You’re never beaten until you admit it

If General George S. Patton, Jr. was correct, "You’re never beaten until you admit it", then I guess the United States is doomed according to Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid. Yesterday Reid said, ""I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything." Oops! Now he's backing off that statement, or at least trying to. Reid's statements made many of us cringe when we heard them. Was it what he said, the words he used, the sentiment behind the words? My friend A.C. at Fore-Left says:

... the word "lose" is awfully powerful. To have it spew forth from the mouth of the Majority Leader of the US Senate is scurrilous, especially as he simultaneously threatens to withhold troop funding without a written surrender document.

He knows damn well the effect his rhetoric will have on the enemies of this nation--the same type people the VT nut tried to emulate, if only for just a day. The same people who hope to one day inherit the Middle East when we finally chopper out.

George Patton stirs Americans to victory, to pride in country, to joy in success and achievement. Reid on the other hand, .... A.C. used the word 'puke'. I think that fits. Patton would disagree with Reid:

"America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser, this is why America has never, and will never, lose a war.”

“No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.”

“It’s the unconquerable soul of man, not the nature of the weapon he uses, that insures victory.” (source)

Today President George W. Bush gave a speech in response to Reid's comments about Iraq. Bush took the time and effort, which he doesn't always do, to show progress that has been made since the announcement of the 'surge'. As Bush speeches go, it was good. Bush said when leaders make comments like that [Reid], it puts a greater responsibility on them to come up with a solution. I don't think Reid sees it that way.

I always want to hear what the President has to say, not because it's Bush, but because it's the 'President of the United States.' I respect the position, the office itself. But many don't bother to tune in and listen, or worse yet they will tune in for an awkward sound bite.

Here's Patton's famous speech to the Third Army, as delivered by George C. Scott in Patton (1970):

Men, all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. ALL REAL Americans, love the sting of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ball players, the toughest boxers . . . Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in Hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. (source)

Have we lost in Iraq, or as Mark R. Taylor asks, "have we lost the will to fight?'

From the British sailor kidnappings, to the Virginia Tech slaughter, to Nancy Pelosi’s obsequious trip to Syria and to President Bush’s appeasement of Mexico, it seems as if America has lost its will to fight.

... I was taught never to back down from a fight. Bullies and thugs were dealt with swiftly and efficiently. Even when outnumbered or outgunned, you stood and fought. [snip]

Flight 93 is an example of the heroism and tenacity of the American spirit. [snip] It was a fight to the finish and their courage and honor is not lost in that Pennsylvania field.

I challenge the American public to find that courage and will to fight that was apparent on Flight 93. It’s a fight for our very survival that, as a society, we cannot afford to lose.

That's what Reid doesn't understand, we cannot afford to lose. What happens down the road when the violence in Iraq spreads to surrounding countries and the entire Middle East is truly involved? What will Reid do then? Will he sit here in his swivel chair and do nothing, and wait, and hope that it all just mysteriously goes away on its own?

Maybe we didn't have all the facts when we went into Iraq. Maybe we didn't understand the turmoil under the surface in Iraq. We certainly didn't understand the importance of tribal leaders and clans. But that's swivel chair quarterbacking. We're there now. We can't lose. WWPD? What would Patton do?

Comments

[Thomas Hamilton]

Reid, Pelosi, 99 percent of the Democrat party and more and more Republicans are invested in the defeat of America. Hell, somebody's gotta say it. Might as well be me.

[StormWarning]

Well, I can't believe I am going to type this, but what the hell are Ried and Pelosi thinking? I wont' go so far as to group in all of the others...but Reid and Pelosi are supposed to be leaders.

The more I hear, the more concerned I become.

Reid should be ashamed. Maybe the people of Nevada should recall him.

[Debbie]

Excellent point Al-Ozarka. Wonder what al-Qaeda would do with that surrendering half of America???????

It is a shame we fight among ourselves. If we put that energy into defeating the enemy, wow, we could do anything.

[Al-Ozarka]

You know what?

Reid, Kennedy, Pelosi, and Murtha need to arrange a meeting with Al-Qaeda and offer a formal surrender...of the America left...the Democratic Party I mean.

The left, by surrendering, should be viewed as subservant to their conquerors.

Every leftist talking head should be approached with his/her servitude and alliances in mind.

Every defeatist Democratic politician should be viewed the same way.

I'm glad Edwards made us aware of two Americas. At least there is ONE America that is NOT defeated. There is ONE America who will stand and fight to the bloody end.

Too bad we have to fight off the other America while we're doing it.