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The Necessity of Endurance

With all the hew and cry over Secretary Rumsfeld's answer to a soldier who asked a reporter's question about up-armoring humvees at a meeting with soldiers in Kuwait recently, with McCain loudly expressing his lack of confidence in Rumsfeld, how about some perspective?

Enter nationally syndicated columnist, Paul Greenberg, to do just that!

"The passage of time erodes memory, and we tend to forget the pain, the sacrifices, the mercurial swings of public opinion, the alternating hopes and fears, the daily uncertainty of war — and the necessity of endurance. "

Greenberg has done a masterful job of revisiting the frightening scenario we faced in the Ardenne forest and the Battle of the Bulge 60 years ago today. He puts it in perspective -- it's about "cussedness" and endurance. Read the full column here.

Well done, Mr. Greenberg! Thank you for reminding the American public that we are a society of people determined to win for the good of all humanity. Senator McCain, shouldn't you have a better grip on American history?!

Today's armed forces are asked to conduct a more civilized war (fewer casualties, less collateral damage) in an effort to keep public opinion positive. We no longer have the luxury of a General Eisenhower or General Patton on the battlefield -- conducting war the way they see fit. Instead, our generals have their hands tied to a large degree and lawyers are filing lawsuits against our armed forces! Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a damned fine job of restructuring our forces, supplying them with the changing needs of a dynamic war, and being as honest and up-front as possible with the American public and our brave warriors. Keep up the good work, Rummy!

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