Roy
That comment has been thrown around a lot by both the current US President, and his Secretary of Defense. Now, it refers to winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.
Those of us who have been around a while will painfully remember that that phrase, “winning the hearts and minds” was originally coined by the Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara under the Johnson administration and was directed to the North Vietnamese. Have you ever wondered what the initial “S” stands for in his middle name? It is Strange...yes, his middle name is Strange.
Secretary McNamara’s life is well documented in an incredible film titled “The Fog of War.” In this insightful documentary, Secretary McNamara is totally blunt about his, Kennedy’s and Johnson’s mistakes that eventually led to the loss of life of over 50 thousand young American lives.
As I viewed this film, remembering many that only exist now as a name on “the wall” I was moved, and also happy to hear him come clean about the US inability to understand the North Vietnamese mind.
It’s ironic and at the same time, scary, how history can repeat itself. As long as I live, my three boys will NEVER, EVER, serve in the US military. That service is no longer an instrument of the defense of a great country, rather, it has become a weapon to force ideology upon nations of economic interest.
So, what does this have to do with Bali? It has everything to do with Bali. While the direct fallout of American “diplomacy” in the Middle East may not be apparent every day, the subtle nuances become more visible every day. More and more, would be, or borderline Islamic extremists find a solution to further their cause, as they view world powers unable, or unwilling to listen.
So, back to “winning the hearts and minds.” As Secretary McNamara stated in this film, “The Fog of War,” it’s an impossible endeavor without sincere dialogue. As he put it, “it’s our misunderstandings that cost us so much.” Further, “in Vietnam, this cost us over 50 thousand young American lives.”
