Iraq surpassed those lost on 9/11. Due reflection and recognition should be given to every loss. Brave men and women who will never return home. However, when have we ever compared our losses in battle against an enemy to the losses we incurred in the initial event that got us into that battle? I didn't realize it was a contest. Well, it isn't and should never be. It's a dangerous concept and here is why.

First and foremost in any war against a sworn highly overt enemy, you fight to win. Period. It should always be the first priority to reach that goal. No one wishes for nor wants to send their brave military men and women home in body bags. It is a sad fact of war however. The best thing you can do to honor those dead is do whatever it takes to win by accomplishing the goals they gave their lives for. Anything short of that is an insult to their memory and sacrifice.

Second, wouldn't it be nice for those who want to do away with us to have a magic number in their heads knowing when they manage to kill that many of us we go home? Best deal they could ever hope for handed directly to them by us.